Chapter 8 A Series Of Unfortunate Checks

• Ambre
• Late for class again because of a sleepless night? Check.
• Listening to a discussion about the joys of college parties in Seattle when I'm almost certain I'm not going? Check.
• Spending the entire lunch hour next to Tyler without him saying a single word of comfort to me? Check.
• So I come home in a very bad mood, accompanied by Cameron who's doing everything he can to make me smile. As soon as I sit down on the couch next to Astrid in front of some TV program, Jayden's voice echoes:
• - "Hey, Princess."
• My sister, who'd put her head in my lap and tried to comfort me with this half hug, sits up a little to look at Jayden, who's approaching us. He's wearing jeans rolled up at the knees, big black sneakers that match the cap he's got on his head - this time the right way up - and a white t-shirt that shows off his broad shoulders a little too much. I swallow hard and look away from this most pleasant sight, leaving Jayden to ignore me as he pleases. I'm clearly not in the mood to argue with him and get his attention today.
• Yesterday's sushi topic was enough. As I stare at the TV screen, making a superhuman effort to ignore him, he leans in front of me to kiss my sister on the cheek - at the same time hiding a large part of the TV, forcing me to look at him again. I furrow my brow and exhale loudly, annoyed by his little game. He's seen me, I've seen him, he's ignoring me, the message is clear. Now he can get lost. But when he reaches my sister to plant a kiss on her cheek, he leans on her. Or should I say, on the hand I had placed on hers. As soon as our fingers touch, my breath stops. I dare not move or complain, and my heart stops before it starts beating wildly in my chest. Think of the sushi and remember what an idiot he is.
• I keep my eyes closed for a few seconds, trying to quiet the loud beating of my heart. I feel him straighten up and open my eyes just as his hand pulls away from mine. He locks his eyes with mine and I silently pray that he doesn't notice my excitement. The seconds tick by, neither of us turning away, then the contact breaks and he leaves the room in a hurry, leaving me all shaken up and completely uninterested in what's happening on TV.
• Damn shitty day.
• ***
• "Remember, you have a test next Thursday on the whole year program!" shouts the classroom, just before the bell releases us from this school day and a massive stream of heads rushes for the exits.
• "I'm so excited for the holidays!" groans Holly.
• "Speaking of holidays, I'm not working on Friday," I announce. "I asked Austin for the night off this morning."
• "What? You're leaving me alone?" protests Holly with a look of exaggerated indignation.
• "My dad and Mia are going to Sacramento for the weekend to meet some friends, so I have to take care of Astrid."
• "Isn't she a little old to be babysat?" Esther wonders.
• "She's only thirteen!"
• "You took care of your little sister when you were thirteen," Holly jokes. "Just admit you don't trust her."
• "Or Cameron," I correct with a laugh. "He's capable of leaving her alone all night to go out and meet the boys."
• "And Jayden?" asked Esther.
• "Do you really think he has the face of a babysitter?" giggles Holly. "You're dreaming!"
• Esther rolls her eyes but doesn't say anything, as if she already knows she's wasting her time defending my stepbrother.
• "Well, that doesn't solve the original problem. You're leaving me."
• "If you want, I'll pick you up at the end of your shift and we can all go to my place and watch a movie," I try to make up for it with a big smile.
• She pretends to think for a moment.
• "No! I'm going to ask for the night off as well. There's no reason why you should be the only one not working."
• Holly sticks her tongue out at me and pulls her phone out of her pocket to dial our boss's number. With a sweet voice on the other end of the line, she tries her best to convince Austin to give her Friday off, pretending she didn't know about my request a few hours earlier.
• "Thank you! I'll make it up to you. See you Saturday!" She hangs up, very proud of her accomplishment, and I walk to the car where Cameron and my sister are waiting for me. When we finally arrive home, the smell of barbecue tickles our nostrils and draws us into the backyard. My dad and Jayden are both there, beer in hand, in front of the meat cooking on the fire.
• "I don't see any objections, on the contrary, it will do my daughter a world of good," my father says, turning to us. He reached out his arm and pulled me close to his chest, planting a kiss on my temple. Cameron shakes his hand before standing next to his brother, who doesn't take his eyes off me.
• "What will do me good?" With my hand on my father's chest, I look up at him, preferring to ask him the question instead of Jayden.
• "Jayden asked if it would be possible to have a party here tomorrow night, to take your mind off all the bad news." I turn my head to the initiator of this request. He's focused on the embers smoldering in the grill, avoiding any eye contact with me. With all the talk of university rejections, I had forgotten the reason he was here. He, too, had suffered a setback, and he, too, was paying the price.
• "That's a great idea! Can we do it?" Cameron, more than excited about this party proposal, is eager to tell his friends.
• "What's that?" My stepmother approaches us with a towel in her hands, her eyes quizzing my father.
• "A morale boosting party," Jayden continues, a mischievous smile on his lips.
• "Just when we're about to leave for the weekend, you want to mess up the house," Mia says.
• Cameron suggests that we take advantage of the fact that my father and stepmother are doing something together and have a party. I'm surprised that my sister's name isn't on anyone's lips, so I ask what we're going to do with Astrid.
• "She can stay with a friend," my father suggests.
• "Why not? It won't do you any harm," Mia admits.
• "Provided that everything stays in order," my father warns.
• "Yes, sir!" I reply and greet him with a hand on my temple.
• Cameron claps his hands, happy with the way things are going, and rushes to his phone to type the news into a multitude of messages. A few seconds later, I receive a text from the girls asking me what time they should be at my house on Friday to help me prepare for the party.
• Apparently the grapevine works pretty well around here...
• ***
• "We could at least go shopping after class," Cameron suggested as he walked past the glass door.
• "Good idea, and the girls said they would take care of the sound system!"
• "That's too cool! I can't wait. I didn't expect the parents to agree so quickly," I replied as Cameron closely followed me up the stairs.
• As I was heading for the stairs, Jayden's voice came from the kitchen, preventing me from answering. "I downloaded the latest Marvel movie, wait for me in the bedroom."
• It was more of an order than a suggestion, but an action movie wasn't such a bad idea after a few despondent days. There was nothing better than relaxing in front of one of the best movies of the year, especially since I had never seen it before and really wanted to. Sure, when he wants to, he can do things well, that one... I ran up the stairs two at a time, determined to take a sweater and a sweatshirt with me this time to avoid shivering again. Lying on the bed in the same places as before, we waited for Jayden to arrive before starting the movie session.
• The movie is incredible. With a heavy heart but stars in my eyes, I returned to my room to drop off my pillows and go to the bathroom. I changed into my pajamas and brushed my teeth before leaving with my belongings in hand. As I arrived outside my room, footsteps on the stairs made me slow down. Thinking it was Cameron coming up from the kitchen, I stopped, but regretted it when two brown eyes met mine. With a bottle of water in his hand, Jayden casually climbed the last few steps that separated him from the floor I was on. He wore nothing but black sweatpants that slipped here and there on the elastic of his red boxers. Apparently the T-shirt was optional tonight. When I saw him coming closer, I quickly turned away. I just had time to lock the door to my room before a firm hand grabbed my wrist and pushed me to face its owner. I looked up at Jayden, avoiding his nakedness and meeting his gaze. Why is he holding me back?
• Our bodies are extremely close, accentuating the irregularity of my breathing, and with each inhalation my chest swells, my breasts coming dangerously close to his. Aware that any other contact would inevitably lead to my ruin, I try to breathe as little air as possible. I have to stay away, far away from him, if I don't want to do something stupid. It's getting critical.
• "How do you feel, Ambre?"
• His breath runs down my face. He whispered these words without mockery or sarcasm. Is he asking me this question because he sees my distress right now? In any case, his look is almost worried and it really touches me. Pull yourself together, Ambre!
• I say nothing, paralyzed by the touch of his hand on my skin, his closeness and the interest I read in his eyes. I just shrug my shoulders, lower my eyes, and tug at the wrist he delicately holds in his hand before closing the door in his face. With my joggers pressed against my chest, I breathe heavily. My heart is beating so hard it feels like it could burst out of my chest. I lean against the door of my room for a moment before sliding to the floor. A huge knot blocks my throat as I become aware of the more than absurd sensations I'm beginning to feel in the presence of my stepbrother: I hate him as much as I'm attracted to him, perfectly in tune with his mood swings... I'm really in trouble.