ashley
26 YEARS OLD
My anger is so strong right now that I can barely see the road. Luckily, I know every part of this area so well that I could make this drive blindfolded. My only real concern is wildlife popping out. Rocks fly from behind my truck as I bounce down the path toward our home. I shove the gear stick into park and shut off the truck. Slamming the door behind me, I pace alongside the truck to try and calm down before I kill my brother. He seriously took her virginity and then didn’t even bother to walk her home. Did he just fuck her and then throw her out? She’s too good for a dipshit like him. What was she even thinking? The thought of her letting him touch her, giving him that piece of her, right in our fucking house, has me fuming.
The sound of the screen door banging has me looking over to the house. Adam comes strolling out, freshly showered and dressed in jeans and a fitted black shirt. I take off in a hard run and slam into my brother, pushing him against the house.
Adam screams out, “What the fuck!”
“You really are a piece of shit,” I seethe.
Adam pushes against me, but I don’t move. “What’s crawled up your ass this time?”
“Shut up! How could you be so low?”
“How have I disappointed you today, big bro?”
I pull him off the house, only to push him back against it. He tries to hide his pain but fails. “Did you have sex with her and then toss her out? Like some cheap lay?”
“You’re not my dad. As hard as you try to be, you’re not. And unless you’re dipping into Sugar too, this doesn’t concern you.”
My control snaps. I toss my brother to the ground. I’ve tried my hardest to be a positive role model. To make up for our parents and the lack of parenting in his life. But there’s no fucking excuse for what he just did to her. The sight of her beautiful face walking in the dark and then the discomfort on the rough roads has me seeing red, and I’m about to lay into him when Zuri’s screams break through the fog in my mind.
“Ash! Stop!” She’s standing on the porch hugging herself. I instantly feel like shit. I stare down at my brother, who’s smirking at me while his chest rises and falls.
“Start acting better. You don’t treat her like that again,” I warn him.
Adam’s eyes widen as a huge goofy grin spreads across his face. He releases a full-belly laugh and then covers his face with his hands. “Oh shit.” He drops his hands and then stares at me like he knows my darkest secret. “You have a hard-on for her, don’t you? What’s wrong? She too young? Your moral code getting in the way?”
I ignore him as I go and tend to my baby sister. Zuri shouldn’t have seen me lose my temper. I try to shelter her from the bad as much as I can, so I guide her back into the house and leave my brother alone outside.
“He’s right. You do like her. I do, too.”
I refuse to acknowledge it, and I’m eager to change the subject. “It’s late. Have you eaten anything for supper?”
“I ate. Gia’s mom sent a plate for you. She was worried that you’ve been working too much and not eating enough.”
I inwardly groan. I need Gia’s mom to get it through her head that we are not going to happen. But I appreciate her feeding Zuri.
“Why don’t you make a move?”
“I don’t like Gia’s mom that way.”
“No. Make a move on Sugar.” Zuri gives me a very immature eye roll.
“Bedtime.”
I can’t make a move on Sugar. She’s sleeping with my idiot brother. She’s too young. I’m in no position to be dating anyone, and she’s not even going to stay in Sunshine Coast. The whole idea is pointless. Everything I do has a purpose, and I can’t afford to waste my time. Too many people are depending on me.
* * *
“She was complete putty in my hands.” Adam’s boasting has me seething. But I refuse to let him know that he’s getting under my skin. It’ll only make him act worse.
“Did she taste like sugar… down there?”
I squeeze the wrench tighter in my hand. I don’t know which asshole friend of his is speaking now, but he better be glad my hands are busy getting this truck tuned-up for a client. I need to get it running like new and back before noon. I don’t have time to defend Sugar’s honor.
“Oh, she was damn sweet. I think I got a cavity.” That gets a roar of laughter.