Bully stepbrother

40. Nothing more nothing less

MADISON

It was early evening, with the sun yet to settle behind the horizon, providing a sense of gratification and tranquility for the town's residents who peacefully strolled along the sidewalks.

With earbuds in, I left the small, cozy cafe where I had spent most of my day.

Inside, I enjoyed the company of Bryan Tatum and indulged in a pile of muffins and coffee, all while a live basketball match played on the television, entertaining the cafe's customers.

To my surprise, the day had turned out quite differently from what I had anticipated when Bryan walked into the cafe in a casual outfit and minimal security.

To be more specific, I endured the worst thirty minutes in that scanty cafe earlier in the morning, staring out the window as my coffee grew cold. I struggled to comprehend what Caden wanted; his feelings were inconstant. He wanted me, then he didn't. He was happy, and then he was angry.

What saddened me even more was my desire to be there for him as a sister, nothing more. Admittedly, I could be pushy, but I wouldn't be if Caden hadn't given me reasons to be. I believed he was holding back so much, and it was gradually taking a toll on him, unbeknownst to him.

If only I hadn't kissed him and gotten us into this predicament, he might have been rude but not this cruel. Perhaps he could have been the brother I needed, not the one I regretted having.

So when Bryan walked in and ordered two cups of hot coffee, thirty minutes after our call, I genuinely smiled. Even though I was weighed down by guilt and pain, I allowed myself to enjoy a few hours without Caden. I didn't have to dwell on the painful memories from last night and beyond. Instead, I had a famous basketball player across the table, eager to learn everything about me.

With a smile on my lips as I recalled the past few hours, my mind was far from the road as I pedaled my bicycle. I reminisced about the captivating gaze he'd cast and the enticing English that flowed from his tongue in a sensual, deep voice.

Suddenly, an idea popped into my head, and I halted, pulling my phone from my pants pocket. I swiped to unlock the screen and scrolled through my contacts until I found Asher's phone number. Making the call was another means of escaping my current pain. I couldn't return home, couldn't face Caden, not after last night and his recent attitude. I tapped the call icon and brought the device to my ear. "Hey, can we meet later?" was my immediate question after he picked up. However, the loud honking of vehicles distracted me from his response.

Shit!

I stopped in the middle of a traffic circle.

I shifted my gaze to the left, spotting a white car speeding toward me.

Panic surged. "Oh, no!"

I heard a distant voice calling my name, but I was frozen, unable to move, my heart pounding as cars honked and people exclaimed around me.

I think I'm screwed.

***

When I blinked through half-closed eyelids, I found myself in a place much different from my apartment, surrounded by sterile equipment and the scent of medical disinfectants.

I felt the softness of the bed I was lying on and sensed a sharp sensation, like a needle, somewhere near my skin. I groaned in pain.

"Madison, dear, good morning," a mature woman's voice greeted me.

Dizzy and disoriented, I forced my eyes open. "Where am I?" I mumbled as everything appeared blurry and doubled in my vision.

"You're fine; you just need to rest," replied the voice, although I couldn't see the speaker.

"Can she unlock her phone?" a male voice inquired.

"Not yet, Evan. She needs to recover."

Recover? Where am I?

"Where am I?" I asked feebly once more.

"You had a minor accident, but you're fine," the woman's voice reassured me.

Accident!                                                         

Memories from the traffic circle came flooding back.

"Two of your friends are out there; they've been here the whole night," the woman said. But the information, the images, and the beeping monitor beside the bed overwhelmed me, and my heartbeat surged.

"Can you unlock your phone? Your emergency contact isn't picking up. Maybe we can reach a family member or someone," Evan suggested.

The memory of my mom setting Caden's phone number as my emergency contact two months ago flashed through my mind. Knowing why he wouldn't answer the call or care about my whereabouts, I despondently muttered, "I don't have any family members."

CADEN

"Mad?" I rushed to the couch where she was resting.

In a panic, I pushed aside Amanda or whatever his name was, not caring where he ended up.

I knelt next to the fragile girl asleep on the sofa, her arms bearing scratches, a white cloth wrapped around her head, and a slight cut on the left side of her neck, perilously close to her pulse.

"No!" I said, gently nudging her cheeks, my fingers trembling. My emotions ran wild, and I couldn't care less.

"She had taken some pain relievers, so the doctor said she'll sleep for a while," Alice boy explained.

Incensed, I stood up and confronted him. How dare he act as though he were family? As if he knew her better than me, as if he cared for her more?

Without control over my actions, I grabbed him by the collar of his brown polo shirt. "Why wasn't I informed? My sister had an accident, and I wasn't told," I growled, struggling to catch my breath.

My intense gaze revealed the terror in the boy's face. His skin was too pale for a living human, it was as if he had seen a ghost, and he trembled in my grip.

"Answer me!" I yelled even louder, terrified myself.

"The hospital called you; you were her only emergency contact. They've been trying to reach you, but you weren't answering," he rushed to explain, blinking and swallowing nervously.

"No phones, just fuck." she snatched the phone from me and tossed it onto the sofa, where it continued to vibrate. "I will take your shirt off," she said.

Images of kissing, stripping, nibbling, fucking.

No! I don't do it again.

Weakened, disheartened, and broken, I released Madison's friend with a gentle shove and collapsed into the chair behind me.

Yesterday, while I was drinking and screwing different girls at a party, my sister was fighting for her life.

I could never forgive myself.

My father had always been right; I was worthless, and nothing more or less.