Page 7 of Secret

Daniel is one of my friends, and Elliot and I are going out for drinks with him tonight. I'm surprised he slept with her as he knew I had, and usually we don't do that shit, but it’s worse that I really don't give a crap that they did.I really shouldn't have let her think she actually was my girlfriend after I slept with her once, but it was when I was drunk.

No, it's not, but it's over. Don't message me again, I’m sorry.

Fuck, I wrote that without thinking. It's far harsher than I needed to be and she messages back.

Ivy: Asshole

Yeah, I deserve that. I turn my phone off as a van turns up.

“Let’s get to work.” Luke claps my shoulder as he passes and makes me smile.Five crazy hours later, the room is finally done, and I silently slip my drawing under her pillow and hope she likes it.

Fuck, I'm acting like a girl over her.Not that I can help it. I need to know if she likes me or wants me.I can't remember any girl really, as they were never important. I have a feeling this sexy, innocent girl is the best thing that's ever happened to me. I grin before shaking my head as I walk out of her room.

Chapter5

IZZY

Waking to the sound of a loud vacuum, I lift my head, the light coming through the windows telling me that it’s late morning. I get out of bed, stretching as I head to the bathroom next to the closet and quickly relieve myself. I splash water on my face and brush my fingers through my hair before I can even think about leaving my room. I quickly put jeans on and tuck Harley’s shirt into my jeans.This will do for now. I open my door and see a note taped to the other side.

‘Izzy. I had to go to work, but Sebastian is taking you shopping for things. Harley.’

I smile, thinking how sweet it is to have brothers who care and that I'm going to buy something for myself for the first time in over a year. I can't wait, but considering I don’t have much money saved up, I won't be spending too much. I decide not to worry about that now as there are other things to worry about at the moment.

I walk down the corridor, looking around at the plain, cream walls with the odd, expensive-looking paintings. I stop at a nice, canvas painting of a field full of lavender. It’s painted really well, but I walk on just past an open door.

I glance in to see a wooden-sleigh bed with a simple, blue sheet draped across the top of it. The rest of the room is simple as well. I would guess its Elliot’s room from the two bike helmets on the dresser.

I move on, going down the stairs, and I’m shocked at how clean the house is. Now that it’s light in here, I can see the wooden floors and cream walls that run throughout the house. The stairs look like they are made of one massive piece of wood, and they curl down to the bottom floor of the house. The kitchen is on the left, and it’s filled with light-wooden cabinets and a large breakfast unit with many stools littered around it in the middle. There are two coffee machines on the side, with a double cooker next to them. The breakfast counter is packed full with pancakes and fruit.

Luke is sitting at one of the counters, eating, and smiles when he sees me. Luke has such a friendly smile for a guy covered in tattoos and massive muscles.

“Morning, sis, did you sleep well? I’m sorry about being drunk when we first met,” he smiles with a guilty, baby face. Unfortunately for me, it makes me grin and want to forgive him.

“No problem, can I have some pancakes?” I ask and slide my foot side-to-side. Honestly, I hadn’t eaten anything other than cereal and whatever crap was left over in my foster parents’ house from the parties the night before. Fresh food was rare in our house. I remember how my mom loved to cook for me and made me delicious cakes for my birthday each year. We never had a lot, but she always loved me, and that was enough.

“Help yourself, I made them, and I'm the only one who can cook around here, can you?” he asks.

I start piling up three pancakes and some fruit on my plate before answering him, I take the empty stool next to him, which he seems happy with.

“No, not really. I used to make brownies and cupcakes with my mum, but that's it, I'm afraid. I can clean, but it looks like someone already did that,” I say, gesturing around as I start eating my food. The pancakes are amazing, and I forgot how nice fresh fruit tastes.

“We have cleaners that come in from six until when they finish, but it’s twelve now and they are just done. I guess Harley will be giving them a nice tip,” he says with a grin, and we both eat in silence.

When I'm finished, I ask if he knows where Sebastian is. “I'm meant to be shopping with him today.” I stand, grabbing my plate.

“Yes, he’s in the TV room. You know the one we met in last night. And, good luck! Sebastian is a shopping whore.” He laughs to himself, then gets up to grab his keys off a hook near the door and shouts, “Bye!” as he leaves. I briefly wonder what Luke is driving when he is just sixteen.

As Luke has left his plate on the counter, I wash them up and leave them to dry before finding Sebastian on his phone in the TV room. He sees me and tells whoever it is that he has to go, then he smiles hugely, making me want to smile at him. He’s dressed to perfection with slacks and a white shirt.

“Right, little sis, it’s time to shop and have your hair done. We have to get you a new car and phone. You ready?”

I just stand there in shock before saying, “Well, I don't have that much money, so maybe just clothes?” I keep looking down, even as I hear him move closer to me. God, this is embarrassing, they’re all wearing such nice clothes and have a clearly expensive house. I don’t want to feel like a charity case.

“What are you talking about? Harley is paying, and trust me, we all have enough. We can’t see you suffering in old clothes when we can look after you. We want to look after you, so let us?” he asks, watching me closely. I have the feeling if I say no, we will stay here and he wouldn’t push this. I don’t want to say no though, not when he explains it like that. The last person who ever wanted to look after me died and there was no one left to care. I nod once, and with that, he grabs my hand and drags me out of the house.

Sebastian grabs some keys on the way and unlocks an impressive Audi; it's blue and looks custom-made.I get in, loving the soft leather seats and the purr of the engine as we set off.How did my life change so quickly?

Chapter6