18
STEVEN
My anxiety turns to frustration the closer I get to my parents’ house. I’m still not set on how I’m going to convince Cam to keep his damn mouth shut about what he saw.
In all honesty, we weren’t even naked, so he didn’tseeanything.
Unfortunately, we were kissing…heavily. So my counterargument isn’t going to hold up, especially if this gets back to Russell.
At this point, while I want to save face for Becca, I couldn’t care less what anyone has to say about our relationship. What matters is that we are happy and she’s taken care of. I’m more than capable of caring for her and Damian.
In fact, I welcome it. I am in love with her, and I’m exhausted trying to hide it. Russell will be furious, but like everyone else, he will eventually get over it. I crossed a boundary that I shouldn’t have. I broke a major bro code, but Becca is happy with me.
Doesn’t that count for something?
As I pull into the driveway, I park behind Cam’s car, which is pulled in haphazardly behind my parents’, and dash inside as quickly as I can.
“Oh, and here he is,” Cam announces as I rush into the house and find them in the living room. Both my parents are sitting on the gold-bordered white sofa, while Cameron is pacing in front of them with his hands angrily resting on his hips.
I huff as they all glare at me. It’s evident that he already told them what he saw—and most likely exaggerated it. I wish I could’ve been a fly on the wall for that performance.
“How could you betray your baby brother like this?” my father chimes in. “He’s always looked up to you. Taking a girl from him…I raised you better than this.”
His words go in one ear and out the other. My father’s old speech ofI’m disappointed in youran its course a long time ago. He was only around as I was growing up long enough to scold me, and then I wouldn’t see him for days on end.
I get that work can take up a lot of someone’s time, but I also run my own company and have plenty of time to still see the people I love.
For God’s sake, he owned the largest shipping company in Grand Rapids—Apex Freight—but he had everything covered by others. Still to this day, I believe he loved the idea of a family, but when it came time to actually parent, he kept away, not wanting the responsibility.
From what I heard growing up, his own father was the same way, so it must’ve been drilled into him. It doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt any less. That’s why I vowed never to be like him. My children will know that their father is happy they were born.
They will never have to question if they are truly loved.
I roll my eyes as he continues to scold me.
I’m just tired of the excuses they make for Cam. He’s an adult now and should start acting like it. He isn’t hurt. He is spoiled, ungrateful, and deserves a little taste of his own medicine, which he got tonight.
“This is the first time we are even hearing about a woman. Who is she?” Mom speaks up, looking between her two sons.
“Steven hired her a few weeks ago at work. Her name is Becca. Becca Gallagher.” Cam answers her question, but our parents’ reaction strikes me as odd.
Their eyes widen, and Mom even grips my father’s wrist. As they share a glance between them, Mom mumbles to him, “She’s back?”
I barely catch it, but I raise an eyebrow at Cam, who gives me the same look back. In that small moment, we put our differences aside and both want to know what the hell she meant byshe’s back.
Pushing that aside, I get back to why I’m here. “Listen…He’s overreacting. Becca has turned him down countless times, and he just can’t take a damn hint.” I grow angrier with every word as I turn to face Cam.
“You need to get over the idea that you stand a chance.”
Cam’s face reddens as he steps toward me, clenching his fists. I’m not one for violence, but I’m damn sure not going to back down, especially if he wants to buck at me. Right now, I’m praying he throws the first punch.
It’s been a long time coming. I’ve spent years putting up with his tantrums and bullshit. That ends tonight. My eyes look down at his fists, and I smirk, almost inviting him to make a move. He needs a good spanking to bring him back to reality.
When we were younger, there wasn’t a single day that went by where we weren’t doing some form of fighting. I was older and much larger, so he would never be able to win. It would always piss him off, but he would run away crying to Mom, where she would scold me.
Maybe the special treatment he got is the reason I’ll always feel some resentment toward him.
“Come on, tough guy. Swing…I dare you,” I threaten, pressing my chest against his. He chuckles eerily.
