I chose the teal collar shirt with a tiny pocket on the front and buttons up the collar. "I think it's your color."
Eli held it up to his head. "You think?"
"I know."
His grin reached his eyes, but it faltered a bit when the door creaked open. His sister peeked her head through the crack before letting herself in.
Emerson gave me a small wave. "Hi, Javier."
I forced a smile onto my face and returned the wave. I didn't like either of his older siblings, but I had to be cordial with people that I did not care for.
Quite frankly, I did not want my sister being friends with Emerson. All of the shit I had heard about the kind of person she was made me want to tell Gabriela to stay away. Sure, she had helped my sister out into making the cheer team for her upcoming senior year of high school. That was a miracle because it was almost unheard of to join the team at such a late start. Still, none of that made up for how terribly her and her brother would treat Eli.
I told Gabriela this, but at the end of the day she was her own person. ‘It’s not all black and white Javier’ was what she keeping repeating to me. It seemed pretty black and white to me, but I left it alone after getting a long lecture from my sister.
His sister did not seem to have any malice intent at the moment. She turned to her brother. "Did you finish the project?"
But the way she didn't even greet him before asking if he did her entire project for her rubbed me the wrong way. The fact thatEli was so willing to do it despite everything annoyed me. I kept my annoyance to myself because she was his sister, and I had to have some sort of respect for her.
Elias rummaged through his backpack and then handed her the multiple papers stapled together. "Even did the extra credit for you."
"I love having a know-it-all brother." Emerson ruffled his hair. "Thanks. Also, Benji is in the kitchen and wants to talk to you."
Benji, that was someone I hadn’t heard of in a long time. I disliked him more than I disliked the twins because he was a damn weirdo, I just couldn’t prove it. Coming onto your girlfriend's brother was crazy.
I watched as Eli froze. “Why?”
She shrugged roughly. “Wouldn’t tell me, but he said since he’s kept his distance like I asked he wants the chance to explain something to you.”
Explain why he seemingly tried to drug him and then come onto him at the mall? I would love to hear that story.
I think Eli wanted to hear that explanation too. “Fine.”
When he left the room, I immediately moved to follow. I was not letting Benji be close to him out of my sight. Even if this all was just a big misunderstanding, I did not want to take any chances. Emerson’s voice was what stopped me in my tracks.
“Your sister is so sweet.”
My head turned over my shoulder in a slow motion. Yes, Gabriela was the brightest girl I knew. Funny how she became friends with Emerson Richardson, of all people.
Noticing my aversion to her, she took a step back. “I know you don’t like me.”
I offered her a pointed look in response.
“Rightfully so, since you like my brother.” She clasped her hands together. “Gabi has really opened my eyes.”
My arms folded against my chest, now curious. “Has she?”
“She is such a bright person with a big heart. I guess all of the Cortez’s have that trait because you don’t hate my brother. You have to have a big heart to do that.”
My head recoiled at the backhanded comment. “You don’t have to have a big heart to be kind to someone who doesn’t get much kindness at all.”
Emerson twirled a strand of her. “Don’t take it so deeply. I’m just saying that it’s very noble of you to get past all of the dickish behavior my brother has thrown to you for years.”
My jaw tightened at her words. While I did believe she was not trying to be offensive, it did not change the fact that she was. This was who my sister was hanging around? All I could hope was that Gabriela was trying to make some life-changing differences on Emerson’s personality. It was the only reason I could see my sunshine sister hanging out with someone like her.
“You mean like when you were touching all over me at the mall?”
The shouted sentence took both of our attention. I wasted no time going to the kitchen with my fists balled by my sides at the sound of Eli’s raised voice. Thoughts raced through my mind.
