“Hey.” I look her up and down. She’s wearing jeans and a baggy hoodie. A hoodie I recognize because it used to be mine a long time ago. “Nice hoodie,” I tell her.
“It’s my favorite,” she says.
“You ready for breakfast with my insane family?”
“Sure.”
“My siblings are here,” I warn as we make our way down the hall.
“Oh, okay.”
“Whatever they say to you, ignore them.”
“What are they likely to say?” she asks.
“Probably stories about me. Just don’t listen to them,” I tell her, because I know what my siblings think of me. I’m the family fuckup, the resident psychopath. The past year and a half hasn’t helped to paint me in a different light either.
When we walk into the dining room, my brother Neo is there. So is my sister Mabilia, without her husband Tommy, which is shocking because those two are usually joined at the hip.
I point to my brother. “That’s Neo.” And then I point to my sister. “And that’s Mabilia,” I explain while glaring at my siblings. “This is Addison. Keep your mouths shut and your thoughts to yourself,” I grunt as I pull out a chair for Addi.
My siblings give each other a look.Yeah, they’re not going to be keeping their mouths shut.
“Thank you,” Addison whispers to me.
I sit next to her and pick up a knife on the table. My hand clenches around it. I wouldn’t kill my siblings, but I’m more than prepared to stab them in a nonlethal part of the body.
“Hello! It’s nice to meet you finally. Lex has told me so much about you both,” Addison says to my sister and brother.
“Really? He’s told us nothing about you,” Mabilia hums.
“Because she’s none of your business,” I grumble.
“Enough. You’re fucking adults. Start acting like it,” Dad barks. “Addison is a part of this family. You two will treat her as such.” He points at Neo and Mabilia.
I smirk at them. They didn’t know how much my dad weirdly likes and accepts Addison.
“Papa, I’m always nice,” Mabilia says. “I was just stating a fact. Lex is selfish and keeps things to himself.”
“She’s a person, Mabilia. Not a thing,” my mother chastises.
“It’s nice to meet you, Addison. Welcome to the family.” Neo smiles, giving Addi that well-polished version of himself he’s being groomed to use.
“Thank you,” Addison says.
“So, how long have you two been together?” Mabilia asks.
“Oh, we’re not… We’re just friends,” Addison spits out quickly.
Mabilia frowns. “Lex doesn’t have friends.”
“That’s because he scares most people off with that grouchy look of his. But I don’t scare that easily. Or at least I didn’t when we met,” Addison says as she turns to me.
I give her a soft smile. I hate that she has so much fear now. Although I’m fucking relieved she’s not scared of me.
“Does Lex know you’re just friends?” Neo asks.
“Fuck off,” I tell him.
