I wasn't able to fall back asleep after that. Luke went in and out of dozing before he sighed and forced himself to sit up. I groaned. Luke narrowly avoided me and slid off the end of the couch near my feet.
"Madeline, wake up," Luke instructed. I moaned and curled into the warm spot he had left on the couch. "Honey, you've got to start your day."
"Yes, dad," I spoke into the couch cushion sarcastically.
"Wrong answer." Luke murmured playfully. When I felt him grab me, I wrapped my arms around the couch cushion firmly and maintained my grip as Luke attempted to pry me off. "Mum, I'm sorry for every time I pulled these types of stunts on you." He grunted. Melissa laughed.
"You didn't stop pulling those stunts until you moved out. I'm sure you would've been doing the same thing Madeline's doing right now if you hadn't been ready to get up."
"Don't defend her." He chuckled. I continued hanging onto the couch cushion until the Velcro snapped off and Luke pulled me up while I continued clinging to the cushion that came up with me. I stood in front of him, hugging the section of the couch that tagged along.
"Brat." I murmured jokingly. Luke rolled his eyes in the same manner.
"You're the one that just broke my couch."
"I didn't break it." I defended myself. "Honestly, you know how to fix the kitchen sink but you don't know that your couch cushions come on and off so you can vacuum underneath them?" I scoffed. Luke ruffled my hair before I wacked him playfully and repositioned the couch cushion. Luke walked away, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, to go change clothes. I plopped back onto the couch with a huff.
"So why does he call you his 'mom' sometimes but also use the term 'Mum' like Brits and Australians?" I asked Melissa as we sat there and watched each other in silence. She shrugged.
"It's kind of like how some kids call their dads 'papa' instead of 'dad.'" She explained. "It was just some sort of affectionate term he picked up when he was around six years old. It just stuck." She told me. "He's a 'mama's boy' so I think we both kind of like the name." She explained. I nodded.
"That's neat," I said genuinely. I stood. "I think I need to go change clothes."
"Madeline..." Melissa stopped me before I could walk away. I turned back to her.
"You don't have to give me a nickname for us to have a close relationship. Just call me Melissa and I'll still always be there for you if you need me." She grinned.
"Thank you." I smiled a real, genuine smile. I continued walking upstairs, pretty pleased with how the morning had turned out so far.
YOU ARE READING
Stepbrother (Sequel to Stockholm Syndrome)
General Fiction"I just want you to know how terrifying it is to have no control. Like, physically, no control over what happens to you. Nothing. Being at the mercy of someone else's hand." The look he gave me was glazed over with pain. "The thing is, you aren't th...
