My Boyfriends Brother

Chapter 16 Michael’s Mystery

“Sierra, are you alright? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.” All the color was drained from her face as she stared at the empty space in front of her. “Sierra, maybe you should go lay down?” I walked up to her carefully, grabbing her shoulders and turning her around. She seemed to be really out of it. 

“Just go away…” she whispered to her side. 

“You want me to go?” I asked, letting her go. 

“Not you Michael. I mean, I want you to stay,” she said while looking up at me, forcing a smile. 

“Are you alright?” I asked looking into her eyes. 

“I’m sorry, I was just…lost in my own head. Silly me ya know,” she chuckled. 

“Yeah…okay…” We made our way back into the house and as I closed the door, I turned to see Sierra angrily staring next to me, at the door. “Ummm, are you hungry? I finished cleaning the kitchen for you and thought maybe we could start cooking together, if you’re up for it of course,” I said cautiously. 

“Yes, MICHAEL, I would love to cook with you. If you could excuse me though, I need to go to the bathroom. You can start taking everything out and start washing off the produce. Thanks Mike.” Sierra stormed off to the bathroom and slammed the door. 

“Yeah…okay then,” I mumbled and headed into the kitchen to do what she asked. Did something happen outside or what? Her whole tone changed since she went to take the trash out. She was acting weird but who am I to judge. 

All night Sierra seemed like she wasn’t here. Like her mind was somewhere else. I could’ve sworn she kept whispering to herself. I was hoping what she told me earlier, about seeing Mathew, wasn’t happening again. I know I wouldn’t want to face my brother. Especially not after what happened between us. 

“Hey do you want me to go or stay the night?” I asked.

She turned her head towards me and said, “You can stay…” She looked really tired. Bags forming under her eyes. 

“Are you alright Sierra?” I asked, pulling her chin up and looking into her eyes. “I can leave if you want me too…”

“Michael…I think I’m losing my mind.” She whispered, closing her eyes. 

“What makes you say that?”

She opened her eyes and said, “I don’t know if my mind is playing tricks on me or if I’m really seeing his ghost.” 

Ah so she is seeing Mathew again. “Shhh, you’re not crazy,” I said, pulling her into my chest for a hug. “A lot has happened in such a short amount of time.” 

“Michael, I’m scared. What if I’m not seeing things? What if it really is him? Would it be wrong for me to turn him away?” I could see tears forming in her eyes as she looked up at me. It hurt to see her this way. I didn’t know what to do

So I decided to say, “what do your instincts tell you?”

“I don’t know…I’m just so confused. I feel so guilty Michael.”

“About us?” I asked, even I could hear the pain in my own voice. 

“Yeah… I mean…isn’t it wrong? Mathew just died and now I’m here shacking it up with his brother?”

Ouch. Fair, but still hurt. “Damn Sierra, tell me how you really feel.”

“No, I don’t mean it like that Mike. I—I actually care about you. You’ve been…amazing. But I feel horrible about it. Especially now seeing what I think is Matt’s ghost. I just don’t know what to do…” Sierra trailed off.

“Is her here now?” I asked curiously. 

“No, he left a little while ago. I think my ignoring him got to him and he left. I feel horrible about it though. Should I have done that? Ignored him? I mean, I did—do love him. I’m just so confused and I don’t know what to do Mike. My emotions have been all over the place,” she rambled. I could tell this was eating at her. She was a kind person and she hated to hurt others. I can understand how frustrating it can be though. Well not really, it’s not like I can see Mathew. 

“Is there anything I can do?” 

She looked at me for a moment before speaking, “Can you just keep holding me like this? I’m exhausted.”

“Of course I can.” I leaned down and kissed her forehead, letting her slowly drift off into sleep.