AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You should apologize to your brother,” I order. “He does so much for you, and you just treat him like crap.”
Kurtis rolls his eyes, muttering, “I know.”
Parker tilts his head. “You know what?”
“I know I shouldn’t have said those things,” Kurtis mumbles at the carpet. “But I couldn’t stop myself.”
“You used the word abort,” I blurt, disgusted, “about your own brother.”
Kurtis’s expression is tight, and there’s pain in his eyes when he looks at Parker. “Obviously, I didn’t mean that. I want you around Parker.”
Parker folds his arms. “Uh-huh.”
Kurtis rolls his eyes. “Don’t make me say something stupid like I love you.”
Parker winces, holding up a hand. “No, don’t do that.”
“I just couldn’t stand one more thing going your way,” Kurtis admits.
Parker’s head jerks back. “What does that mean?”
“Everything is always working out for you,” Kurtis says, disgruntled. “Now you have a girlfriend who actually likes you, and Mom and Dad are still bending over backwards to applaud you.”
Parker recoils, about to question his brother before being cut off.
“You’re treated like royalty around here, Parker,” Kurtis continues. “Everyone has to be so careful of what they say, because we’re not supposed to upset you.”
Parker points a thumb at his chest. “I’m the one who has to walk around on eggshells.”
Kurtis scoffs. “Get real. Everything revolves around making sure you’re happy. It’s like I’m the only one who sees through it. Every day, I want to snap. But I’m given a lecture about what I can’t say to you.”
With a sigh, Parker turns away. “Look, man. I’m sorry if you feel cheated, but I’m the one who had his life changed.”
“But I still wanted you to be my brother.”
Parker turns back to face Kurtis.
Kurtis eyes the photo frames on the desk and exhales hard. “Everything changed for me too when we found out abouther. Man, I didn’t want us to be different.”
“Then why do you act like we are?” Parker questions.
He shrugs. “Because I don’t know how to deal with this.”
Parker steps closer to his brother and holds one arm out. “Come here, you idiot.”
The brothers side-hug, and Kurtis mumbles into Parker’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, bro.”
“Thanks.” They pull away from each other and Parker motions to the door. “Do me a favor? Go back downstairs and put the brakes on Mom and Dad?”
“I’ll try but they don’t want to hear from me. I’m grounded again.”
Parker smirks. “You’ll never learn.”
Kurtis looks at me with a guilty smile. “Sorry for making your introduction to our family so awkward.”
I chew on my lip, pivoting my gaze between the boys. “I’m just glad you two are actually talking about this stuff.”
Kurtis fidgets in his stance, and then backtracks out of the room. “Uh, I’ll leave you guys to it.”
