It All Started With A Deal

Chapter 9.3

Chapter 9.3
I brushed through Chase's hair as I continued to read the book, attempting to keep my tears from falling on the page. Chase fell asleep after the second chapter. It seemed the nighttime medicine really worked.

It was a good thing I was a pretty quiet cryer, I was trying my best not to wake him up. He definitely needed rest. I checked his temperature earlier and it had just hit a hundred.

I consistently kept checking my phone for a single text from Athena, absolutely nothing. Liam, on the other hand, had texted me, asking if I was okay. I had yet to reply. Strictly professional. I couldn't let personal interest interfere again.

I wasn't sure how I had gotten to this point: crying while I held my sick brother. I guess it started with Athena, and then quickly became about Chase and not being able to protect him and before I knew it I was sobbing about everything that had every fine wrong in my life.

So I sat, tears gently falling down my face and staining the pages of the book, not making a single sound.

The sound of the front door slamming shut interrupted my thoughts. I listened closely, recognizing the heavy set footsteps. Charles. I listened as his steps made their way up the stairs at a quick rate. I quickly wiped my tears and nose, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible.

I had planned to leave before he got home but there was no way I could leave Chase to fend for himself in this house while he was sick. I held my breath, begging that he wouldn't come in here. Unfortunately the universe had made it very clear that I was a waste of matter, the door swung open. "Chase, do you want to explain why the tv was left on downstairs?" Charles's booming voice echoed through the room.

Chase stirred beside me but didn't wake up,

Charles froze the second his eyes landed on me. "Well how nice of you to finally join us," he spat.

I quickly sat up, being sure not to wake Chase. I shuffled out of the room, Charles on my tail.

"You got anything to say for yourself?" He growled.

I shook my head. Here it comes.

"What were you thinking?" His voice raised immensely, "You really thought it was okay for you to get a boyfriend. You should be dating Bradley! I asked you to do one thing, one thing and you couldn't even do that. What is the point of bevel having you here if you can't complete a simple task like that,"

I stayed silent, not having the energy to fight back.

"You're going to break up with this Lang guy,"

"Liam," I corrected.

"Whatever, his name isn't important. You're going to break up with this boy. You realize if Bradley gets wind of this it could throw the whole deal into the trash. I just managed to fix the whole you put us in last time and now you're about to ruin it all again. Do you really want to cause that much hardship on your family?"

He had made it very clear that we were not family. I owed him nothing and there was no way I was letting him make me break up with boyfriend, okay fake boyfriend but same principle!

He sighed, turning to head to his room.

"No," I replied firmly.

He whipped back around.

And it was at this point that I had not thought anything through. It probably would have been best to keep my mouth shut.

"Excuse me?"

I didn't cower back. And yes, it probably would have been best if I had just agreed and went on with life, but let's face it, I never thought before I spoke. "You heard me,"