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“Antonio?” I ask, knowing it’s him.
“Fuck, Saffie, are you okay?” He sounds panicked, and I feel bad for making him worry.
“I left Thad and our parents. I-I…” I pause as tears fill my eyes once again, and my voice shakes. “I’m so sorry for all those things I said. I didn’t mean any of them. I was just scared. I hope you–”
“Saff, it’s fine. I know you didn’t mean it. Tell me what happened.”
CHAPTERTEN
Antonio age 27
“Fuck,” I try not to raise my voice, knowing that’s not what she needs right now.
“I’m sorry-” she says again, but I cut her off.
“No, Saff, I’m sorry. If I had known you wanted to leave, I would have come for you sooner. I’m getting you a plane ticket for tomorrow, and the twins will get you here safely. Once you’re here, we can talk,” I tell her, wishing like hell I was there for her right now.
“Tony! Get back in here!” Monica screeches like a fucking pterodactyl, making me cringe.
Why the fuck did I sleep with her? Again…
Isaiah glares daggers at me, but I flip him off. I’ll get rid of her as soon as I get off the phone.
I hate the way he sees right through me, but that’s why he’s my best friend.
“Tell your sister we’ll see her soon,” Isaiah says, tilting his head at me as he narrows his eyes.
“We’ll see you soon, Saff.”
“Okay,” she sounds so defeated. Fuck, I hate this.
Once I hang up the phone, Isaiah crosses his arms over his chest and stares me down.
“Fuck you,” I grumble. I don’t need to ask what his problem is. We both know damn well what he's thinking. He’s not wrong. The last time I saw my stepsister in person was nearly five years ago…
“Anton? Oh my god!” Sapphire squeals with excitement when she sees me walk out of my hiding spot. It’s her eighteenth birthday, and my grandma is throwing her a party. She’s never been fond of my stepmother, but she adores Sapphire.
Dad had thought he was marrying a replacement mom when in reality, he married the least parental human I’ve ever met. He isnt any better than her though, so how would he know what to look for? Maybe he liked her because she’s a spineless pushover.
The little girl she brought into our home was timid. Meek. She was so small and scared of her own shadow. I was eight and felt responsible for her in a lot of ways. It was clear her mother wasn’t going to do shit to make her feel comfortable around my dad and me. She hardly seemed comfortable herself.
“Happy birthday, little firecracker.” I catch her as she leaps into my arms, using the nickname I gave her the day we met. I left the house four years ago but text Sapphire every week. Sometimes just to say hi and check in since our parents are assholes. When she buries her face in the crook of my neck, I freeze up. I drop her right away and step back. That was way too intimate for step-siblings.
Her cheeks are pink as she smiles brightly. Her bleached blonde hair is up in a stylish bun, and her brown eyes are shining tonight. As I stare at her, my heart starts to race and my palms sweat. She looks so different than she did four years ago. She was a child then.
I drop my gaze to the ground, shaking off the uneasy feeling looking at her gave me. What the fuck is wrong with me?
“Come with me!” She grabs my hand and drags me toward the pool in the back of my grandma's house. As I look around, I can’t help but notice my stepmother isn’t here. Shocker. My father probably forced her to attend a dumbass work related lunch. “I’m so glad you’re here. Thank you for telling your grandma to throw this party.” She’s wearing a blue summer dress and wedge heels. She looks so different from the person I picture her as in my mind.
“She wanted to do this for you. I know your mom never does anything for your birthday. Eighteen is a special one.” I tug my hand free from her grip, needing to break that physical connection. I can’t deal with how it's making me feel. I can’t handle looking at her.
What the fuck? Where’s Isaiah when I need him?
“How long are you here for?” she asks when we make it to the edge of the pool. She slips her shoes off and sits on the edge, dropping her feet into the water. She motions for me to join her, so I kick off my sneakers, pull off my socks, and sit beside her.
“Just for today. Where are all your friends?” I ask as I look around, and she shrugs, looking away from me.
“They’re not coming. They all hate Thad,” she mumbles. The thought of her being pressured into marrying my cousin makes my blood boil. He’s her step-cousin, for fuck's sake. Something twists in my gut, and I can’t help but think there’s something they’re not telling her. Some explanation beyond their weird ass vague reasoning.
