Total pages in book: 188
Estimated words: 179812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 899(@200wpm)___ 719(@250wpm)___ 599(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 179812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 899(@200wpm)___ 719(@250wpm)___ 599(@300wpm)
Chapter Nineteen
The next day, I tell Callie that I’ve decided to check out some courses at Bardstown Community College. She squeals and I squeal back because I’m excited. I’m so, so excited to explore, to see what’s out there. And thanks to a certain someone, I now can.
I also tell her that I’d be up for her brothers’ offer for paying for my courses. But only if they agree that I’ll pay half of it. I do it because this will get back to him. Because after a long night of tossing and turning, I’ve decided something. I’m not giving up on him. No, we can’t have the kind of a relationship he wants but we are going to have a relationship. It’s called friendship, something he hates but he’ll just have to live with it.
Thirty minutes after I hang up with Callie, I get his text on my phone.
My Toxic Stepbrother
Are you trying to piss me off again?
I’m filling the coffee pot when my phone chimes in my pocket and usually I wouldn’t look at it, but this is an exception.
Jupiter
Callie is fast.
My Toxic Stepbrother
Callie knows not to disobey me. You should learn from her.
Jupiter
She’s not your slave. She’s your sister.
I’m also not your slave. I’m your stepsister.
I said that purely to piss him off because friends piss each other off, right? Plus, he needs a little ego check.
My Toxic Stepbrother
I don’t need a reminder of who you are.
But maybe we should brush up on the rules again.
Jupiter
Yeah, about that. I also have some rules.
My Toxic Stepbrother
Is that right?
Jupiter
Yes. The first one is that this is a two-way street, you and me.
My Toxic Stepbrother
There is no you and me.
Jupiter
There, unfortunately, is. Because we live in the same house. Also known as co-existing.
Or co-living, whatever.
My Toxic Stepbrother
Are we back to that again?
Jupiter
We are. We’re going to compromise on things.
My Toxic Stepbrother
I don’t want to compromise.
Jupiter
You’re going to have to because that’s how this works.
You can pay for my courses as long as you let me pay for half of it.
My Toxic Stepbrother
No.
Jupiter
Ugh, you’re so annoying!
My Toxic Stepbrother
Ditto. Have a great day.
Jupiter
No, wait! Come back!
My Toxic Stepbrother
What?
Jupiter
Look, I really, REALLY want to do this. I really want to go to college, even if for a little while, just to see if it’s the right fit for me. And I never thought I’d get the chance. Not until you. So now you’re going to have to take care of it.
I won’t go to college if you pay for everything. I have to be able to pay for myself. Period. So you decide: Either I go and I pay my half or you insist on being this macho guy who has to pay for everything, and I don’t end up doing something I really want to do.
I know I only have to bid my time until I get the answer I want.
My Toxic Stepbrother
Fine.
Jupiter
Yay. Thank you, friend.
I did that on purpose too. Because I know it will piss him off but also, there’s no easing his way into it. He needs to be smacked in the face with things sometimes. This is my bite-him-first approach before he gets his chance to sink his teeth into me.
My Toxic Stepbrother
What the fuck did you say to me?
Jupiter
I’m sorry. I don’t know what you’re talking about.
My Toxic Stepbrother
Don’t fuck with me right now.
Jupiter
Oh, right. I’ve also decided we’re friends.
My Toxic Stepbrother
We’re absolutely fucking not.
Jupiter
Sorry, I already have you on my Christmas card list.
My Toxic Stepbrother
Burn it.
Jupiter
The list?
Sorry, can’t. It’s fireproof.
And bulletproof. Oh and it’s also in my head so it’s really not going anywhere.
My Toxic Stepbrother
You know what, I don’t have time for this. Call me whatever you want, I don’t fucking care.
Chuckling, I go back to work stocking the display shelf. Then, after about thirty minutes or so, I bite my lip and debate whether to do it. But then, I think I have to. This is all about compromise and co-existing and moving forward, so I shoot him another text.
Jupiter
So I really think you should delete that video.
I probably shouldn’t have started like that. I probably should’ve made my case first. Which is that I’m keeping his money—I’m going to save it for Snow like I always thought I would if we’d gone through with our arrangement—so as a compromise, he should delete that video. It’s only fair. On top of it being another secret, it’s also token of the night he took his revenge on me. While I did everything out of love and would hate to see that video go, he did it out of revenge. So it’s for best if the evidence of such a complicated night is erased altogether.
My Toxic Stepbrother
It’s gone.
Jupiter
What?
My Toxic Stepbrother
I deleted it.
Jupiter
You did?
My Toxic Stepbrother
Yeah.
Jupiter
Last night?
My Toxic Stepbrother
No.
Jupiter
So then, when?
My Toxic Stepbrother
Right after.
Jupiter
It happened?
My Toxic Stepbrother
Yeah.
I’m standing stuck to the counter because I don’t think I’d be able to stand on my own two feet because my legs are shaking so hard. My heart is pounding so fast and hard too that I feel like I have more than one. Like I have too many hearts and too many heartbeats. My fingers slip on the screen a bunch of times before I can type out a single word that’s blaring in my mind.