Page 94 of A Wreck, You Make Me

Why, because my sister is kicking your ass?

My Not-So-Toxic Stepbrother

I’m letting my sister kick my ass.

Jupiter

What, why?

My Not-So-Toxic Stepbrother

I’m not going to win against my little sister. Especially when she’s still new to the game. Plus she needs cheering up after everything.

What kind of a brother would I be if I didn’t cheer her up?

I want to reply to him. I do. But my chest clenches so hard that I have to take a moment to myself. So as expected, my not-so-toxic stepbrother and my sister have become besties. While he leaves for practice super-duper early and is never around to eat breakfast—or even dinner at times—with us, I know for a fact that they stay in touch throughout the day via texts. I hear about it from Snow when I come back from work. But no matter how busy he is, he’s always back in time to play their favorite soccer game, FIFA.

I always knew they’d become best friends and it warms my heart to see I was right. Snow has always loved him from afar and while it was mostly due to soccer, I know she loves him now as her brother too. For the first time ever, she’s so comfortable in someone else’s presence Someone who isn’t me or one of my friends. This is her relationship outside of me and while I’m a little jealous that her world isn’t confined to just me, I’m so much happier about it too. She needs people she can count on and he’s the best man for the job.

Which also means the decision I made that night to stay away from him was the right one. I can’t give in to my feelings and start something with him, start something thathewants. Because what he wants is only temporary. Which means things between us will end one day and what if we end up hurting Snow over it?

I know she wants me to be happy and gives me enough hints that I should do something about living under the same roof ashim. But she’s too naïve to understand that things between us aren’t meant to last. And I don’t want that to affect her when she finally has everything that I ever wanted her to have.

My Not-So-Toxic Stepbrother

Now what are you doing in the upstairs room?

Jupiter

Making things easy for you.

My Not-So-Toxic Stepbrother

What?

Jupiter

I know what you’re doing. As in, with the house. I saw it the first night I came here.

You’re trying to clean it out, update it. So I’m trying to help you.

My Not-So-Toxic Stepbrother

Help me.

Jupiter

And while I’m not at all handy with paint brushes and changing pipes or whatever it is you’re planning on doing, I thought I’d try to sift through things and organize.

And I decided to start with this room. The one that you left unfinished.

He, of course, takes his time replying. I’m pretty sure he’s seething downstairs. Although you wouldn’t know it by the sounds. As in, there’s a roar on the TV and my sister just whooped about it. She probably scored a goal or something. Or maybe he let her score a goal.

My phone chimes in my hand and my fingers jump to unlock the screen.

My Not-So-Toxic Stepbrother

Fine.