“The feeling is mutual.”
***
I jangle my keys in the door and walk inside my home. It looks cleaner than usual today; Adam must have left work early. I make my way to our cosy, little dining room.
“Hello, bitches!” I holler out loudly, he hates it when I do that, which is why I keep doing it.
When I walk into the dining room, Adam and his fiancée, Olivia, are both sitting there, gazing lovingly into each other’s eyes until they spot me.
“About time,” he says to me, scoffing.
“Hey Addie!” Olivia says cheerily. I ignore Adam and instantly barrel into her arms, almost knocking her out of her chair.
She gives the best hugs—warm and secured—I assume it's how a mother would hug their child. Then again, I would never know about that.
I'm not sure how my brother managed to bag someone like Olivia. She is a plus size model for a local and small agency, which makes sense, considering she’s stunning with her rich, dark brown skin and blinding smile.
My brother met her while he was serving his last year in prison. She was visiting her own brother who was in prison and whom Adam managed to make friends with while serving.
Long story short, she asked her brother about him and they began talking every time she came to visit.
Fast forward to him finally being released and they finally got to be together. Two years later, he proposed.
The best decision he's ever made in his life.
I was wary about leaving him when I go to Oxford as I'll be living in an apartment. However, when he met Olivia, I knew I'd be leaving him in impeccable hands and vice versa.
“Wait, where are the cakes?” I ask as my eyes roam the empty oak table as I peck Olivia on the cheek and sit in the chair next to her and opposite Adam.
Olivia and Adam are both wild introverts, so instead of actually attending a cake tasting, they had them delivered to the house.
“We finished them,” Olivia says sheepishly.
These damn traitors.
“How could you?” I gasp half mockingly, half seriously because really?!
“I texted you like fifty times,” Adam says shrugging. “You snooze, you lose.”
“I hope you choke in your sleep.” I huff out, narrowing my eyes at him.
This saphead! Because of him I left a very tantalizing make out session all for some cake, but this giant monster finishes them all?
“I hope you choke in your sleep.” He mimics me and I reach over the table and pinch his arm violently.
“Ow!” he complains loudly. “There are more cakes coming tomorrow, you little shit. Besides, why are you only hitting me? She ate them too.” He gestures towards Olivia.
I relax when I realize there's more cakes coming tomorrow—otherwise I was already planning revenge against Adam.
“Yeah, but I like her.” I shrug, leaning my head against her shoulder.
“Aww,” she responds laughing, her hazel brown eyes shining.
“Traitor,” he mumbles to her and she just sticks her tongue out at him.
It only takes two seconds for them to go back to being lovesick and adorable. He clearly can't stand to stay away from her because he gets up and sits in her chair, pulling her into his lap.
As nauseating as this display of affection is, I am incredibly happy for Adam. At least, he doesn't have an aversion to love because of our father. If anything, I think what my father went through made him want to find love even more, whereas I'm the complete opposite. I think I always will be.
