k everywhere, my throat felt dry, and the stupid butterflies in my stomach wouldn't ca

he bathroom. The mirror showed the truth: puffy eyes, a faint pillow ma

d, splashing cold

attering dishes, soft classical music (Mom's favorite), and the

ly lifted where he leaned on the counter, exposing sharp abs that made me swallow hard. His hair

epped in. "You look like you lost a fight wi

st apple and threw

y looking at it and took a bite. "I see

moment to sweep into the kitchen wearing a silk robe an

derneath. "You'll need to look more presentable,

nked.

ned. "Important

the annoyance radiating off me

eaving the scent of expensive

"Is your mother al

s." Then he added,

de me pause. But before I could ask, Liam ba

ling for ice cream. He spotted me and grinned. "Oh! You m

ised manner. "What d

noys me for fun

body has to balance your angry-iceberg e

es," Liam said

r timing always dramatic. Her face popped up on the screen with a bright smil

verything, does

slapped. "Oh wow. That's him? The stepbrother? I expected... a softer and le

an eyebrow.

nd," I said.

ck. "Ella, blink twice if he

he's blinking,"

"I hate a

ked. "No

d that he

ns that made me feel like I had tried but not too hard. Mom inspected me like I was a produ

his sleeves. I swear that shirt fits him too well on purpose

up," he s

, but something tigh

he moment we sat, the air turned stiff. Mrs. Caldwell was all smiles, but Mom tri

's knee kept brushing mine under the table. It wasn't co

nd his knee pressed into mine agai

ven look at me, he just kept ea

at (yes, somehow there w

ok weirdly ten

s touching

CAN YA

hie

Defini

son, Jake. He arrived late. He's also tall with golden hair and a polishe

close. "Ella, right?" he asked, flashing

ked. "

mentioned yo

caught.

tightened

ed. "He und

n's expression shifted into somethin

leaning closer, "maybe

," Ryan cut

Excuse me? I can a

me, unmoving. "Yo

do?" I

. "Hey, I'm harmless.

ome air." I walked outside and the warm

t get too close?" Ryan

ng in my chest. "I talk to

im," h

to decide tha

mine. "I'm trying to look out for you,"

you own me," I said, my voi

eat, frustration, something I couldn't name. Then he m

what he was doing. He stepped very close enough that I could feel his warm breath on my cheek. And for a second, I felt he was going to pull me

can't happen." He said with a r

ed. "Then stop

him to a wall. He didn't respond

exhaled hard and walked in first with his shoulders stiff.

nd I guess knew too, but we b

not in a house like ours and

wn that this was j