Page 1 of Strike Out

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KAI

“Malakai, it’s only for a few months. Just until your sister can move into the apartment she leased.”

My mother pleads on the other end of the line, and all I can do at this point is say yes. Isla and I have our issues, like any set of step siblings, but I’m pretty sure most of them aren’t because one is interested in fucking the other. But I don’t want to just fuck Isla.I want her.I’ve wanted her since I was the fourteen-year-old boy who stood on the porch with my mom, moving into a new house. With a new family.

Isla was everything to me from that moment on. I remember it vividly, the way she just smiled at me and blushed when I told her I liked her Giants shirt. She stared at the ground and said that my mom told her that I play ball and that the Giants were my favorite team. For the next three years, she was my biggest fan, coming to almost every practice and tryout, working out with me, or simply just playing catch to keep my arm loose. She would even beg her mother to drive her to my games, even though it was supposed to be time spent with just them.

Isla made me feel special.

Loved.

Wanted.

But when I told her how I felt, how I was in love with her, she shot me down.

“Kai, we can’t! Think about what our parents would think.”

I tried so hard to not want her, to not feel hurt that she didn’t want me too. Until I realized it wasn’t because she thought it was wrong. Not that she didn’t want me, because the longing looks never stopped, we spent every moment we could together until I moved to San Jose State. She just thought she couldn’t have me because our parents were married. Even when she dated, she still came home to me instead of staying the night with them.

My goody-two-shoes sister just didn’t want to disappoint her daddy. And I’m sure her telling him that she wants to date her stepbrother would probably be just that. A disappointment.

Her living here will be the perfect opportunity for us to rekindle that flame.

Even if it’s been three years since I moved away.

I know I still want her. My love for her never stopped.

“Sure, Ma, it’s not a problem. Isla can stay as long as she likes.” I smirk, and I can practically hear my mother’s sigh of relief. The sound of her feet thumping up the stairs tells me she’s going to talk to Isla’s father or Isla herself. I count the steps she takes once she stops climbing and I know it’s to her and Gene’s room rather than my sister’s.

“Gene… Gene, wake up! Kai says Isla can stay with him as long as she needs. Isn’t that wonderful!”

My stepfather grumbles, and I hear my mother smack him. “What… oh, thanks, bud.” He says it through a yawn and my mother whispers something to him. “You’re really taking one for the team, letting her stay with you. Just FYI, she’s a mess right now, what with that asshole Steve breaking up with her.”

There it is.

Mom didn’t mention that the longtime boyfriend dumped her.

“Don’t worry, G. I’ve got this. I’ll have all the girlie movies and junk food I know chicks like after situations like this.”I mean I will, but only because some aftercare will be necessary after what I have planned for us.I’ll have my sweet stepsister forgetting whatever the fuck his name is in no time.

“Thanks, son. We owe you one. The first game is coming up, isn’t it?”

“Next Tuesday. You guys want me to leave some tickets for you?”What they don’t know is I will always have tickets at Will Call for them.Sue me, I’m a family man.

“Absolutely, Sweetie!” My mother chimes in. “We wouldn’t miss it. Leave one for Isla, too. We can bring her stuff to your apartment and then go to the game afterwards.”

I stretch my arm above my head and look around my bedroom and grin like a fool. “Sounds perfect, Mom. I’ll see you guys on Tuesday. I’ll text her after I hang up with you.”

“She’s out in SJ now with some friends for a bachelorette party.” A door closes on her side and she whispers. “Could you keep your ringer on, you know, in case she calls and is too drunk to get herself an Uber?”

“You got it, Mom. Get some sleep. I’ll talk to you later.”

I hang up and pull up my conversation with Isla.

Kai

Have fun tonight, Sis. I told Mom that it’s cool that you live with me for however long you need.

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