Stepbrother (Sequel to Stockholm Syndrome)

15

    "We need to go out." My mouth hung open after his suggestion, the cereal Luke had convinced me to nibble on spilling back into the bowl. He chuckled at me, handing me a napkin to help clean up. "Nothing fancy, doesn't even have to be a restaurant." He assured me, watching me wipe some of the milk off that had splashed into my hair. "We just need to get out of the house." Luke explained.

        "I would suggest Starbucks but those trips haven't normally ended well." I decided. "Are there any parts of that park you once took me to that are legal to be in?" I asked, remembering the magical moments before we got chased away by security.

    "Yeah! We can go there if you want." Luke grinned for a moment. He loved that park. A few times in the past I had woken up to the house completely empty when he went to the park before I was awake.

He was like a five year old as I got ready to go. He playfully rushed me as I was finding clothes to change into and I would have been angry if it wasn't adorable. "Are you ready yet?" He asked even though he could clearly see I wasn't even dressed yet.

        "Luke, be patient!" I laughed, shutting the bathroom door on his face. I changed out of my pajamas and into day clothes, excited to be able to wear shorts and dresses after the cold weather had finally passed. I threw on jean shorts and a tank – top, brushed my hair, and walked out. Luke hopped off the bed and bounced over to me.

        "Ok, let's go." He said quickly.

    Car rides with Luke were always rather intimidating. I was never sure how it would turn out.

        "You ok?" He asked, glancing over at me as he drove down a lonesome road.

    "Perfect." I told him. He could tell something was up.

        "Don't lie to me, Madeline." He warned. I shivered, a trickle of fear hopping up and down my neck.

    "Car rides don't always work out." I said quietly.

        "The first time was your fault. You literally jumped out of the car in the Starbucks drive thru." He said, not angry but making a point.

    "You were a creep."

        "A creep who was buying you coffee." He emphasized the last word good – naturedly. I rolled my eyes, laughing.

    "Of course that made up for everything." I said sarcastically.

        "Duh, it's coffee." He teased. But after a few moments, the goofy mood wore off and Luke turned solemn. "Madeline, I promise I won't hurt you on purpose. And I'm not forcing you to stay anymore. It's been that way for a while but I want to make it abundantly clear that you have the choice on whether or not you stay." He said quietly. He stopped in the line for the Starbucks drive thru and stared at me while I looked back at him. I nodded, not sure what to say. "I promise." He said again, meaning every syllable.

    "I know." I whispered back.