“I have nasty text messages he sent me—from recently to years ago,” Leonidas answers her, looking into the distance.
“Same,” Elijah and I say at the same time.
Turning, we glare at one another. Triplet shit.
Trinity knocks her knuckles on the kitchen table as she thinks out loud. “We need more proof other than text messages. You guys have to have videos. Maybe where you can hear him in the background.”
“We have old, unedited music videos we never posted on YouTube.” I shrug, glaring down at my plate. “Do you have any unedited videos, Leonidas? Maybe it’s possible to hear him on those.”
“I’m sure I do,” he whispers from across the table. “But it’s going to take a lot of digging. Might take me weeks.”
“That’s okay. We have time.” Elijah waves him off. “And I was also thinking—”
“Oh no, that’s never good,” Leonidas interrupts, leaning back in his chair while crossing his arms.
The glare Elijah sends him couldn’t even kill a fruit fly. “As I was saying, what’s the harm in setting up cameras here since we’re forced to live with him? That way, if Dad ever acts out, we have the footage.”
Smiling, I high-five him. Dad never really leaves his office anymore. He stays in there all day until he goes to sleep in one of our many spare bedrooms. We’ve pushed Mom to get out more. She goes shopping during the day, and she’s also made some friends around the neighborhood. Nothing makes me feel more relieved than thinking Mom isn’t home alone all day with Dad.
She actually left recently to spend some time in Canada with Trinity’s mom. She felt awful, leaving us here alone, but we reassured her we’d feel better if she was there, away from Dad.
“We’ll buy the cameras and set them up.” Leonidas gestures to himself and his girlfriend.
We all pick up our cookies, bring them to the middle of the table, and cheer. And as I take a bite and smile at my favorite people in the world, I attempt to look my happiest, even when I feel nothing but sadness.
CHAPTER25
LEVI
Idon’t know what came over me, but as I was sitting, bored out of my mind after practicing all day with the boys, I texted Amelia to come over. I didn’t make up a stupid excuse as to why I wanted her to come over. I just told her to come by.
Throughout my entire life, I’ve always made stupid mistakes, but after I hit the Send button, I promised myself I wouldn’t overthink my decision.
This might help or worsen the situation I’m facing with Stella. She’s never had a good female role model to look up to. Since she met Amelia that one night she came over for our live video, all Stella has been doing is talking nonstop about her. As if it isn’t bad enough that I have to see her every day when I’m at work, I now have to hear about her when I get home.
Out of everyone in my life who could torture me, it’s my baby sister. She’s a traitor. All this talking about a certain blonde is not good for my heart, soul, my sanity …
So, I said fuck it. We’re grown-ass adults. I can be around her without always imagining taking her clothes off.
I have too much faith in myself.
A knock on the door makes me have to untangle myself from Stella. Her head droops to a pillow, and I tuck a blanket around her. I make sure to lower the TV’s volume as the Disney movie she was watching moments before she fell asleep plays.
I head over to the door and have to physically keep my jaw from not falling to the floor when I find Amelia waiting for me patiently.
“What took you so long?” She crosses her arms, making her boobs bunch at the sweetheart neckline of her pink sundress, and I’m not complaining at the sight at all.
Deciding to keep my mouth shut in an effort not to get into another fight, I open the door wider for her. She slips inside and turns to me.
“So, what am I doing here? Did I miss an email from Justin?”
Here’s the number one reason why I shouldn’t have invited her because, now, I’m going to look like I care. I would be lying if I said I still dislike her, but I can’t admit that for the life of me. So, I lie to save my ego.
“I thought it would be a good idea if we took more pictures since my manager has been whining in my ear about posting more content.”
Sorry, Fay.
I swear a hint of disappointment flashes in her eyes before she clears her throat and straightens her shoulders.
