Rolling my eyes, I head over to the window and look out on the driveway, watching a automotive pull up, and a person, who I recognise by now as Kennedy Harlow, chief of the Second District, exit the automotive and stroll up the steps to the home.

A couple of minutes later, simply as I am going to stroll away, the rear passenger door opens and a lady with darkish hair like mine, who seems to be like she could possibly be the identical age as me, steps out. She wipes her brow with the again of her hand like she’s scorching, after which seems to be round her, learning the constructing I name my house.

I disappear half behind the scenes, scared she’ll see me watching her, though perhaps it will be an excellent factor for a stranger to identify me.

For somebody to lastly see me.

After just a few extra seconds of her curious gaze over the mansion, she turns, strolling to the fountain the place the automotive is parked and dipping her hand in to moist her face, then perching on the sting of it.

The longer she seems to be on the brick wall, the extra I construct up the braveness to step out from behind the scenes. To wave, to make myself identified.

She seems to be type, and I think about for a second what it will be prefer to have a girlfriend. Somebody I can speak to about stuff. Stuff I can’t speak to King or Dax about, to Puck and Maria.

Simply as I am going to step out from the curtain, King walks as much as the woman, making her bounce and lose her stability, however King reaches out to cease her from falling.

My coronary heart stutters, and though I’ve been envious of King all my life for the liberty he has, it’s solely now, on this second, that I really feel resentful in the direction of him.

I can’t cease the bitter acid style on my tongue, seeing King have one other factor that I would like first.

They speak for a couple of minutes and it’s then that I see the smile on King’s face and what seems to be like him to be laughing.

King, laughing. It’s one thing none of us get to see a lot anymore now that our dad’s acquired to him.

They each sit again down on the sting of the fountain, and moments after that, the woman’s arm reaches out and pushes King into the water. My jaw drops open, and a bit snigger falls from my lips. Rattling, I want I had filmed that.

The woman laughs, King surprisingly nonetheless smiling, and seconds later, he’s pulling her in behind him.

They appear so carefree and pleased, when King swipes a few of her hair behind her ear, leaning in.

They seem like how children our age ought to really feel. Like how I really feel once I’m with Puck.

However the second is damaged for them when Kennedy comes storming as much as them from the mansion steps, his shout so loud I can hear it via the closed window.

“Theodora Harlow!”

So the woman should be his daughter. I pay attention to the way in which she reacts to him, how she flinches away from my brother immediately, how her eyes widen in a slight panic on the presence of her father.

I immediately need to name out to her. To inform her that our fathers don’t imply a factor. That we might be a lot greater than they anticipate of us.

She goes to run to the automotive, when King stops her, holding on to her hand. After no matter he stated, returning the smile again onto her face, she runs to the automotive, climbing into the again seat once more.

And identical to all rom-coms, the second ends, and the automotive is flying down the driveway and out of the gates.

I don’t hear my door unlocking. I don’t even hear Puck getting into the room and apologising for not being right here when my door acquired locked.

I simply watch King, watching the automotive peel out of the driveway, a glance of longing on his face earlier than the unhappy expression returns that we’ve all grow to be conversant in.

I’ve all the time been so egocentric and self-centred across the hand life dealt me that I’ve by no means taken under consideration how onerous it should be for my brother.

While I don’t have a single ounce of consideration from Carlo, King has all of it. But it surely’s not in the way in which a father ought to love a son. It’s the way in which a lieutenant would command a soldier.

King has all the time achieved what he can for me, to be there for me. Perhaps I ought to begin being there for him a bit extra.

Later that day, I attempt to discover Puck, King, and Dax, however they’re nowhere to be discovered. Not of their rooms, not within the fitness center or outdoors. The one conclusion I’ve is that they’ve left the home, and my coronary heart sinks a bit that they’ve left with out saying goodbye, however that additionally they gained’t be right here to ring in my birthday. Not that it’s ever one thing we’ve achieved earlier than, however I hoped that, as a result of it’s my sixteenth, we might all keep up until midnight.

The actual fact I can’t discover Puck is crushing. I assumed he would need to be with me, no less than.

Strolling via the hallway again from checking the boys’ rooms, I cross Maria, and she or he dips her head in. Immediately, I do know one thing is off.

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