Page 15 of Stepbrothers

He followed and once inside her flat he swept his attention around. “So have you called your landlord again about the issues here?”

“No, not yet.”

“Why not?”

“I’ve been busy.” She took the dress and hung it on a hook.

“Too busy to sort out the serious shit in your life?”

“Give me a break.” She walked past him and flopped onto the sofa. “I’ve been on my feet all day.” She crossed her ankles, knees sticking out to the sides, and massaged her soles.

“So have I.” He placed his hands on his hips and looked at first her and then the empty Pot Noodle. “Was that your dinner?”

She frowned. “What are you really doing here?”

“Parker and I are concerned.”

“About what?”

“You.”

“Give me a break.” She held up her hands. “I don’t need concerned big brothers.”

“You don’t get a choice.” He sat in the chair by the window. “When we met you on Sunday, you didn’t exactly paint a picture of a someone living life to the full.”

“Now you listen to me.” She waggled her finger at him.

He raised his eyebrows, and his lips tightened.

She got the feeling the finger bugged him so she waggled it some more. “I might not have a fancy job or a swish apartment with river views, but I’m happy.”

He was quiet for a moment, then, “Who gave you the hickey?”

“What?”

“You heard the question, don’t pretend you didn’t.”

“It’s none of your business.”

“I beg to differ.”

“Are you for real?”

He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, hands dangling between them. “We should get one thing straight, little sis, we are very much for real, and you are off the rails. Rails we intend to get you back on so you don’t continue to wade through life as though it’s a goddamn rehearsal.”

“You have got a—”

He held up his hand. “I haven’t finished.” His voice was sharp. “It’s clear to us that the lack of a constant male, a father or brother, in your life has given you the wrong priorities. We intend to change that. We intend to have you, our sister, become successful and hold yourself with pride and grace and self-value.” He gestured to first her and then the messy room. “Which is not yet present but will be.”

“I lost my father when I was two, that’s hardly my fault.” A familiar twist in her gut. It always came when she thought of the man she couldn’t remember but knew she’d loved. He was nothing more than a shadow, a name, a few photographs she couldn’t relate to.

“I didn’t say it was your fault. But your utter lack of motivation to fix your situation is frustrating for us.”

“I’m sure you’ll get over it.” She stood. Hugh’s presumptive, condescending attitude was bugging the hell out of her. “Thank you for picking up my dress. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got things to do.”

He also stood. He stepped around the low coffee table and came up close. He pinched her chin between his thumb and index finger and titled her face to his.

His pupils were wide, and he had a smear of what appeared to be soot on his right cheek. She noticed a silvery scar on his brow, and he smelled vaguely of ash and smoke.

---