Page 97 of Under His Control

I turn over the brush and start scraping the frost off my windshield with more vigour than necessary. My phone vibrates in my pocket and I pause to take it out. My sister’s picture and name lifts my bad mood. I accept her call.

“Jake, I’m sorry.”

Elizabeth, direct as always.

“Liz—”

“Wait, let me finish.” She pauses for a moment. “I’ve been giving it some thought and I realize I overreacted. Making TV dramas made me dramatic too, I guess.” She sighs. “Yeah, I was shocked when I found out about you and Penny. I could’ve—should’ve handled it better.”

“I wish you hadn’t found out the way you did either.”

She lets out an amused huff. “Then maybe you two should’ve waited to jump each other until I was gone in the morning.”

“That would’ve been wiser, yeah.”

“I was hoping for the both of you to be good again. You guys… ah… exceeded my expectations. Are you dating?”

“We’re… it’s complicated.”

“She used to be your stepdaughter. I’d say it’s very complicated.” She goes quiet for a second. “Even though I’m still a little disturbed, I understand why you two got together. You have history, you’re her hero for helping her, she’s sweet and pretty, you’re alone with each other… it was a recipe for trouble.”

I’m no hero, sis. I’m the bad guy. The evil dragon who kept the pretty princess captive and did unspeakable things to her.

“Trouble you started when you sent her my way.”

“Oh? Am I also the one who told you guys to play hide the sausage?”

I chuckle. “Jesus Christ, Liz. What the fuck. I have half a mind to hang up.”

Elizabeth laughs too then her voice turns serious.

“You don’t need my permission, obviously, but just so you know, I’ll be OK with it if you two become less complicated.”

“I’m not sure if that will happen. She deserves someone better than me.”

“Did she tell you that herself?”

“No, but—”

“Oh, well, Jakey, I say this with love—stop being a typical man thinking you know what’s best for a woman. Penny is an adult. Let her decide who she deserves.”

“Noted, sis.”

“I feel awful about what I said to her too.” She groans. “God. I was so shitty. I need to call her but I almost don’t want to. I’m too ashamed.”

“I wasn’t the nicest to her either when she first showed up. You know she said she’s the one who sent the video?”

“Really? Oh, no. Now I feel even worse! How—” She cuts herself off as someone speaks to her in the background. “Damn, I gotta go, big bro. We’ll talk more later.”

The call disconnects with a low beep. I shove my phone back into my pocket and finish scraping away frost. When I’m done, I walk back to the house, reluctance slowing my steps.

I open the front door and come to an abrupt stop. Penelope’s standing by the coat rack in the middle of putting on her jacket. It reminds me of that first morning when I couldn’t wait to get rid of her. This morning, that’s the absolute last thing I want to do.

“Ready?”

She reaches for her green beanie with the pink hearts then gives me a sweet smile.

“Almost.”