Chapter 7 Beers, Cigarettes, And Blows

• My heart beats too hard inside my body and to be honest, the last time I felt this way was because of Hugo, and well, he's no longer here. Samuel raises his hand for me to see him, but before going to meet him, I carefully observe Dad's future wife and hug her tightly to show how grateful I am for her appearing in our lives.
• Every step I take on the long path of rose petals leading to the altar feels painful. Aaron is nowhere to be found, so I feel a bit more relaxed knowing that that piece of troglodyte won't start a fight in the middle of our parents' wedding.
• "What are you doing here?" I ask with a huge smile on my face that I can't hide. The suit the doctor is wearing makes him look damn sexy; his blonde hair is perfectly styled while a sweet citrus scent emanates from his body.
• Samuel gently touches my head before handing me the bouquet of pink roses he brought for me. "I called you last night and..." He lowers his head as we both notice his rosy cheeks. God! How can a man like him look so adorable with something as simple as this? "I thought you had given me the wrong number, I felt sad, you know?"
• I smile nervously, not knowing what to say. "Can I know why?"
• He nods, taking a step closer to me. My legs feel unstable, so I have to hold my breath to avoid fainting in front of hundreds of guests.
• "Have you ever felt love at first sight?" My eyes widen. "I felt that with you, and that's why I'm here after your stepmother's call. I was so desperate that I went to the restaurant where I met you, but no one could give me information about you. Well, at least she accepts me into your family..."
• He points to Barbara, and I smile, showing my teeth. "Thank you for the flowers. I will have to march to the altar with my parents in a moment. Could you wait a bit?"
• Samuel pushes my body slightly forward, our faces just inches apart. "I will wait as long as necessary. What are a few minutes now? Nothing compared to my whole life without you!"
• Damn... I swallowed hard at those words that would drive any girl crazy on this planet. I turned, waving my hands in a farewell gesture, but stopped when I collided with Sullivan's chest. Luckily, Samuel was already too far away, so now all I could do was pray to the heavens that my damn stepbrother hadn't seen us and thus avoid a tragedy.
• -Your dad is looking for you...-Aaron looked over my shoulder, so I moved a bit to avoid him seeing Samuel walking away from us.-Who were you talking to? Strangely my mom is acting a bit weird, she made me cut a bunch of papers for something I didn't understand and when I come out I see you talking to a guy, What are you two hiding from me?
• -The world doesn't revolve around you!-I pushed him aside to get him out of my way, but ended up screaming in pain as he grabbed my wrist tightly.-What's wrong with you?
• I pulled my hand back to release myself but this made him hold me even tighter.-Was it the doctor?-I lowered my head and could only hear him snort.-Didn't I tell you that the phone I gave you wasn't for you to be talking to others? The numbers I saved are the only ones you need, Why can't you be obedient?
• -Obedient?-I looked to the side when Uncle Tobias started watching us from afar with his wife and kids. Kitty suddenly arrived with Paul and the other university friends and I understood that this was not the time to make a scene in front of everyone-I'll tell you just one thing, Aaron Sullivan-. The wedding march began to play and we both looked towards the main entrance.
• Dad entered hand in hand with Barbara and I couldn't help but cry a little seeing them so happy, my new stepbrother reached out to me because we were supposed to enter after them, like loving little siblings when all I wanted right now was to kill him with my own hands. God! Was it not possible that I, Romina Western, who spent her whole life doing good deeds, ended up living with an idiot like that panty-dropper.
• I opened my eyes when after thinking about it I realized something, What if Aaron was my new divine sign? Maybe if I could get him to seriously date someone and fall in love with her, I... I... I would be free! Of course! If Sullivan truly loves a girl, he won't have time to mess up my life.
• -Whatever you're thinking...-My stepbrother's voice pulled me back to reality-Leave it...-His eyes and mine connected and I looked away.
• -Have you ever loved someone?
• My question was surprising, so much so that Aaron stopped the wedding march, our parents began to walk alone while we remained in the middle of the aisle. Sullivan's eyes didn't leave my face; I started looking around at everyone and this scene was worthy of a Korean drama.
• The dark-haired man held my hand while that guy was motionless and watching me as if he wanted to kill me. The guests were starting to murmur things, so I took a step forward trying to return to normalcy-Hey!-I whispered slowly trying not to attract more attention.
• -Why are you asking me that?
• I looked at Uncle Tobias and shook my head when he asked if something was wrong.
• “Can we solve that after the wedding? Our parents are about to reach the altar and...” I breathed again as I felt him walking again.
• “I have never loved anyone...” I almost stopped in my tracks but kept walking forward, Samuel smiled at me as soon as he saw me and raised his hand to greet me” You're good at lying, aren't you?” he teased” I see that mom is on your side, but don't celebrate too soon, do you know what happens when people get married?
• “No.” I said no more, but turned my head as his lips approached my left ear.
• “They go on a honeymoon...” My brow furrowed because I didn't understand where he was going with this” Your dad will take my mom to Europe for a month...” I removed his hand as soon as we reached the altar” We'll be alone for thirty days...
• Harold hugged me and Barbara imitated his action, Aaron handed our parents the wedding rings while the notary asked the most important question of their lives. My world shook when I heard the resounding "I do" from both of them, and I understood that my life would be miserable from now on.
• I have to make Sullivan fall in love with someone as soon as possible!
• “Welcome to the family...” I almost let out between sobs, pleading with my eyes to my father not to leave me alone with this troglodyte.
• “Aaron...” Harold called his new son” Do you remember what we talked about when I asked for your mother's hand?” The dark-haired man looked at me smiling and nodded at dad's question” You must always take care of her, now you are siblings so take care of her at all times, you are the man of the house and you must keep away from her all the men who are not good for her...
• “Dad!
• I protested so loudly that the guests looked at us, including the notary.
• “Harold is right...” Sullivan added, pulling me towards him” I promise I will do a great job and you will be proud of me, I will take care of Romina as she is now, my little and adorable stepsister...
• Everyone is crazy!
• As best I could, I broke free from his painful grip, walking back towards the exit and remembering the times Harold used to tell me that he regretted not giving me a brother with whom to share good times, but I never imagined that my life would become a hell because of this.
• The heels of my sneakers sank into the grass of our garden with every step I took. I felt dizzy, hurt, and too foolish to look Samuel in the face right now, but I didn't have time to hide as I noticed how the blonde man approached me quickly with a face full of concern.
• “Is something wrong?
• Samuel tried to take my hand but I pulled it away abruptly.
• “Can we talk later?” I started walking again but the doctor blocked my path. He huffed” Are you sure you want this?
• My hands fell to each side of my hips. I felt exhausted with all of this.
• “What are you talking about? Why are you trembling?
• “Tell me, what do you gain if you go out with me? Aaron will always be after you for going out with me!
• His hands took my face so that I could observe him” I can show you that I can take care of you. Why don't we go and talk to him?
• “Nooooooo!
• I screamed, grabbing him by the jacket; my breath felt hot, it had only been four days since I met Sullivan and now, thanks to him, my life was in chaos.
• “Don't you like me?
• I raised my head at his question.
• “Excuse me?
• “I'm here because I like you, I've liked you since the first time I saw you, but if you don't feel the same way, I... I can't continue with this. Do I interest you as a man?
• His eyes were fixed on mine, all the guests at Dad and Barbara's party were happily chatting among themselves. Harold was dancing smiling with his new wife while I could still see Aaron kissing Maribel, who hadn't even noticed I was there.
• The brunette was sitting on his lap while my stepbrother was moving her somewhat excitedly.
• “I see you that way.
• I let go now, looking at him.
• “Can I...” I closed my eyes as I felt his fingers touch my lips” Can I really kiss you...?” I walked towards a huge bush to cover us. Samuel smiled, kissing my forehead, his body felt hot just like mine. His hands traced imaginary lines on my cheeks until they reached the corners of my lips.
• “Do it.
• I declared, biting my lower lip between my teeth; I felt anxious because it had been too long since I had been like this with a man.
• I spent months crying over Hugo, telling myself that I would never like anyone as much as I liked him, and I think the curse of the previous boyfriend began to break for me because these imaginary butterflies fluttering in my stomach is the sign I needed to take the next step.
• Samuel smiled before bringing his mouth to my lips, I closed my eyes longing with all my soul for that touch that would make me feel alive once again, my legs moved from side to side, I waited, I waited but it never happened.
• I opened my eyes suddenly feeling empty when the doctor's hands left my body and the last thing I could hear was a loud thud. I screamed from the depths of my soul as I saw Aaron turn into a fury on top of the man who would help me forget all my problems.
• Samuel tried to block his opponent's punches, but it seemed like Sullivan was some kind of professional boxer because he always hit him in the most painful points of his body.
• I ran to separate them, but Dad, Barbara, Kitty, and all the employees stopped their joys to try to control this damn fight that not only ruined my date but also our parents' wedding. Harold took Aaron by the shoulders to remove him from the almost agonizing body of the man who would be my future boyfriend; but I was more than sure that after this, he wouldn't want to see me again.
• Taking a step back, disillusioned, Samuel's blood was on Sullivan's knuckles. His appearance looked like a wild beast that would only be satisfied by killing his prey. My hands covered my mouth as I saw the state of that guy who only wanted to go out with me. Will it be like this from now on? Will Aaron try to drive away and intimidate all the guys who want to go out with me?
• "What happened?!" Barbara asked for the first time, moving her steps towards me, her thin and fragile arms holding me, surrounding my hips. Her light eyes looked into mine and I broke down in front of her.
• "I just... I just..." I cried again, even harder now. "We were about to kiss!" Aaron looked at me and then laughed.
• "With a guy you just met yesterday, damn it!" He shouted with a perfect Spanish accent. "What if this guy is not who he says he is? Do you know who his family is? Do you know his last name? Tell me!"
• "Why are you so foolish, Romina? Are you so lacking in love that you will go with the first person who tells you how beautiful you are?"