See how mature I’m being about all of this?
“Don’t you want dessert?” Dad asks.
“I’m not really hungry.” I push my chair up to the table.
“I’ll save you a cannoli,” Catarina smiles. “You can have it tomorrow.” It’s like she’s trying to push me out of here too. Then it’ll just be the Phoebe Saxon show.
The SEX is ON!!
I hope they fucking enjoy it.
Since they all love each other so much, they can have a four way right on the dining room table.
Traitors!!
oOoOoOo + O+O+O+O
I’m not enjoying studying in my room one bit.
Why?
Because Dante is in the guest bedroom with Phoebe.
Turns out he decided to spend the night. Yay. Not. I hope Phoebe doesn’t plan on spending the night too. If Dad doesn’t say anything about it, you can be damn sure I will. No sleepovers with members of the opposite sex allowed.
I throw my pencil at my notebook and flap the cover of the SAT math book shut on my desk. This is so lame.
With Dante here, we’re like one big happy family. Too bad everyone’s happy except me.
I heard Catarina talking to Dante in the upstairs hallway earlier. It sounds like he’ll be staying for a while. Great! Kill me now.
The next thing you know, he’ll be hooking up with Phoebe in the next room!
Speaking of which, I find it impossible not to wonder what’s going on with them. I push back my chair and kneel down next to the air vent. All I can hear is muted muttering from the guest room. Well, that, and giggling from Phoebe. Did I mention she has a cute laugh? Not annoying cute, but perfect cute? Yeah, it’s perfectly annoying.
I can’t make out what they’re saying, but I’m sure everything coming out of Dante’s mouth is super charming. He’s an ass.
After a while, the talking stops.
It’s only 9:00pm.
Way too early for them to be sleeping.
I don’t hear a movie playing.
What do two people usually do when they’re in a bedroom not talking and not sleeping?
Hmmm.
I can’t imagine.
Maybe I should go knock on the door and ask if they need anything to drink? Or a condom? Or did Dante already get condoms so he could use them with Phoebe instead of me? Bastard! He wouldn’t have any if I hadn’t suggested it!
“Oh… that’s wonderful…” Phoebe moans ever so softly.
Damn it. What is he doing to her? And why isn’t he doing it to me?
Damn him!!!!
I stand up and stalk to my door and rip it open. It’s not loud because it drags on the thick carpeting. But when I go into the bathroom, I slam the door. Unfortunately, it doesn’t slam very loud. I sit down on the toilet seat with my elbows on my knees and my chin in my hands.
“Dante…” Phoebe purrs, “That’s so good.” The sound from the vent is muffled but echoey in the tiled bathroom.
Great. I forgot that the air vent to the hall bathroom connects to the guest bedroom too. I flush the toilet and pound the lever with my finger a bunch of times while gritting my teeth, even though I only need to press it once. Then I wash my hands for no reason for a really long time, making as much noise as I can. Now would be a good time for me to take a shower and sing Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson at the top of my lungs. Or maybe You Oughta Know by Alanis Morissette. Sometimes you gotta go with the classics.
Or maybe I just need to stick my head in the toilet and flush it over and over until I drown.
Stupid Dante!!
You are the biggest prick ever invented!
“That’s amazing…” Phoebe moaning again, obviously enjoying herself.
Geez, Dad, I wonder to myself, aren’t you hearing any of this? Put a stop to it already!!
But I’ve already determined that Dad is a total traitor, so why would he? I consider jamming my mouth against the air vent and screaming, “QUIT FUCKING EACH OTHER IN MY HOUSE!!”
Do I march out of this bathroom and bang on the door to the master bedroom? I’m sure Dad wouldn’t be happy if he knew what was going on under his own roof. But I can’t count on Dad at a time like this, not after how ass kissey he was at dinner.
I need to take action myself.
I whip open the bathroom door and pound down the stairs. I rip open the fridge in the kitchen and grab the plate with the cannoli covered in cling wrap. It’s not for me. I grab two forks and march upstairs. I rap my knuckles against the guest bedroom door like bullets. I’m sure they’re totally naked and screwing with abandon right now. It’ll take them a minute or two to put clothes on. It’s not like I want to see Dante naked doing the in-n-out with Phoebe or see her eating his cream filled cannoli. But I want to put a stop to it. I knock again, just to be annoying.
The door pops open mid-knock. “What’s up?” Dante asks, fully dressed.
Phoebe sits on the bed, also fully dressed, holding Dante’s tattered notebook in her hands like she was reading it.
Where’s the sex part? I thought they were totally busy getting busy.
“Um…” I stammer. “I brought you guys some more cannoli?”
He frowns at the plate. “We had some earlier. They’re really good.”
“Then you probably want another one?” I sound idiotic.
Dante turns to Phoebe, “You want more cannoli?”
She shakes her head. “I’m good. Hey, have you read Dante’s poetry? It’s amazing.” She holds up his notebook.
I tilt my head and glare at Dante. “No, I didn’t know Dante wrote poetry. He never told me.”
“I didn’t?” he asks innocently.
“No.” I try not to growl.
He shrugs. “I guess I didn’t. You can read it sometime. If you want.”
And be your sloppy seconds? I don’t think so. “Sure.”
The three of us exchange a look that says “Go away, Skye.” At least that’s what I think it says. “I guess I’ll eat this cannoli then.” I walk down the hall and slam my door to my room. With the thick carpet slowing it down once again, it swooshes more than slams. I drop into my desk chair and stab the cannoli with a fork and shove a bite into my mouth.
This is going to be a long night.
oOoOoOo + O+O+O+O
Two hours later, the bitch is still here.
When is she going to leave? I’m too tired to study more. I already washed my face and got ready for bed. But she’s. Still. Here.
Can I throw her out? I live here. I have jurisdiction.
I shake my head, staring at the ceiling. When will my torment end?
Normally, I would get Rox on the phone so I could whine about it to her. But I can’t tell her what’s going on with me and Dante. Or what went on, because he and I are done, as far as I’m concerned. But something tells me I shouldn’t tell Rox. If I do, it will lead to her being hurt because I kept her in the dark about everything Dante and I did already. I’ve had enough drama for one day.
A minute later, I hear a knock in the hallway.
I hop out of bed and open my door a crack as quietly as possible so I can listen and watch.
Dad stands in front of the guest bedroom. Light pours out when the door opens. “Hey, Dante,” Dad says in a low voice.
“Hey, Mr. Albright,” Dante says. When did he get all respectful? Probably when he realized Dad could supply him with a free fuckpad for him and his floozy.
“Don’t you think it’s time to take Phoebe home? It’s eleven o’clock and it’s a school night. Time for lights out, am I right?”
For once in my life, I can finally say it: Go, Dad!! Kick the bitch to the curb!!!!
“Sure,” Dante says. “I’ll take her home right now.”
Good riddance!
After some muffled sounds, Dante and Phoebe walk out of the guest bedroom and Dad watches them go down the stairs. Then he turns to face my door. Usually it’s closed this late. Luckily my lights are off or else he’d tota
lly see me. I scramble toward my bed and slide under the covers. Feeling hella guilty, I pretend to be sleeping. No fake snoring. That’s a dead giveaway.
I hope Dad isn’t going to do a bedtime knock and talk. I’m so not in the mood.
Luckily, he latches my door quietly and walks away.
For once, I’m glad for Dad. He did something right this evening.
I doze off to sleep at some point, I’m not sure when.
Then my eyes pop open. I was dreaming of Dante. Sex with Dante. Steamy wet and slippery sex with Dante. Luckily, Phoebe wasn’t in the dream.
Phoebe.
Is Dante with her?
Disgust turns my stomach. Or maybe it was that cannoli I inhaled before bed.
I glance at the clock. It’s 1:30am. That’s more than long enough for Dante to have driven her home and come back here. Okay, I have to know. I slip out of bed, my eyes adjusted to the pink glow of my nightlight. I twist open my doorknob and creep down the hall. The house is completely silent.
And the guest bedroom is completely empty.
The door stands wide open.
Maybe Dante is downstairs because he couldn’t sleep? I pad down the stairs in my PJs. I check the whole house. It’s dark and gloomy and just as empty as the guest bedroom. Damn it. I trudge back upstairs and get into bed. There’s no way I’m sleeping now. I’m too irritated. Not angry. My anger subsided when she left the house. Now I’m disgruntled.
Is Dante spending the night with her at her place, wherever that may be? Is Phoebe the Saxon Klaxon riding him right now like he’s a bucking bronco, screaming like a firetruck siren? With that biker chick outfit of hers and flaming red hair, you know she’s a screamer.
Am I jealous? Of course. I wanted Dante.
But you know what? He’s a total liar. I should call him Dante Lord of the Lies from here on out. Earlier today, he said he couldn’t leave town because of me. I was all ready to buy his bashful bullshit. I was fully under the impression that he came back for me. So what the hell is with Phoebe? Did he meet her today? Did he already know her? Somehow, that intel never came out during dinner. But they sure got along like gangbusters. Or should I say, gang-bangers?
I roll my eyes. I don’t want to think about them in the sack.
But, when did they meet? Was it the day after I met Dante? After he took off? Is that why he never came back to the house? Maybe he’s been sleeping at her place ever since. That makes perfect sense! I am an idiot! Of course that’s what happened! Any woman in her right mind would take one look at a hot stud like Dante Lord and sink her claws into him and hold on for dear life. I certainly tried. But that doesn’t mean he won’t get away.
I turn in bed so I’m flat on my back, staring at the ceiling. I sigh sourly and knot the sheets in my fingers.
Maybe it’s better I found out the truth about Dante now. Who knows what kind of heartbreak I’d have been in for if things went any further with him? The good news is that we did not have sex. That’s Phoebe’s job from here on out. She’s welcome to it. Good luck holding on to him. I hope she has sharp claws because he’ll probably bring some new hot trollop over to her place for dinner a week from now.
Maybe Dad was right about Dante all along.
I’m starting to wish he never came back.
Chapter 9
“Why didn’t you tell me Dante came back?” Rox demands, hurt.
I take a rolled up square of shag carpet out of my bag and set it on the bottom of my open locker during brunch. “Because I just found out yesterday!”
“Well, why didn’t you tell me then?” she huffs.
“It all happened really fast,” I lie. “He just showed up at the house for dinner.” More lies. I reach into my bag and pull out a package of removable wallpaper. I tear the cellophane open and pull out a sheet. It has pastel pink clouds floating against a pink sky.
“You could’ve invited me over. You know I’m interested in him.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t be.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“He’s my stepbrother, Rox! How weird would it be for you to be dating him?” I’m the one who should be dating him! If he ever dumps Phoebe, that is. “I don’t like the idea of you making out with him in the next room, you know? It’s weird. Can you help me with this?” I hold up the folded sheet of wallpaper.
“Sure.” Rox helps me unfold it.
It’s way too big for the locker, but I brought scissors. Rox holds the paper up while I cut it to fit the inside of my locker door.
“What if I promised never to hook up with Dante when you were around?” Rox asks, still holding up the wallpaper. “You wouldn’t need to know.”
“But I would know, Rox. That’s the problem.” I shake the scissors for emphasis. All I can think about is how much it’s tearing me up inside to know that Dante is doing who knows what with Phoebe. If it was Rox, I would go nuts.
“Easy with those scissors, Lizzy Borden,” Rox blurts, leaning away defensively.
I roll my eyes and resume cutting the paper.
“I don’t want to be selfish, Skye, but don’t you think you would get used to it after awhile?”
“Why are you so hung up on Dante? He’s never around anyway.” I sound really irritated, but I can’t hide it.
“Are you kidding? You were there at Blazing Waters, right?”
“Yes, I was there,” I growl.
“You saw how hot he was. Right?”
“Yes!” I say stridently.
“So you know why I can’t stop thinking about him.”
Welcome to the club.
“Someone has to go there,” she grins. “So, why not me?”
I sigh harshly. “Well, what if you guys do hook up, but then you have a bad break up? Then I’d have to choose between you and him. Right? Imagine how complicated that would be.”
She chews her lip thoughtfully. She’s thinking it over.
I press the argument, “Besides, when did you ever have any problems getting hot guys?”
“Never,” she grins. “But Dante is a man, not a guy.”
“So let’s go down to UCLA on the weekend and I’ll help you troll for a college man. How does that sound? Maybe we’ll even find you a sexy med student. Then you can date a hot doctor.”
Her eyes flash. “That could be fun.”
“Then we’ll do that.” I finish cutting the wallpaper and peel off the adhesive backing.
We carefully press the paper onto the locker door.
“Nice,” Rox smiles, admiring our work.
“Thanks for the help.”
“So, um, if Dante has dinner with you again tonight, will you call me?”
I grit my teeth. “What about UCLA?”
She shrugs, “That’s not till this weekend.”
“Can’t you wait?”
“Promise you’ll call me?”
Wow, she’s not giving up on this. “Fine,” I groan. “I’ll call you if he comes for dinner.” Maybe he’ll bring Phoebe and Rox will let it go.
“Hey, Skye!” Jason Carpenter smiles, walking up with a binder under his arm that says Magic The Gathering on the front. I have no idea what that is. He takes one look at Rox and nearly drops his binder. Rox is stunning. These things happen. “Uh…” he stammers and swallows hard. “Is this your friend?”
Rox smiles indulgently but says nothing. She usually doesn’t notice any male who is shorter than 5’11”.
“Rox, this is my locker neighbor Jason Carpenter.”
Jason stares at her, transfixed by her beauty. “Uhh… Do you play Magic The Gathering?”
“Magic the What?” Rox laughs.
Jason lifts up his binder and opens it. Inside are a bunch of plastic pages filled with some sort of trading cards. Jason stares at the cards, fascinated. “It’s a collectible card game. See, you collect the cards and build a deck—”
“Anyway,” Rox says to me.
I elbow her and hiss, “Don’t be rude. Jason is telling
us about his card game.”
Jason glances between us, totally confused.
BRIIIIIIIIINGGGG!!!
The five minute bell.
“We should go,” Rox says. “We don’t want to be late for class, do we?”
Jason deflates.
I say, “You can tell her about Magic the Wizarding next time, Jason.”
His eyes light. “Oh, okay! But it’s Magic the Gathering.”
“That’s what I said,” I frown.
“No, you said Wizarding! That’s Harry Potter.”
“Oh,” I giggle uncertainly.
“We should go,” Rox says.
“Do you guys wanna play some time? Magic, I mean?” The way he says “play” sounds so cute. Like grade school. “Some really cool guys play Magic in the library at lunch.”
I can imagine how “cool” said guys are. Erm, no. “Maybe later?” I say politely.
“Yeah, okay! I gotta go! I don’t want to be tardy. Bye!” He runs off.
“Bye, Jason!” I wave.
“He’s cute,” Rox muses. “But too young for you.” She breaks into a laugh. “You should stick to Luke. I heard you talked to him yesterday.”
“You did? From who?”
“From him.”
Oh, no. I hope he didn’t mention Dante. Rox might figure things out. “Uhh… what did he say?”
“He said you guys had lunch together.”
“What else did he say?” I swallow hard.
“Just that you guys never should’ve broken up.”
Stepbrother Obsessed Page 16
