Chapter 6
Feeling the cool night air brush against my skin, I was cooling myself down near the edge of the rooftop because the view from my window wasn’t enough to ease the tightness in my chest tonight.
I gazed up at the empty sky–no stars, no satellites, no moon. As the view didn’t help me much, I breathed in deeply, hoping to find some kind of relief in the night air. But the darkness only seemed to wrap itself tighter around me, just like everything else lately.
“Nice view, huh?”
The sudden sound of Kaiden’s voice from behind me startled me. I spun around instinctively, my heartbeat picking up. He looked almost amused, standing there with his usual confident ease, but I could feel heat rising to my cheeks. After what happened earlier, I couldn’t shake the embarrassing thought: Did he see the slap? Of all people, why him?
I cleared my throat, attempting a shrug. “Nice air, I’d say,” I replied, leaning back against the parapet wall. “But why are you here? I thought your room had a huge terrace.”
He raised the glass in his hand, amber liquid glinting in the dim light, numerous chunks of ice clinking as he swirled it lazily. “Came out for some ice,” he said, his eyes never leaving mine. “Then I saw a light on, so I figured I’d follow it.”
“Oh,” was all I managed, not sure what to add. He didn’t seem to have anything else to say, either, and the way he was looking at me made my breath heavy, so I turned back to the sky, letting the silence fill the space between us. But after a moment, he approached me and stood beside, quietly looking up as well.
Neither of us spoke. The silence stretched, yet it didn’t feel awkward. Maybe it was something we’d gotten used to–Kaiden and me, side by side, sharing space but rarely words. I never imagined that just his presence here, our shoulders nearly touching, would feel… strangely comforting.
“What are you looking for?” His voice was softer than usual, almost as if he didn’t really expect an answer.
I hesitated, my gaze still fixed on the empty sky. “I don’t know… something other than what’s here, I guess.”
He turned to look at me, and I could feel his eyes studying my face. Normally, the weight of his stare would have made me tense, but tonight, I didn’t care. If he wanted to see the mess, then so be it. I wasn’t going to hide it.
“Was that because of your boyfriend?” he asked, his tone neutral, maybe even a touch curious.
I blinked, thrown off by the question. “Pardon?”
He made a small gesture with his hand, tracing a circle in the air around his cheek. “The slap.”
So, he did see it.
I crossed my arms defensively. “I don’t think we’re close enough to talk about that.”
His jaw tightened, and for a split second, he looked almost hurt. Maybe he didn’t like the way I shut him down, but it wasn’t something I could help. Bonding with step–siblings can be a nightmare when you know your mom changes husbands, like Leonardo DiCaprio changes his girlfriends before they turn 26.
When I first moved in, I thought Dan would be the endgame–he has the wealth and status Mom craves. But now, after seeing more of him, I realize this relationship doesn’t stand a chance. Dan believes in love, trust, loyalty—all the things that just aren’t in my mom’s system.
I let out a breath, trying my best to soften a bit. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. I just… prefer things to stay as they are, you know? Us not giving damn about each other’s work. It’s more comfortable that way. Besides, your dad’s probably going to divorce my mom pretty soon anyway.” The last sentence tumbled from my lips before I realized its weight.
Kaiden looked at me, a line forming between his brows. “Why would you say that?”
Yes, why would I say that? Damn!
“Umm… I…” I saw my mom with a hot, sexy bodyguard–like man. She was flirting with him. Your dad is busy with his mayoral work, and Mom needs sex. She can’t even survive a week without animal–like sex. I bet your dad is good, but not animal–like, and obviously not daily. That’s what I wanted to say, but I swallowed my words.
C–can you ever give your liver a break?” I changed the topic, looking at the glass, still full, untouched, filled with 85% ice and 15% amber liquid. To be honest, that thing irked me the very moment I saw his glass. He was mostly a neat drinker, so, seeing so much ice in his drink felt a little… not
like him.
Kaiden raised a brow, giving me a look that said he knew I was dodging the topic. But before he could push, I made it worse by saying, “I’m glad Brendan doesn’t drink. He’s a good guy. That’s why he has a good girlfriend like me, and all you have is just random, no–strings–attached sex.”
The words left my mouth, and I instantly regretted them as his expression darkened. His jaw clenched, and I could see the faintest glint of something dangerous in his eyes–a challenge.
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3:25 PM
Chapter 6
Shit. Not Again. Why did I say that? I am an idiot! Big one.
Without a word, he closed the distance between us, his gaze locked on mine. My heart leapt, and I tried to step back, but his hand was suddenly at the small of my back, pulling me in close, trapping me. “I have no–strings–attached sex because…” His voice was a low murmur, edged with something sharp. “I’m not a fool like you.” He leaned down, his breath warm against my ear. “And…”
Before he continued, he lifted his drink to his lips, draining it in one long, slow gulp. Then he took my hand, pressing the ice–filled glass into my palm, his fingers cool and firm against mine. “I don’t have to quit drinking to have a ‘good‘ girlfriend.” he murmured, guiding my hand with the glass up to my cheek. The icy glass stung against my skin, making me inhale sharply, but he didn’t pull away. “Because…” he said softly, his eyes locked on mine, his hand still on mine, pressing the glass against my cheek with a deliberate slowness. “When my lips claim you as mine, you can’t help but be a good girl.”
The cool sting did nothing to ease the burn I felt–partially from the slap I’d received earlier, but mostly from his words, still hanging in the air, daring me to react.
Okay… Let’s say he may have got the hint that our parents would be divorcing soon, but we are still step–siblings right now, so… isn’t it wrong for him to say things like that to his stepsister?
To be continued…
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