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)
I want to reply to him. I do. But my chest clenches so hard that I have to take a moment to myself. So as expected, my not-so-toxic stepbrother and my sister have become besties. While he leaves for practice super-duper early and is never around to eat breakfast—or even dinner at times—with us, I know for a fact that they stay in touch throughout the day via texts. I hear about it from Snow when I come back from work. But no matter how busy he is, he’s always back in time to play their favorite soccer game, FIFA.
I always knew they’d become best friends and it warms my heart to see I was right. Snow has always loved him from afar and while it was mostly due to soccer, I know she loves him now as her brother too. For the first time ever, she’s so comfortable in someone else’s presence Someone who isn’t me or one of my friends. This is her relationship outside of me and while I’m a little jealous that her world isn’t confined to just me, I’m so much happier about it too. She needs people she can count on and he’s the best man for the job.
Which also means the decision I made that night to stay away from him was the right one. I can’t give in to my feelings and start something with him, start something that he wants. Because what he wants is only temporary. Which means things between us will end one day and what if we end up hurting Snow over it?
I know she wants me to be happy and gives me enough hints that I should do something about living under the same roof as him. But she’s too naïve to understand that things between us aren’t meant to last. And I don’t want that to affect her when she finally has everything that I ever wanted her to have.
My Not-So-Toxic Stepbrother
Now what are you doing in the upstairs room?
Jupiter
Making things easy for you.
My Not-So-Toxic Stepbrother
What?
Jupiter
I know what you’re doing. As in, with the house. I saw it the first night I came here.
You’re trying to clean it out, update it. So I’m trying to help you.
My Not-So-Toxic Stepbrother
Help me.
Jupiter
And while I’m not at all handy with paint brushes and changing pipes or whatever it is you’re planning on doing, I thought I’d try to sift through things and organize.
And I decided to start with this room. The one that you left unfinished.
He, of course, takes his time replying. I’m pretty sure he’s seething downstairs. Although you wouldn’t know it by the sounds. As in, there’s a roar on the TV and my sister just whooped about it. She probably scored a goal or something. Or maybe he let her score a goal.
My phone chimes in my hand and my fingers jump to unlock the screen.
My Not-So-Toxic Stepbrother
Fine.
I was about to give up on that room anyway.
Jupiter
Because it was your mother’s room?
My Not-So-Toxic Stepbrother
Yeah.
Jupiter
Was it painful? To clean it out before.
It’s too personal for him, I know. But I’m afraid I’m not going to back off. I’m not going to leave him alone to be by himself. Not after everything we’ve been through. Besides, he invited me to live with him in this house, and I intend to make the most of it.
My Not-So-Toxic Stepbrother
It was.
For all of us. None of us could do it. I remember Ledger threw up the moment he entered the room and never went back in. Stellan probably got up to stripping the sheets but that was it.
Con never went in. Callie was too little.
Jupiter
What about you?
My Not-So-Toxic Stepbrother
I finished stripping the bed. Getting rid of the rest of the bedding. I packed up her knickknacks from the dresser. But that was all. Couldn’t touch her clothes or any of her other stuff in the closet.
Then Con locked up the room and said no one was supposed to go in there. And no one did.
Jupiter
Until you again.
My Not-So-Toxic Stepbrother
Yeah.
I bite my lip, thinking how he’d been the only one years ago who did what his brothers couldn’t do. And I bet he did it for them more than for himself. I bet he did it because what kind of a brother would he be if he didn’t help them out?
God, I wish we were having this conversation face to face. I wish we weren’t talking through screens like we’re miles away instead of being in the same house. But I know this is for the best, him downstairs and me up here. Because I don’t know what I would do if I actually saw him right now. I’d probably throw myself at him, and break all the promises I have made.
Jupiter
What made you change your mind now?
My Not-So-Toxic Stepbrother
It’s time.
Jupiter
Time for what?