My Volatile Stepbrother

Can't You Cook?

It was close to 1 pm when they finished. Everyone was worn out and needed some sustenance. They were all gathered in the kitchen sitting at the table, their arms slung over the backs of the chairs.

"So, anyone up for some left-over pizza?" Audrey asked. Brad and Chetum exchanged glances with unimpressed expressions.

"Can't you cook?" Brad asked.

"Well, of course, but we're all so sore—"

"So do it," Chetum said. Audrey's bubbly smile and hand gestures stopped suddenly. She closed her mouth and quickly turned around. Cassie studied her mother in bewilderment and joined her in the kitchen.

Neither spoke for a few minutes. Cassie watched her mother take out some vegetables from the refrigerator, mayo, and some sandwich meat. She leaned to Cassie and said, "This is the most 'cooking' I'm doing for them today. If Brad wants me to be his substitute, Martha, he can guess again."

Cassie giggled with her mother, but she was worried. There were so many red flags already and it was only the first day. Still, Audrey had a way of bringing people around. She worked wonders with Cassie's older sister after everything that happened to their father.

The women brought two turkey sandwiches each and set the plates in front of Chetum and Brad. Chetum reached for the sandwich off Cassie's plate.

"Hey! That's mine."

"Go make another one. I need more food than you, being that I'm constantly exercising. You just sit around reading books all day. No wonder you're so skinny."

Cassie pondered why studying was equivalent to being thin. Shouldn't it be that she would have a bit of extra padding sitting around all day? Of course, she knew why she remained thin and secretly muscular. A half-smile crossed her lips as she got out three pieces of jalapeno and pineapple pizza.

After putting them in the microwave to warm up, she rummaged through the refrigerator for a can of Diet Coke. When she closed the large stainless-steel door, Chetum surprised her. She jumped, dropping the Coke on the floor.

"Ha ha ha!" Chetum laughed. She bent down to grab it, but he got there first and scooped it up. Before Cassie could react, he popped open the tab, spraying Cassie and the kitchen. She gasped with a little squeal at the end. Chetum was nearly doubled over laughing.

Brad stood up from the table, the chair legs scraping along the hardwood floor. Chetum stopped what he was doing, hastily placing the can in the sink.

"You could have gotten that all over our stuff. The stuff we just packed so neatly to get in here without any dust or stains."

"Yes, sir. I know. I'm sorry."

Cassie watched the exchange while snatching a hand towel off the range stove nearby. She blotted herself as she observed Chetum. Brad towered over Chetum by at least five inches and Chetum was close to six feet tall. With his muscular body and commanding voice, it was no wonder people listened to Brad.

Audrey and Cassie's eyes met, noting the peculiarity. It was unsaid but understood that they'd be sneaking into Cassie's room later to discuss the plethora of dramatic encounters from today.

The microwave beeping interrupted the awkward standoff. Chetum turned around and, without prompting, grabbed some paper towels and began cleaning up the kitchen area. The soda was all over the refrigerator and the floor, but it wouldn't take him too long.

Once Chetum had finished cleaning, he went outside. Brad joined Audrey and resumed their lunch. The microwave had been beeping repeatedly every minute to remind Cassie to remove her lunch.

After taking the pizza out, she stood at the counter and ate there. She didn't want to be close to Brad right now. Her first bite was molten, and she grabbed a glass, went to the sink, and poured herself some water. As she drank, she noticed movement outside of the left window in the kitchen.

Chetum was out back kicking at the pool cover strings which were taut and unmoving. Out of his mouth hung a cigarette as he continued exploring their backyard. How could he play football and smoke? Cassie knew it was possible, but her next question was why.

As he wandered closer to their picture window, he must have known Brad was going to see him. Surprisingly, Brad did nothing when he noticed the cigarette. Audrey turned around and gasped.

"He smokes when he's playing sports?" she asked in shock.

"If he wants to screw up his chances to go further in his football career, let him. I'm tired of babysitting him."

Cassie begged to differ. Brad seemed accustomed to babysitting Chetum. What was going on with Brad? Every other interaction was confusing, and each reaction was the opposite of the last.

Audrey's phone rang, unexpectedly. The volume was extra loud for some reason which caused each of them to wince. She picked it up and quickly rose from her chair, moving into the living room. It had to be Caroline, Cassie's older sister.

Already they weren't even a minute into the conversation and Audrey's voice was raised. Cassie was alone with Brad for the moment. Despite him being so far from her, she felt self-conscious.

"So, Cassie," Brad began. "I hear you're quite the student. Almost a 4.0."

"Yeah, it's a 3.99."

"Wow. I'm impressed."

"I'm ... glad?"

Brad laughed.

"It's a breath of fresh air compared to ..." He trailed off and nodded to the window. Chetum was still out there screwing around.

Changing the subject, Cassie asked, "He doesn't have football today?"

"Surprisingly, no. Last night was a pretty big game, with homecoming and all."

That's right. It had been homecoming. Cassie was still confused about the name of that event and the fact that it was still a tradition in college from high school. She hadn't ever paid attention to it in quite a while except when she met Dylan around this time two years ago.

"I don't know much about the sport, but Chetum did okay, didn't he?" she asked.

"He could have done better."

"Could he have? I guess I didn't realize that. I thought he got two touchdowns."

"He did," Brad said. As he glanced outside at Chetum, he sighed. "Maybe I'm a little hard on him."

Cassie couldn't believe he was saying this to her. Was this strange to confess to his soon-to-be stepdaughter? Either way, she found value in it, and she wasn't going to stop him from talking.

"I think it's difficult to be a dad," she said. Brad turned, staring at her. He appeared to look comforted by that statement. He beckoned to her. Cassie slowly walked over to him. He pointed to the head of the table.

As she lowered herself in the chair, she wondered if her mother was alright. Caroline hasn't been the same since their dad died but that made sense. She had been with him that night.

"I think I wanted a daughter," Brad admitted. Cassie wasn't sure what to say. "Not in place of my boys, but I just always wanted a girl."

"Can I ask why?"

"I think I wanted to give my daughter away at her wedding." He was nodding, glancing out the window, a faraway look in his eyes. Judging by the serious expression on his face, Cassie could see he meant it.

"That's really ... nice, Brad." He turned to look at Cassie and nodded with a small smile.

At once, they heard the door burst open. It was Chetum.

"What bullsh*t is he telling you about me?"