Despicable Desires

Episode 27

Cameron

"Are you serious, my dear?" I burst into the backyard like a madman and ran toward my brother, who was jumping rope at a brisk pace. His sweat-soaked body was bombarded by the sun, while Future's "Mask Off" barely escaped from a portable speaker, preventing my voice from traveling too far. Maybe if I hit him, it would go unnoticed amidst the ambient noise. Surprised, he stops abruptly and lifts his face to mine, using his shirt to dab at his forehead.

"Yes," he replies uncertainly. He frowns and drops the rope to the floor, slightly lowering the volume of the music. I watch him with folded arms, waiting for his full attention. Ever since Adeline told me yesterday that he slept with her friend, all I could think of was to make him eat dust. Not that he can't get girls on his own, he doesn't need my permission for that. But I thought he was smart enough to stay away from our sister's best friend, aka the girl he was supposed to be attracted to. If there's one thing I don't understand about my brother, it's his attitude towards the female gender.

"Esther?" I say, gritting my teeth, trying to get him to talk.

"How do you know?" he asks coldly. No, buddy, it's not your place to be upset.

" Adeline," I answer briefly. "Are you crazy or what?"

"Does she know?" he asks, almost destabilized.

"Of course she knows, you idiot," I answer, unintentionally raising my voice. "She had a fight with her friend because of you."

"Her best friend, man. Why were you sleeping with her best friend?" I raise my arms in a sign of inquiry, searching his eyes for a trace of remorse, an explanation, something that would make me not want to hit him.

"I was drunk," he admits, fidgeting with the white T-shirt he's holding. "It was a mistake, and I made sure she understood that."

"Honestly, man, if this is your way of trying to fix things between you and Adeline, you're going about it like an amateur," I say, shaking my head.

"I'm not trying to do anything," he replies in a harsh tone. "I don't care what she thinks or if I hurt her by sleeping with her boyfriend."

Suddenly he turns to the radio and turns up the volume so that the music fills the garden again. With tense shoulders, he grabs the rope from the ground and resumes his energetic jumping. I stand in front of him, watching him act like an idiot. I love my brother, but to be honest, if he wasn't my brother, he wouldn't be a guy I'd appreciate. What a jerk he can be. Irritated by his childish behavior, I go to turn down the music myself to get his attention back.

"I'm not done talking to you," I say firmly.

"What now?" he asks, stopping his jumping and fixing me with a cold stare. How can I say what I need to say without him punching me in the face?

"To make things simple, the girls and I have to go to Seattle at the beginning of the week because they have to view some apartments."

"And how is that my problem?"

"Holly's car has a problem and she was supposed to drive us," I say, putting a hand on my neck.

"You have a car, right?" he adds as if he has all the answers and picks up his sports gear.

I let out a loud sigh and roll my eyes. One of these days I'm going to smash that stubborn head.

"Mom doesn't want me to drive this long. I've never driven this far before."

"That's not my problem."

"Mom told me you were supposed to take us," I hurried to contradict him.

"What, that I'm supposed to take you?" he spits out, glaring at me. I'm really going to get hit.