Page 92 of Voracious

“It’s good. It’s really good. I didn’t know you could draw.”

“My therapist pushes on it. I mainly design tattoos for me and Stacey.” I snatch it off him and flip over the pages to close the sketch pad. “Here, this one.” I hand him a black top, and instead of leaving, he pulls off hishoodieand goes into my bathroom.

He sprays my deodorant, then my aftershave, before slapping my shoulder on his way out. “Thanks, little bro.”

“You need to stop calling me that.”

“You’re eleven years younger than me. Therefore” – he grabs my door handle – “little bro fits, asshole.”

Once he leaves, I sit down and open the sketch pad and work on a new design. Stacey wants me to make her a tattoo to cover her thigh, and I think she’ll love this one.

After an hour, I head downstairs to the kitchen with full intentions of making a snack and maybe a coffee.

I take one step in and turn back out.

Jason has his own fucking house – why is he kissing his girlfriend on the kitchen counter with her legs wrapped around his waist? Motherfucker knows fine well that my mum is in the next room.

I knock on the door heavily, three thumps with my fist – I hear her yelping and both of them straightening themselves. “Good to come in?”

Jason clears his throat. “Yeah.”

“You idiot,”Gianamutters to Jason as I push open the door.

I look between them. “Why are you trying to fuck your girlfriend in here of all places?”

“Fiancéeactually,” she replies, lifting her left hand to show off the diamond on her ring finger. “Jason proposed yesterday! And I said yes!”

He didn’t mention this while stealing my clothes and emptying half my aftershave, but regardless, I give a genuine smile and pat his back as I pass him. I pullGianain for a hug and turn to Jason. “Knew you had a set of balls on you. But please don’t rub them all over the kitchen counters.”

Gianaslaps my arm, and I chuckle as I move towards the refrigerator, rummaging for ingredients to make a sandwich. They both stare at me as I set up a chopping board and slice some bread.

I look up at them mid-slice. “What?”

Jason glances at his future wife. “We’re going to try for a baby. I wanted to speak to you about it first.”

“Why would you need to speak to me about it? You need my blessing or something?”

He sighs. “Stop being a sarcastic wanker. We want to know if you’ll be alright with it if we do, or if you’d prefer we wait. I know things have been tough.”

“I’d never stop you from doing something like that. If you want to have a baby then have a baby.” I look atGiana. “You sure you want to birth his spawn? He’s a dick.”

I run to the other side of the kitchen island, knife in hand, as my brother goes for me. “I’ll strangle you,” he threatens.

I smirk. “I’ll tell my dad.”

He narrows his eyes. “I dare you.”

“He’ll kill you.”

“Not if I kill him first,” he replies, and he bursts out laughing as the words pass his lips – he knows he could never get near my dad to harm him. Instead, he goes deeper. “I’m no relation to Aria, remember?”

Gianagroans. “This again? You’re not going to screw your stepmother, for crying out loud!”

“My dad will hunt you down and tear you limb from limb, then your own dad will finish the job.”

“Pair of idiots,”Gianamutters as Jason throws a tomato at me, and I chuck it back. “Can we grow up please?”

We ignore her and keep our faces straight, until we lose it and laugh, him pulling me in for a hug. “I’m glad you’re doing good. Keep your girl safe, and keep your chin up.”

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