The Secret Reader

Chapter 1 — My Brother In Law

( Alina's Pov)

I was stuck up in my room, and I couldn't help but just bury my face in the pillow. Different thoughts were running up and down in my head, and the only thing I could really think of was getting my book back. I didn't quite understand why he wanted something so intimate, and what future use was he talking about? I gritted my teeth a little in frustration, trying to let the reddening on my cheeks fade away.

The door swung open, and my sister walked into the room. Her toffee hair was left to fall down her shoulders, framing her spectacled eyes that were so much identical to our mother's. Hers were a soft shade of brown, whilst mine were the complete opposite — a piercing amber that always screamed about my dad.

“Do you think it's a smart move to keep yourself locked up?” Sophie asked, standing at the edge of the bed with her arms crossed.

"I'm tired." I said.

But from the look on her eyes, I could tell she wasn't buying whatever statements were up my sleeves. "Don't be rude, Alina."

"What?" I c****d my eyebrows. "I didn't do anything rude."

"Dante told me you were locked up in your room since he came." She said. "and please don't tell me you don't see anything rude with that?"

"What? You wanted me to get all smiley with a freaking stranger?"

"He's not a stranger, he's family." She said. "And get your s**t straight. Get off this bed, and come join us. And you'll be nice to him!"

I rolled my eyes, feeling frustrated with just the idea of being in the same room with Dante. If only Sophie knew the real reason why I had locked myself up, she wouldn't be scolding me the way she was. But, I was okay with it. "Sure. I'll be out in a minute.”

"Not in a minute." Sophie said. "I want you out, now!"

"Okay okay...." I said, getting up from my bed. "...no need to scream!"

As I walked out of my room, I felt nervous. Like really really nervous about this whole idea. I just couldn't get myself together, and I had a lot of emotions running through me. I was angry, more like irritated by the fact that he stole my book and refused to give it back.

As I slipped into the lounge, my insides tightened the moment I saw the set-up. Darrel, my sister's husband, was sitting on the other couch, holding with him a bottle of beer whilst Dante sat on the double sitter couch. He was also holding his own beer, his head laid back, eyes staring at the TV. They were watching something, a tv show... But I had forgotten it's name.

“Dinner's almost ready!" My sister yelled from the kitchen.

I believed Dante heard her, and he tilted his head, and our eyes locked for the first time since I entered. His piercing blue eyes studied me intently, scanning every inch of my face and body without hesitation. I felt a shiver run down my spine because he wasn't even trying to hide it.

As he lifted his bottle to his lips, I couldn't help but notice how his lip lips pressed against the glass. A sudden, unwelcome thought crossed my mind: what would his lips taste like if they were on me? But at the same time, I couldn't let my own imagination reign over me. He's my brother-in-law.

"Are you gonna keep staring at me from a distance, or are you gonna come sit down and watch some TV with us?" Dante's voice broke the spell, his eyes never leaving mine. I was certain he noticed how my cheeks went ablaze, my eyes widening at his remark. I felt embarrassed all of a sudden.

Darrel snapped out of his TV induced trance, turning to face me with a start. "Ugh....I didn't even notice you were standing there, Lina!"

"I was just about to join you guys..." I forced a smile, brushing behind an ear, loose strands of hair. We didn't have many couches in our apartment, meaning I was going to be forced to sit with Dante...but the mere thought alone scared me. I just didn't trust him enough.

"Great." Darrel said.

"What are you guys watching anyways?" I asked, walking towards the couches.

"It's a documentary..." Darrel said. "...and it's pretty boring."

“So why are you watching it?" I asked.

"My wife suggested." Darrel said, sounding bored.

I forced a smile, my eyes drifting to the couch where Dante was seated. I hesitate for a moment, then cleared my throat. "Mind moving aside?" I was trying to sound casual.

His gaze never left mine as he shifted to make space for me. I sat down, our thighs touching, and a shiver ran down my spine. The scent of alcohol wafted up, stinging my nostrils and making my heart beat faster.

As I settled in, Sophie walked out of the kitchen, carrying two plates. She handed one to Dante and the other to Darrel before slipping back to retrieve more. When she returned, she carried two additional plates, one for herself and one for me.

I smiled as she handed me my plate, filled with steaming pasta. "Thanks, Soph."

Sophie smiled back, yawning. "If anyone's up for drinks, they're in the fridge. I'm exhausted..." She trailed off, heading to her seat next to her lovely husband. I always admired the two of them. They were so sweet around each other, sometimes it made me feel nervous. I always hoped that their marriage would last, unlike my parent's.

*

"So, Dante, would you mind telling us about what it was like at the barracks?" Sophie said, breaking the silence that settled around us as we ate. I noticed Dante, and how he grinned at the mention of the barracks. Yes, he was a cadet and it explained why he was so muscular, and a bit overactive.

"Well, there isn't much to explain except for the fact that we're practically starved of s*x!" He said, and everyone started laughing....everyone but me.

Darrel's eyes lit up. "That must be hard." He looked at Sophie, their eyes staring. "But good thing I'm never starved, not when I have my lovely munchkin with me..."

Sophie perked his lips, and my insides tightened. I quickly said, "You two need to get a room."

When they pulled apart, Sophie was still smiling. "Well, you'll understand when you're in love as we are!"

I rolled my eyes. "Love is just an expression, a demonstration of empathy!"

"So?" Dante c****d a brow, and I stiffened. "Don't tell me you're one of the walnut girls.....that are too afraid to handle a relationship?”

I c****d an eyebrow. I wasn't afraid of getting in a relationship, but I just didn't feel the spark that came with it. I loved reading more than going out, dressing up to become someone's girlfriend. It was bloody stupid. "Who said I'm afraid to handle a relationship?"

"Do you even have a boyfriend, Alina?" My sister asked, her eyebrow c****d. Everyone was staring at me, their eyes waiting for me to answer.

"No." I said, my cheeks ablaze.

Dante took another gulp of his beer, and my eyes met with his lips. I noticed the few drops of beer that dripped down, landing on his pants. "Why don't you have a boyfriend?”

“Can you guys stop asking me about my s*x life?" I was frustrated. This was the worst conversation I'd ever have since the start of the day.

Dante cleared his throat, staring back at the TV. Darrel finished chewing his pasta, when he asked, "Dante, how long's your off?"

"About a month." He said.

Sophie sighed. "Why didn't you tell us earlier that you were taking a leave? We could have looked for a bigger apartment."

"Nah, you don't have to waste money because of me..." Dante said. "...I can sleep on the couch, I really don't mind."

I was silent all this while.

I had thought about this though. Our apartment was two bedroomed, meaning he didn't have a place to stay. I originally thought he was going to be staying at a motel or something of that sort. But the couch wasn't really a bad idea. In fact, it was the worst place to sit on.

"As for your stuff, you're gonna have to share the room with Alina...." Darrel said.

My eyes widened. "You don't really mean that, do you?"

"Oh sweetheart," my sister said. "You can't possibly expect him to keep his stuff in the lounge when you've got an entire room to yourself?"

"I can't just share a room with a guy..." I said, trying to make my point. I felt shy from just the mere thought of him entering into my room whilst I sleep or something like that.

Dante looked at me. "Don't worry, I won't really bite."

I ignored him.

Sophie sighed. "Stop being such a child, dear. You'll share the room with Dante, and that's final."

I looked at Dante, and there was amusement in his eyes. "Don't worry, Alina.... You won't even see me go through your stuff!”

I knew what he was talking about, but I let it pass. I still wanted him to give me back my novel. But if we were sharing the room, then that meant it'd be easier for me to retrieve it. I saw myself smiling at the thought of that. "Fine, but only if he promises he won't even go through my shelves or anything of that sort!”

Sophie narrowed her eyes. "Now that I've come to think of it....you sound like there's something you're hiding in your room?"

My throat went dry. Dante broke into a grin, his eyes staring into mine with a knowing look. He knew my secret, he was the only one who knew I was a secret reader. He said, "Yes, Alina. Tell us, what are you hiding?”

But he knew what I could possibly be hiding. He was only doing this to make himself feel good, to make me feel like a f*****g fuckface. I c****d a brow, staring back at Sophie. "Oh Sophie...you want me to tell Dante about my pads—"

"Alina!" Sophie cut me.

I was feeling angry, especially from the fact that Dante was still staring at me, as if I was some sort of amusement toy. “What? You clearly wanted me to tell him that!”

"Geez, can you two just cut the bullshit?" Darrel always dissolved our argument as quickly as it started. There was an awkward silence between us, between all of us.

“Do you have any plans for tomorrow?” Darrel asked, his eyes staring at his brother.

Dante finished eating. "Well, I wanted to go to the mall, buy a few things I might need in the future!”

"Excellent." Sophie suddenly said and my insides twisted. I didn't like where all this was going and it made my insides twist even more. "Alina also wanted to go to mall. I guess you can both go together...."

"No.... I'd rather not!" I said.

"You won't have to use an uber.” Sophie said. "And besides, Dante will keep you safe. I'll leave my car for you guys."

But I didn't want to go out with him, not yet anyways. "Can't you just drive me to the mall, on your way to work?"

"No." Sophie said. "I'll be going with my husband.”

"Oh right, I had almost forgotten...." Darrel suddenly said. "...we have an appointment with our doctor, first thing in the morning."

"Appointment? Are you sick or something?" I asked.

"They're trying to make a baby." Dante said, his tone assured.

Sophie's eyes widened. "Wait, how did you know that!?" She looked at her husband. "You told him, didn't you?"

Darrel lifted up his hands in mock surrender. "It must have slipped my mouth by accident."

“You traitor...." Sophie said. "....it was supposed to be a surprise, but now look. You've ruined the surprise!"

But I was just smiling at the two of them.

It'd be fun to finally become an aunt alright. I could already imagine what the child would look like, if he was a boy. Maybe he'd have dark hair, and a little bit of my sister's eyes. It'd be fun I suppose.