Anti-Stepbrother - Tijan Page 0,106
Kevin’s towels.
“What’s going on?” Avery asked me.
I had no idea. I shook my head.
“We’re done, Phillip,” the cleaning guys called.
“Good. Did you put condoms in there?”
One cursed. “I will now.” And he was off.
I was in shock. My knees knocked against each other as I turned to find myself face to face with the screen door guy.
I saw the hostility and rasped out, “What’d you say to Caden?”
He snorted, motioning behind me. “You can go, D. Thanks for getting that room done so quick.”
“Hey.” Claudia took off after him. I heard her asking as they went up the stairs, “What is going on?”
D nodded and nearly sprinted upstairs. I stepped forward, standing in Phillip’s doorway. He couldn’t shut the door in my face that way, and I reached out, bracing myself so I’d be ready if he tried.
“What happened?”
“Your stepbrother’s a piece of shit.”
“I’m aware,” I repeated. “What happened?”
I needed to know where Caden was. Badly. It was becoming imperative now.
“Caden called a house ultimatum.”
“Ultimatum? What does that mean?”
“Him or your stepbrother.” He snorted. “Take a big guess who we picked. Your stepbro’s out. We sent him packing as soon as the vote went through.”
“What?”
Avery pointed to the bathroom. “We were just in there. How did all this happen so quickly?”
Phillip shrugged. “Your boy decided. Called it in, and the house rallied real quick. That’s all I can say.”
“Where is Caden? I know you know.”
“You haven’t called him?”
I looked at my phone. There was a text from Kevin. Call me! Got kicked out because of your boyfriend! A second one from Sheila. Did you talk to Kevin yet? Then nothing. It was blank. No calls. The empty screen was like a knife plunged into my chest.
Caden had left me, like my mom did.
No. I pushed that fear away, stomping it down.
“Can I use your phone?” I didn’t know what was going on between Caden and me. He might not answer my call, but he would answer a call from one of his fraternity brothers.
“Why?”
“My phone’s not working.”
He snorted. “Since now?”
“Yes.” I dropped it and stomped a foot on it. Fine, you fucker. I held my hand out. “Let me make one call.”
He swore, but handed me his phone. “Fine, but I’m going to cover my own ass if he doesn’t want to hear from you.”
My hand closed around the phone like it was a life raft. “Deal.”
I dialed Caden. His voice came on the line. “What’s up?”
“Caden,” I started.
Phillip yelled over my shoulder, “I’m sorry. She took my phone. I’m trying to get it back now.” He reached for it, but I swatted his hand away. I shot him a dark look, and he held up both of his hands.
For good measure, I left. If I kept moving, the world wouldn’t crash down on me.
I went up the stairs and into the hallway. “Hey. It’s me. I didn’t know if you would answer my call.” I made one more turn, went down the hallway where I’d first met Caden, and out the side door.
“What are you doing on Phillip’s phone?”
“Ah. Fuck.” A large truck blocked my way. More guys were unloading it, taking kegs to the backyard.
“I think your house is having a party tonight.”
“That’s why you’re calling?”
“No.” The guys began taking the kegs past me to the backyard. I cupped my hand around the phone, lowering my voice. “I had to call. I broke down. I don’t know why—well, I think I do, but I know you saw that.”
“I saw you in another guy’s arms. Yes.”
I had to stop. Everything had to stop. This was it.
Closing my eyes, I took a breath. I heard the door open behind me. I didn’t know who was there. I didn’t look. Whether it was Phillip coming for his phone or Avery, or even Claudia, I held up a hand, hoping they’d stop. I needed this time, right now.
“I am in love with you.”
There it was. It was out there. I couldn’t take it back. I kept going, “Kevin said stupid stuff, but that’s Kevin. He’s stupid, and for some reason I broke down.” I paused. He wasn’t saying anything. “I think maybe I should do this in person—”
I considered that. Him standing in front of me, waiting, completely shut down as I poured out my heart. No. Now was good. I was going for now.
“Kevin came into my life when my mom left. It happened so fast. She was gone, we were burying her, and then boom. I had a new family.