Torn between Stepbrothers

Chapter 7

Summer’s POV

My life is over!

What if he says something? Confusion set into my head.

Standing by the door was my mom, her arms folded on her chest while gazing at me with a glare,

“Why is it taking you so long to bring the salad?” she snarled, I couldn't tell if she had seen us or she just wasn’t willing to raise an alarm about this but I grabbed the salad and ran out of the kitchen to the dining table, not daring to make eye contact with anyone. “You had to take your time huh?” my mother said flatly, not sparing me a glance, she grabbed the bowl from me and gently placed it in the middle of the table, she continued to talk to my stepfather whom I now knew as Troy.

Trey came back to his seat, and he glanced at me before burying his face in his food. “This tastes nice ma’am.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying it.” she smiled. “It’s okay to call me mom.” she added sneakily.

Trey didn’t say anything and nodded his head quietly. Mom turned to Troy, curiosity in her eyes. “What about the other boy? He didn’t come around?”

“Seems to be occupied by his activities.” Troy sighed, clenching his jaw.

“It’s alright, just throwing some tantrums, he’ll come along.” My mother tells him, gently rubbing his palm, gently pulling him back to his seat.

“He’s a nuisance! Why does he have to be so stubborn?” Troy complained, glancing up at Trey I could see his gaze lingering on mine, I quickly stared down at my food again.

I continued to listen to Troy and my mother lead a conversation in a jovial tone, they talked about some inaudible things I couldn’t get myself to hear because my focus was elsewhere. The memory of the kiss burned on my skin, I gently touched my lips, recalling how warm his lips felt on mine.

I slowly looked up at him again and caught Trey smirking at me. “You like it?”

I was taken aback in panic. “What?” My eyes danced around the room, why would he ask that here and now? In front of our parents? Is he crazy?

“I’m talking about the food.” He nudged his head at my half-eaten food.

Oh! I let out a sigh of relief, I knew what he was doing! “Y-yes.” I nodded, biting my lower lip, and I pressed my hand into a fist, under the table. “It’s delicious.”

“Than what you had earlier?” He pushed further, his gaze boring into my body, I felt my cheeks burn up in embarrassment, I glared at him furiously, the urge to spank his head with a pan made even more sense.

“What do you mean?” I asked innocently, my heart racing so fast I could have a panic attack.

“I heard you two go to the same school.” My mom spoke up, seeming like she had an interest in us all of a sudden. “It would be easier for you two to bond like siblings.”

“Of course, tangled like siblings in the best way possible.” He snickered, taking little bites from his food while staring me down.

“That’s nice, I hope she doesn’t rub off her boring nature on you.” Mom joked. “Oh that can’t happen anyways.” she let out a light chuckle, looking away, I forced some food down my throat, I had long lost my appetite but didn’t want to seem rude by leaving, this was their first time here and I dinner want mom buzzing me about my attitude, she could throw me out if possible.

After some moment of silence, Troy ripped his napkin and leaned back in his chair, his voice deep in gong as he spoke, I looked up at him almost immediately. “Summer you’re moving in with us.”

I froze.

“You will come over to my place, it has a lot more space, it’s quiet there, and it has a nice neighbourhood."

My stomach twisted, gently placing the fork back on the plate, my brows furrowed. “It’s all too fast,” I spoke up, my voice barely over a whisper at first, I sat straighter, repeating myself. “It’s happening too fast.”

Mom sighed, settling her glass down and turned to face me. “Nothing happening now is fast Summer, life has to move on and so shouldn’t you.”

I didn’t say anything, she can’t understand even if she was supposed to, she was supposed to know how I felt about this, we went through the loss of my father together and I still hadn’t gotten over it, getting entangled in another family didn’t settle with me, especially knowing the guys are my mate and one is clearly flirting with me, right under their noses and they couldn’t detect it. Staying with them could be so much worse for me.

“Get your things ready, we will be moving in a few days.” Mother said to me before concentrating back on her food like I didn’t matter anymore.

I didn’t say anything, I couldn’t say anything, was it because of the guilt or fear of what she could do to me?

“I have some homework to do,” I announced. “I will be going to my bedroom.”

No one said anything so I took that as my cue to leave, from the corner of my eyes I saw my mother keenly interested in Trey, they talked naturally unlike how awkward I always behaved.

One no was inside my room, I shut the door behind me and slid to the floor, letting out the tears I had been holding. Things were moving fast and yet I’m stuck in my chains, when would I let myself heal from this?

I walked to the dresser, my steps were silent on the rug, I reached out to the edge of a frame that held my dead father’s photo inbox, it was of him wearing a straw hat in an old truck and one hand on the window.

I pressed my arm against the frame. I’m sorry.” I whispered. “It’s my fault and things are falling apart now.” Pressing the frame on my chest I stepped back and sat on the edge of the bed, this was the closest I could get to being comforted.

I sighed, standing and walking towards the window, opening it? I let the evening air into my room, the crickets creaking made it even more nostalgic until I saw a figure move in front of me. I jerked back, falling to the floor, seeing a figure jump through the window into my room.

I let out a scream but his hands quickly covered my mouth, containing my scream.

I was breathing hard, eyes wide and ears perked up.

“There’s no need to scream princess.” He said, I could recall his voice, seeing his outfit, and noticing his scent, I finally realized he was the same guy from the previous day.

What was he doing here?

I shoved him away and curled up in a corner, glaring at him. “What do you want? If you’re some petty thief, I don’t have any-“

He c****d his head to the side staring at me. “Thief? Princess don’t say that, I just…” he sighed and sat on my bed like we were friends already. “The guys chased me down the street and you were the only one I could run to.”

I eyed him suspiciously, there was no way I was going to fall for his pathetic lies. “Well they would have left already, you should leave,” I picked myself up from the floor, grabbing my fathers frame from the floor, thankfully it hadn’t cracked, I placed it on the table and turned to this guy. “I don’t know you and I’m not comfortable with the idea of having a random dude in my room.”

“Why?” He pressed on, standing up he walked up to me, his cold blue eyes never leaving mine. “Do you think I might hurt you?” His tone changed, I couldn’t decipher whether he was angry or just trying to scare me.

I felt my legs cripple with fear, shaking beneath my body like they would give out at any moment.

He slowly walked , cornering me against the wall. “Take one more step closer and i will scream, im not alone.” I warned. He stopped, a small distance between us, looking down at me.

“Good thing you aren't with a weapon this time.” he snickered.

I wanted to respond when I heard footsteps making their way towards my room.

A knock.

My adrenaline rush sparked, I pushed him looking around in panic. “Hide somewhere.” I hushed, my room was pretty small and there was barely anywhere to hide for a big guy like him but there wasn't time.

He stood there unfazed like he was intentionally trying to get caught, gritting my teeth. I reached out to him, just then the door creaked open.