“What kind of toppings do you guys want?” Cal asked enthusiastically, gesturing to several bowls he had laid out on the counter next to the waffle iron.
Caleb ran up to the counter excitedly, standing on his tippy toes to peer at what was available.
“We’ve got chocolate chips, sprinkles, blueberries, strawberries, caramel sauce, whipped cream…” Cal was rattling off the options to Caleb, who was getting more and more excited by the minute.
“This kid is going to have no teeth left by the time he leaves here,” Theo grumbled, taking a sip of her coffee.
“No kidding,” I agreed, making my way to the coffee maker to pour my own cup. I tried to scowl at the intruder in my house, but I was having a harder time than usual.
Learning about Cal’s past and how he had been treated made him feel like less of a stranger. I didn’t pity him; if anything, I found it commendable that he was still so happy and positive even after surviving such a traumatic experience like that.
I was a grumpy asshole, and sure, my childhood hadn’t been all sunshine and daisies, but at least I had two parents who undoubtedly loved me.
I watched Cal and my mother get Caleb set up with a massive, unhealthy plate full of sugar and carbs just as the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” Iris chimed in before billowing out of the kitchen to answer the door.
Cal perked up. “Ah. That must be my sister, Cassandra. I just call her Cass, though.” He beamed, and Theo scoffed.
“It would seem your sister has more manners than you do,” my sister muttered, obviously referring to the fact that she had chosen to ring the doorbell instead of barging right in.
Cal laughed. “I’m interested to hear if you still feel that way after you meet her.”
I leaned against the counter, sipping my coffee, when Cal bounded over to me.
“Morning, baby. Do you want a waffle?” he asked, and I frowned at him, glancing nervously at Theo, who raised an eyebrow, clearly wondering why this strange man was calling me ‘baby,’
My cheeks flushed red, and I pushed Cal away.
“Don’t call me that. And no. I don’t want a waffle.”
He pouted and reclaimed the step I had forced him to take back. He looked like he was going to say something else when the swinging door to the kitchen flew open, and the most intimidating woman I had ever seen in my life strode in.
I could immediately tell she was related to Cal. They had matching brown eyes and the same thick dark hair. Both of them had flawless skin, and the shape of their mouths was identical. However, that was where the similarities ended.
Cassandra Walker’s full lips were painted the same knife-wound red as her Christian Louboutins. The heels of her designer shoes cracked like gunshots across our linoleum floors,and she was wearing a pristine blazer over a knee-length pencil skirt. Her Chanel bag alone probably cost more than my entire wardrobe.
Everything about Cassandra Walker screamed:Don’t fuck with me.
“I would pick your jaw up off the ground, muscles, unless you want her to cut out your tongue.” Cal snickered to my sister, and I glanced at Theo.
She was staring at Cassandra with the strangest look on her face, and her mouth was indeed hanging open. Cassandra’s eyes slammed into hers, and her scowl deepened.
“And who areyou?” she asked sharply, looking her up and down critically.
Theo’s mouth snapped shut, and she immediately fell back into her usual asshole-ish persona.
“Just someone who fucking lives here,” she grumbled, but Cassandra was already moving on. Her sharp, intelligent gaze snapped around the room, briefly settling on Caleb and then landing on me.
“Are you Ryan Fairview?” she said curtly, and I nodded, reaching out a hand.
“Hi, yes. Ryan. Ryan Fairview.”
She didn’t take my hand. Instead, she looked me up and down critically and sighed.
“You’re an idiot, you know that? What would possess you to keep a child in your house like this? You know that’s grounds for kidnapping, right?”
I swallowed, suddenly feeling like I was an inch tall. Theo leapt up from her seat, and Cal put himself between his sister and me.
