AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t…” I shook my head and bit my lip, dealing with one answer at a time. “Well, she never paid me. Didn’t you know? I agreed to work for her for free until I proved my worth enough to make full-time employee status.”
“You agreed…” he started slowly, only to drop his jaw in shock. “You agreed to work for Lana Judge for free? Are you completely insane? You’ve actually met my mother, right? She’ll never pay you now that you agreed to those idiotic terms. And what the hell…?” He spun in a circle, taking in my living room. “How are you surviving on no income? I thought the trust fund your dad left you only paid for college and then like a measly thousand each month until you’re thirty.”
I nodded enthusiastically. “That’s exactly right. I get by fine with that.”
“You…” Again, his voice fell short, a loss for words. Then he once again exploded. “Are you trying to tell me Arthur Fucking K. Judge’s daughter has been living below the poverty level since she was, what…?”
“Twenty,” I nearly whispered. I’d been twenty when Dad had died. It still stung to think about, and my guts twisted with misery. But I had enough energy to say, “You know, the poverty level for a single person household is actually below twelve thousand per year, so I’ve been keeping above…” But I couldn’t even successfully argue against that, because yeah, I was broke, there was no way to deny it.
But now that I no longer worked for Lana or JFI, I guess I could find a job that paid enough to get me into a better apartment, though strangely, this place had kind of grown on me. I’m not really sure I would move if I could.
Brick sniffed bitterly and shook his head. “Un-freaking-believable. You’ve been living like this and never once came to me?”
I pulled back, startled by the venom—and even hurt—in his tone. Shaking my head in confusion, I sputtered, “I… Well, I didn’t want to bother you.” And honestly, I hadn’t thought he’d really care.
“Bother me?” He lifted a single censorious eyebrow. “I’m your brother and probably the only fucking family you have left who gives a shit about you. Who else would you consider going to?”
“I…” I shrugged, feeling lame. “I didn’t think I had to go to anyone. I’m doing just fine. I don’t exactly need help.” Honestly, I’d been proud of how self-reliant I’d become.
Brick, however, wasn’t so afflicted. And he certainly seemed to be on a roll with repeating me tonight because he sneered, “Just fine?” as he glanced around my apartment before settling his gaze on me and shaking his head, clearly disappointed. “Jesus, Kaitlynn. You’re a real piece of work, you know that? You can be so selfless and giving with everyone else, but it’s like some kind of crime for you to ever ask for help in return.”
“But I don’t need—”
He cut me off by pointing and snarling, “Don’t.” After taking a deep, calming breath, he exhaled through gritted teeth, rolled his shoulders and sent me a pointed glare. “We’ll figure this out later. For now, just… Go change into your costume.” He flung the garment bag into my arms. “We have a party to attend.”
I cringed at the dark bag, wondering what kind of awful, skin-revealing costume must be inside. “I really don’t feel like going.”
He gave me no sympathy. “Too bad.” His stony voice held no room for argument. “I’m not leaving you alone in this dump. Now put on your damn gown and get ready for the damn ball, princess.” Then he clapped his hands, stressing my need to hurry. “Chop, chop. Your fairy godbrother has spoken.”
“Brick,” I started, an exhausted sigh in my voice. Halloween and parties were the last things on my mind right now.
He shook his head, eyes beseeching. “Don’t flake out on me, Kaity. Not tonight.” Then he pulled out the big guns and said, “Please.”
I groaned and flung my head back. “Okay, fine. But I’m taking a quick shower first.”
“Yes.” He nodded encouragingly. “Please do.”
Sending him a scowl for so easily talking me into this and letting me know I really did stink, I turned away and stormed down the hall. I knew why I’d given in, though. Brick had been right; he was the only family I had left that seemed to like me. He had no idea how much that meant. And because of it, I’d probably drag myself with him to every party he wanted me to attend.
I didn’t realize he’d followed me down the hall until he started talking to me through the door of my bathroom about two seconds after I shut it.
“So did you notice the present I left for you at work?”
I jumped, in the middle of slipping off my pajama top, then shook my head with an amused smile. He’d never been able to handle being alone, even when he was young, which was probably why he’d actually talked to me when our parents were married. Too many times I’d been th
e only person around to keep him company.
“What present?”
“The sticky trap,” he prompted, which made me frown in confusion. “Jeez, kid, you really didn’t notice, did you? I replaced your old archaic mousetrap for a new, improved glue board.”
My eyes bulged. “You did what?”
My heart began to pound. Jacqueline. I’d completely forgotten about her. What if she’d starved to death after I left, or worse, gotten caught in Brick’s new trap?
My stepbrother chuckled on the other side of the door. “Hey, it’s okay, it’s okay, you’re welcome,” he sang, imitating Maui’s song from Moana, as if trying to get me to thank him, but the gratitude stuck in my throat. He might’ve just killed my quasi-pet. How could I thank him for that?
“Uh, you… You didn’t have to do that.” I cringed as I spoke, hoping I sounded as if I were grateful for what he’d done.
