Mess With My Stepbrother

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

They would know where he lives.

If Evan wasn't at school, then maybe I'd find him at his place.

I was a little nervous about approaching them, but it was just the two of them, and they were heading over to a car, so I hurried over to them before they could drive away.

"Excuse me?" I called. "Um, you guys are friends with Evan, right?"

They stopped and stared at me as if surprised that I would dare call out to them or even talk to them. Inter—nally, I was surprised, too, but I was more focused on finding Evan than embarrassing myself. I didn't back down from their staring, though I fidgeted a little.

"Hello?" I said after a minute of waiting.

"Oh," Abe muttered. "Sure, we know where he lives."

Mason just nodded and rattled off his address.

"Thank you!"

I shot them both a grin, then turned and ran off. I planned to go see him and talk to him. While I wasn't sure what I was going to say when I showed up on his doorstep without an invitation, I had an anxious feeling in my chest pushing me to go see him, and I didn't want to refuse it.

Evan

There was a knock on my door, but I ignored it. It wasn't the first time I'd heard it today, and it probably wouldn't be the last.

"Evan, can you come out for a minute, please?"

My dad's voice was muffled by the door and the music I'd put on, and I was tempted to turn the volume up until he complained about it, then decided I was too lazy to be that petty.

"I'm busy!" I called back.

Only, I wasn't. I was locked in my room because I wanted to be alone. I hadn't even gone to school, and Dad hadn't yelled at me about it, because I knew he at least felt guilty.

It wasn't enough for me.

I waited, but there was no word from the other side of the door, so I figured he must have gone back downstairs. I sighed and threw an arm over my eyes, the past few days still seeming unreal.

With no more screaming arguments now, the house was silent, too silent, because Mom was no longer there. She didn't leave home, at least, not voluntarily.

She found out Dad had started an affair with an—other woman, and she was a complete mess. Dad man—aged to contact a couple relatives and had her checked into a rehab center. I always thought Mom was a little crazy, but after what I'd seen, I couldn't help feeling guilty. That I never thought to say anything before. I ig—nored their fighting, thinking it would end on its own, when they either reached a compromise or filed for a divorce, and I'd thought I would be happy to have a peaceful house back, but not like this.

Mom had been devastated. Neither of them seemed even to notice I was there as usual, while Mom shouted at him for looking at another woman while he said nothing to defend himself, practically admitting his guilt. Instead of shouts, I'd heard my mom's wailing and the sound of things breaking. I'd been fed up with the yelling but hearing her cry when it wasn't like her at all was haunting.

Now, I couldn't help wondering what would have happened if I'd tried injecting myself into their ar—guments sooner instead of acting like nothing was going on. Even worse, it happened the same day I got the pep talk from Coach, so the stuff at home had been on my mind when I headed back only to arrive to the worst scene possible.

Feeling my frustration rise the more I thought about it, I turned off the music and stood up. I yanked my door open, and when I didn't see Dad in the hallway, went downstairs to confront him as I should have instead of locking myself away in my room.

He looked up from where he sat in the living room.

"Son…"

I stalked over him, not giving him a chance to speak.

"I'm leaving, too," I declared. "After you did that to Mom, there's no way in hell I would stay here, especially if you're thinking about bringing some wom—an into our house like it's nothing."

Dad sat stunned for a minute since I wasn't one to speak out much at home. I'd never raised my voice to him or talked back to him, but I didn't intend to back down this time.