we got home after he followed my date and me to make sure I got home safe.
“That was poorly done, dad. I got good grades, got into your alma mater, the least you could do is let me fulfill at least one high school dream.”
“Not on my watch, kid. He’s not worthy of you; none of them are. Trust me; you’ll thank me one day.” Had he known that Jared was in my future, he wouldn’t have said that. Then again, had he known there was such a being as Jared in the distance, he would’ve shipped me off to the nearest convent, but I digress.
After seeing the byplay between my brother and Tessa and realizing how smoothly she'd orchestrated her plan of subterfuge, I started seeing men as little more than playthings for clever women. Again, this was before Jared. After that one, all bets are off. But again, I digress.
After that night, I was back in business; I had a face and a first name. Now all I needed was their yearbook, and I would go from there. Imagine my brother’s surprise though the next morning, when he awoke to a disgruntled little sister who was not pleased with anything.
“Hey sis, you ready to go have some breakfast?” I looked from him to her and tried not to sneer. I put on my best bratty pout and sulked. “I was hoping we could spend the day together, just you and me. I haven’t seen you in a while, and we never have fun together anymore.”
I could already see that Medusa was not liking where this was going, not like I gave a shit. I was doing this because I knew it would rub someone like her the wrong way. I’d watched them all night last night and seen the manipulative, controlling ways in which she got him to do her bidding. But I had two things going for me.
One, our parents were not too happy with my brother right now, and I was the only family who was willing to give him the time of day without lecturing him unto death, and two, I have no qualms about shaming him into getting my way. Two can play at that game, and if this twit thinks she can outmaneuver me in the whining to get my way game, she’s sorely mistaken.
Now here’s the thing, my brother might leave his wife and kids and be an all-around jackass, but the one thing he will never do is put anyone before me. Especially not some slag that wasn’t even his wife. Not only because we were raised to be each other’s sidekick, but because dad would have his ass if he even tried.
“I’m sorry, babe, she’s right. It’s been a while since she’s been home, and we haven’t had time to catch up.”
“But…” She started to object, but I grabbed the jackass of the century’s arm and started leading him to the door. “Ooh great, let’s go to that place that we all used to love. I remember Deidre used to love their Sunday brunch…oops. Sorry.” I looked back over my shoulder at her with the most insincere smile of apology. She knew, and from one bitch to another, fuck her.
“It’s going to take me a while to get used to the changes, I guess.” Take that, you witch! I didn’t stick my tongue out or anything, I wasn’t quite ready to burn this particular bridge yet, but it was close. This was just a little power play to show her where she stood. I never had to do that shit with Deidre because I trusted her to take care of my brother. This one, I don’t know what the hell she’s up to.
I dragged him off to brunch, where I pretended to give a damn and did my best not to point out the fact that he’d lost his damn mind. I didn’t bring up the ex or his kids because he was still in asshole mode, which meant he wouldn’t hear a word I said, so I pretended I didn’t know shit. In the end, it was he who brought it up.
“I guess you know by now that Deidre and I are getting divorced.” I kept my head down in the menu so he wouldn’t see the kill lights in my eyes. “I figured as much when you moved out and moved in with someone else.”
“Don’t you want to know the reasons why?”
“Only if you want to tell me.”
“Hmm.”
“What’s