together as the days pass. And even worse, I have to listen to their escapades night and fucking day because Parker won’t shut up about them.
It’s all about June these days.
June bought me this shirt; June took me to lunch at this restaurant. June wants to get me an opening at an art gallery; June gave me tickets to this concert.
I don’t want to tell him she’s basically supporting him, because everything Parker tells me about our stepsister involves her giving him stuff or money. You’re her bitch, I want to tell Parker viciously. And she’ll never see you as anything but her stepbrother.
But I don’t say a word even though it’s hard to stop myself. I don't want to be the obsessive twin. I don't want to be the one who falls asleep dialing June's number without a single answer, either, but I am. To top it all off, I feel disconnected from my brother. He doesn’t have a clue about the kiss June and I shared. He doesn’t even know I’ve had a crush on her for years.
Parker is my twin. No matter who I’m with, he is my other half. He knows everything about me, and keeping this secret is tormenting me, tearing me apart, and making me grumpy as fuck.
He used to love June. I know he did. They were best friends. But now all he talks about when we’re alone is the money. He’s in it to win it—still stuck on the plan I’ve almost abandoned as a thing that belongs in the drunken past.
Parker is a user. He’s going to hurt her and take the money, and I can do fuck all about it because it was my idea. And selfishly, I want to be the one to make June laugh, make her cringe, make her blush. I want to be the one who hurts her. I don’t want Parker to have that power over me. But as the days pass, he becomes her confidant, and I become nothing but a memory from her past.
My mind blurs all days together. They become a mess of Parker coming and going, his smile growing bigger each day as he spends more and more time with June. I am never once invited to come with them. It’s like I don’t fucking exist. She doesn’t try to contact me, not once. Doesn't pick up the phone when I call her. And the days pass slower and slower.
What fucking sucks is that Parker gets to see her smile every goddamn day. And he never fails to tell me all about his meetings with June.
Did I know June started drinking coffee when she hated it as a kid?
Did he tell me June thinks blue looks good on him?
Oh, and did he mention June bought him art supplies to last him several months?
But the best of all, according to Parker, will be her face when he eventually breaks up with her. Because Parker is sure all this is building up to a relationship. And viciously, he can’t wait to hurt her.
It’s all my fault.
And I can’t do shit about it.
9
Parker
"Hey, Dale."
"Kade?"
"Nah, Parker."
"Oh, hey man." My brother's best friend's voice grows more distant, less interested, and I grit my teeth before I go on. I have to play nice with the frat boy to get what I want. There's no room for mistakes here.
"Haven't seen you in a while," I go on jovially even though I feel anything but.
"Yeah, your brother's been playing hooky on his friends." Dale laughs easily.
"Well, I think it's time you dragged him out again," I suggest, feigning innocence. "Kade's been all depressed lately, and I think he really needs a fun night out."
"This about that June girl again?"
"What?"
"You know, your stepsister or whatever. He's still hung up on her, I'm guessing?"
"I guess." My teeth grit, and my jaw hardens as I listen to him. Everyone knows about Kade's obsession apart from me, it seems. "So, what do you say? You and your friends should take him out tonight. I heard there's a new place called Pulse opening in SoHo. What do you say? Kade needs a distraction and a pair of long legs in his bed."
"Of course." Dale chuckles, and we share a rare moment of camaraderie. "I'll set something up for tonight with the boys."
"Thanks, man." I almost think he's going to invite me to come out with them. I would've said no because I have other plans, but my own desperation to be included in