I press replay, and focus intently, banishing any thoughts of Melody from my head. At the end of the day, she’s just a gold-digging nuisance. Siphoning my late mom’s fortune. Just like my father. A leech and nothing more.
Daddy dearest is an expert as pissing away the remainder of Mom’s fortune. She worked her life away for it and all he did was cheat on her repeatedly. I never did find out if Mom was just unaware of his extracurricular interests or if she was too busy running her company to notice. A company now run by my father. How convenient. He never liked coming in second place to a woman. He’s the kind of man that if he’s passed by a woman on the road, he has to speed up and pass her right back.
Though the police never have suspected that my father was involved in my mother’s death, I can’t say the same. Every time I see him or hear his voice, I wonder. Did he pay off the investigators to look the other way? Did his dazzling white smile and deep pockets enchant the news reporters into sniffing around? The world might think he’s innocent but there’s a darkness that lurks in his eyes that wasn’t there before. Most people think it’s from losing his wife, but I don’t. I think he had her killed. Travis Milford isn’t the type to get his hands dirty. He won’t even mow his own lawn.
With this recent surprise wedding, my suspicions are only heightened. For a man whose been more than happy to be playing the field, flitting from woman to woman, I never anticipated that he would take another wife. And so soon.
My mother’s passing was only a little over a year ago. The investigation, as far as I know, is close to being closed. Ruled an accident, though nothing official yet. I’m not convinced it was an accident. My mom was an intentional woman. She always was aware of her surroundings, and never drank more than a glass of wine. To have her body washed up on the beach of the club was inconceivable. She wouldn’t have been out on the water. She was never the type to take off or act wild. Everything they found was suspicious.
But with my father’s influence and the police’s pressing backlog, her case is hardly being worked on. Their evidence has been way too convenient in my opinion. The detective working it is far too eager to paint my mother as a lush. A woman of flighty character, prone to manic episodes and erratic behavior. No matter how hard I protested, I was brushed off. Told to sit down and shut up. Let the professionals handle it. It wasn’t right. I’ve been simmering in my rage ever since.
For the fiftieth time tonight, I restart my piece and hone into the music. Letting the noise of my thoughts drift to the background while the notes carry me beyond any feeling. Disassociating myself from this mortal plane to exist as one with my art. And all of a sudden, it clicks. I hurriedly switch out the offending flat g, for a staccato beat that fits the mood, and everything switches with the subtle tweak.
Saving my work, I upload it to the professor’s inbox with an hour to spare. Melody sleeps through my evening routine as I prepare for bed, opting to change in the en suite bathroom.
I’m fucking restless though. No matter how much I try to sleep, my eyes keep finding Melody’s silhouette in the dark. It’s nothing but a vague shape, but I’m all too aware that she’s just feet away. Her breathing soft and steady.
Having her show up with Liam was another surprise. I used to consider him my friend, until he wasn’t. The thing about Langford, is that it’s more like a small town. Everyone knows everyone and they’re always popping up when you’d rather never see them again. Secrets don’t stay secret for long, and everyone hooks up at one point or another. It makes for a messy atmosphere.
I don’t like the way Liam’s eyes lingered on Melody’s chest when she wasn’t looking. Fucking prick. Not that I’m any better. I’m pretty sure she caught me openly staring.
She just had to show up here looking so fuckable and disheveled. Most of the girls here are polished within an inch of their lives. With standing nail and hair appointments to keep them looking pristine, but I prefer someone rough around the edges. Looking like someone real. Someone who could take being fucked hard without worrying that it’s going to mess up their hair or break a nail.
My cock throbs thinking of the way her breasts pulled at her uniform. It made me want to grab her and watch how I could make them bounce. I run my hands down my face.
She’s going to be a problem.
Maybe I’ll talk to the headmistress tomorrow about finding her some place to stay, because being attracted to my new stepsister is a disaster in the making. And if they don’t have a place for her, I’ll just have to make Melody want to run back to wherever she came from.
4
MELODY
My phone is dead. I forgot to charge it in my exhaustion. Plus, I slept at a weird angle on the couch and now, a sharp pain is wrapped around my neck. Rubbing it doesn’t seem to help. Fuck. Well, I’m off to a fantastic start.
I didn’t even change my clothes. Wincing, I realize that I only purchased the one uniform, thinking I’d have enough time to buy some more options when I got here. I’m not exactly sure when you’re supposed to wear them and when you can wear something normal. The rules are vague on that.
Head swimming and neck on fire, I stretch out in the offensive morning light.
Fuck that’s bright.
The curtains are pulled wide open making the massive windows let in a ridiculous amount of light. Who sleeps with their shades wide open for anyone to look in? My new stepbrother that’s who. Speaking of, I look around and find him fast asleep in his full-sized bed. I glare at his back. Asshole.
He couldn’t even bother to take me to my room. Instead, he played some sick game trying to get me to leave no doubt. I’m no fan of our parent’s hasty union either, but it’s not like we can control what they do. They’re grown adults making their own stupid decisions and we have to live with those consequences.
His body rises and falls with a steady rhythm, and I feel a stab of anger at how peaceful he looks. How dare he get to look like that when I’m thoroughly disheveled and in pain from sleeping on that lumpy couch?
Frowning, I scan the room and find a shelf with several Hot Wheels cars displayed like a child lives here. Of course, it makes perfect sense that this man-child would have a bunch of toys in a place of honor. Right under a Grammy.How the actual hell does he have a Grammy?
Like a bored cat, I intentionally knock the Hot Wheels over with a resounding clatter. They topple to the floor in spectacular fashion, and to my delight it startles the shit out of Chase.
His legs go flying as he stumbles from the bed, searching for the offending sound.
I stand there, arms crossed waiting for him to calm down. It’s actually hilarious seeing him like this, and I take my time to enjoy it.
“The fuck.” He stomps over to the toy cars and scoops them up like they’re a precious baby he needs to save from me.
“Good morning,princess,” I say with a wide smile on my face. “This sleepover was fun and all, but I’m done playing your games. Now if you don’t mind, I would like to get to my room if you could just show me where it is.”
