I feel her up at the door, kissing and groping her until she relaxes. Then I bend her over the sofa, roll a condom on, pull her dress up, and fuck her hard while fondling her tits. When I’m done, I dispose of the condom and grab two waters from the small fridge while she fixes herself. “Thanks for the fuck, babe.”
Her neck and face are flushed as she wraps her arms around herself and stares at me with expectant little puppy-dog eyes.
For fuck’s sake. I fucking told her the score. Why the fuck is she looking at me like that? Girls are crazy, and they wreck your head. I’m never having a girlfriend or getting married. How da fuck does any man put up with that shit? Any momentary release I just felt is now gone as irritation surges through my veins. “You need to leave.” I hand her a water and steer her to the door, patting her arse as I push her outside. “See ya around.”
After she’s gone, I message Jamie to let him know the coast is clear. He messages back to say he’s going to sleep in the playbarn with Melissa. I warn him to get her out of there early before Da starts work and finds them.
I try to sleep, but I’m too wired. I toy with the idea that’s been on my mind consistently the past five weeks since the asshole appeared in my life. I can’t avoid it forever, and I might as well get it over and done with.
Sitting upright on the sofa, I grab my bottle of JD and open my phone. I log into Instagram and type Reeve Lancaster into the search bar. There are tons of results, and my stomach coils into knots as I tap into his official page. He’s got thousands of followers, and all his posts have decent likes and comments. I scroll through a few posts as I drink JD. All the blood leaches from my skin when I zoom in on a photo of him. The resemblance is uncanny. If we were standing beside one another, there is no doubt we are brothers.
Staring at my mirror image makes it all the more real. Pain slashes through my chest, cutting deep. I can’t help imagining what it would’ve been like if I hadn’t been adopted. If we’d grown up together. Would he still hate me? Or would he fill the hollow ache inside me like the missing piece? Guilt joins hurt in slapping me upside the head. Thinking these thoughts feels so disloyal to my family. As if I’m wishing they were never part of my life.
It's all so fucking confusing.
I drop my cell on the sofa and take a huge mouthful of whiskey, relishing the burn as it glides down my throat. Leaning my head back, I close my eyes and fight the turmoil swirling in my chest.
Ihatethat I look so much like the brother who doesn’t want me.
I want to sharenothingwith that prick.
If there was a way to replace the DNA flowing through my veins, I’d do it in a heartbeat. Hell, I’d scrub my brain withbleach if it’d remove all knowledge of both Lancasters from my mind.
I want to erase Reeve’s existence from my life in the same way he’s erased mine from his.
As I think about it, I realize there’s something I can do that’ll help.
Before I pass out, I mentally form the plan in my head, determined to act on it ASAP.
15
AGE 17
“Dillon O’Donoghue!” The pounding on the door is in sync with the pounding in my head as I slowly come to. I’ve a crick in my neck from falling asleep at an awkward angle, and it tastes like mothballs have taken up residence in my mouth.
“Open this door, dickhead, or I swear I’ll fucking tear it down,” the somewhat familiar female says.
Shoving the sleeping bag off my lap, I drag my hands through my messy hair as I stifle a yawn and head towards the door.
“Come out here and show yourself, you fucking coward!” the woman adds in a shrill tone.
I rub my sore head. I do not need whatever drama this is, but the bitch sounds unhinged and ignoring her doesn’t seem like a smart plan. “Keep your hair on,” I say as I unlock the door. “I’m—Simone?” My recollections have not done her justice. Simone Sullivan is a total knockout. Way sexier than her younger sister. “Hey, babe.” I waggle my brows and flash her a flirty smile. “If I’d known you were stopping by, I’d have cleaned up.” I open the door wide, smiling as I gesture for her to come in. “I don’t usually go back for seconds, but I’ll make an exception in your case.”
“Un-fucking-believable.” She glares at me like I’m the devil incarnate, and I frown before it registers in my hungover brain.
“Shit.”
“Yeah, shit.” Grabbing my wrinkled shirt, she yanks me outside. “How dare you treat my sister like that!” She shoves my chest, and steam is practically billowing from her ears. “Especially after I made sure you had a good time losing your virginity. You could at least have shown my sister the same respect instead of treating her like a whore and shoving her out the door the instant you’d come!”
“Hang on here a sec.” I massage my throbbing temples. “Are you saying Shelby was a virgin?”
“Of course, she was a virgin! You fucking wanker!” She pushes my chest again, and I stumble back a little.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spy Shane loitering in the near distance, no doubt listening to every word. I shake my head, sending him a warning glare to butt the fuck out. “I didn’t know. I asked her, and she lied.” Folding my arms across my chest, I drill her with a dark look. “I don’t know what your fucking problem is, but I suggest you take it up with your sister. I didn’t mislead her. I told her out straight what the story was. Not my issue if she’s got a problem with it now.”
“You’re such a prick,” she says as tears fill her eyes. “She’s liked you for years. Only God knows why.”
“Sounds like you’re in no position to throw shade. You knew that, and yet you let me bang your brains out. Sounds fucking hypocritical to me.”
