Max didn’t know about that night. By that point, Dominic had already taken over. Given my brother barely spoke to me other than to give me shit, I’d kept it to myself. He hadn’t failed to notice how I’d stepped up around the house though. Instead of doing the same, he used it as another stick to beat me with.
“I’ve made dinner,” I said quietly as we passed the lounge. “It’s in the slow cooker. Chicken casserole. Peeled some potatoes too, and they’re on the stove.”
Apparently I wasn’t quiet enough, and my brother’s irritated drawl followed me down the hall. “There’s no need to suck up, Ryan. You’re already the favourite. Goody-fucking-two-shoes.”
I winced when Mum froze in place. Shit. She’d heard. She didn’t often pick up on Max’s snide comments, but when she did…
“Maximillian Theodore Davis,” she hissed, going to the living room doorway. “How dare you speak to your brother like that?”
I went into the kitchen, trying to block out the bollocking Max was now getting. He deserved it, but that didn’t mean I had to like it. He was still my twin, at the end of the day, and hearing Mum tell him off had me wanting to leap to his defence.
But he didn’t need me. He had Dominic.
Right on cue, the back door opened, the devil himself stepping inside. Dominic sniffed the air as he kicked off his trainers and groaned. “Oh my god, what smells so good?”
“Chicken casserole,” I muttered, pulling out a chopping board. There was plenty of veg in it, but I might as well prep some extra broccoli. Not because Dominic had showed—there was plenty for him too. I couldn’t remember the last time he hadn’t turned up unannounced for dinner. It was easier to just assume we were feeding him too.
Preparing the broccoli would keep me busy for a few more minutes. Anything to distract me from the fact that Max and Mum were now shouting at each other. My hands shook slightly as I picked up the knife.
“What’s going on with them?” Dominic said, frowning in the direction of the yelling. “Is Max in trouble again?”
I snorted. He might have been getting shouted at, but that was the worst he could expect. Mum would’ve forgotten all about it by the time she got back to the kitchen. “Are you surprised?”
“No.” He leaned over me to snag a piece of raw broccoli. I scowled but didn’t move to stop him. “Max is always getting shouted at in here. I reckon you’ve got something to do with it.”
I gripped the knife tighter, an uncharacteristic wave of anger washing over me. I had no idea why. Maybe it was because of how my body was aching. Or because I hated being around people who were yelling. Whatever it was, I latched on to it. It was better than the hopelessness that usually dogged me.
Technically, Dominic was right, but like fuck was I admitting that. “What makes you say that?”
He shrugged, swallowing the broccoli and reaching for more. “You usually do.”
I stared at him. He was joking, right? Since when was I the troublemaker in this house?
Before I could think up a response, Mum was bustling into the kitchen. Spots of colour sat high on her cheekbones, but all her ire dissipated at the sight of Dominic. “Oh, Dominic. I’m glad you’re here. Maybe you can talk some sense into Max. Lord knows the boy doesn’t listen to me.”
If I hadn’t been watching him so closely, I might’ve missed it. There was a slight narrowing of his eyes, a tightness in his smile. “I’ll see what I can do, Mrs.Davies.”
I watched him stroll from the kitchen as though he had not a care in the world. But his hands were in fists at his sides, his back rigid.
What the fuck is his problem?
“You’re such a good boy,” Mum said as she came up beside me and rubbed my arm. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
I ducked my head, uncomfortable with her praise. “It’s nothing.”
She kissed my temple. “It’s not nothing when you’re making my life easier. Thank you, Ryan. Now, why don’t you leave that for now and we can have that cup of tea?”
Hours later,I let myself into a quiet house. Mum was probably in bed reading, while Dad would be in his shed, tinkering with his model planes.
I didn’t know where Max and Dominic were and I didn’t particularly care.
I hung my satchel bag up on its hook and toed off my trainers with a wince.
Honestly, going to class tonight hadn’t been a great idea, I’d barely managed the journey, let alone sitting on an uncomfortable stool for an hour. But something would need to be broken before I skipped a class. It was the one place where I could truly be myself. Where I could relax and know no one was judging me. It brought me peace.
Given how much I kept bottling up, it was a necessary outlet.
As I got to the top of the stairs, Dominic stepped out of Max’s room, pulling the door closed behind him.
