Page 43 of Splintered Desire

I grit my teeth against the urge to argue. The very last thing he would want me to do is spend my Saturdays with them if he knew what they were up to.

But I can’t exactly tell him that, and they know it.

“I’m sure I can find some time, Dad.” I quickly take a bite and turn my attention back to my plate, willing dinner to be done.

I don’t need to see them to know how smug they are. I can feel it radiating around the room, threatening to choke me.

I can’t stay here.

“Have you had time to get your dress picked out for the welcome party and rehearsal dinner?” Diane asks, and now I do almost choke on my food. Dad takes pity on me and claps me on the back a few times before I turn my glare at him.

I hate dresses, and while I knew I would have to wear one for the wedding, I was not aware of the other fifteen times it would be required.

I swallow down my annoyance and remind myself this isn’t permanent; after the wedding, I’ll be gone.

No dresses, no family dinners, and best of all, no stepbrothers to try and ruin my life.

“I have something in mind,” I lie and force a smile to my lips that is so fucking fake I’m shocked she buys it, but she does, and that’s all that matters.

“You’ll look gorgeous, I’m sure, love,” she tells me, and I feel guilty for how hard I’m making this for her; she seems genuine enough.

Too bad her boys are the fucking spawns of Satan.

Thursday

I’m going crazy.

Every sound, doors closing, wind blowing, my phone vibrating with another message from Reed… has me jumping and paranoid.

Let me help you, Vix.

With a huff, I swipe away the text app and drop my phone on the bed. That’s easily the fifth or sixth time he’s said that, and every time I ignore him.

A part of me longs to let him try to help, to whisk me away from this house…this life.

I know it would never work, though. I can’t escape who I am, and now, whether I like it or not, I’ll be a DuPont.

Just the thought gives me the ick. Something tells me it won’t be the least bit off-putting to Jace once our parents marry and we’re actually legal siblings.

But maybe I can be a DuPont somewhere else. That was originally the plan. I was going to move into an apartment on my own, but Dad insisted there was more than enough room, and while he was right, back then, I didn’t know about the added stress of having siblings.

I clean up my books, tucking my work into my schoolbag and stacking them up on my desk. I really did take an extra class this semester, thinking I would have the time; joke's on me. Now I’m drowning in work while also trying to keep my identity hidden and not get fucked by my new brother as either Vixen or myself….

No biggie.

I can help myself, thanks.

I text Reed back, feeling like he’s been left on read long enough that he might get it…

But you shouldn’t have to. I told Ozy I would look out for you.

I groan out loud and stuff the phone in my pocket as I yank on my sweater and pull on a baseball cap.

Every time he says that, it makes me want to scream.

Ozy left both of us.

Neither of us owes him a damn thing.