I look over at my father. "What is he doing here?" I almost growl out. Daddy frowned. "He lives here, baby," he answered, confused. "Does he?" I question, crossing my arms. Ben opened his mouth, but I silence him with a glare.
All my emotions hit me at once. I wanted to hit him and hug him. I wanted to cry or throw a fit. I needed the one thing that comforted me most, Daddy's touch.
Walking over to my father, I sat close beside him. I lay my head on his shoulder, not caring what my brother thought about it. He instinctively ran his fingers through my hair soothingly, releasing some of my tension.
After a moment, daddy continued the conversation. I glanced at my brother, and some of my anger eased. Other than his eyes, he didn't look anything like he had before. He wasn't lanky and awkward anymore. Now he was toned and muscular. Football practice must have paid off. He'd probably gotten a lot of girls in bed with a physique like that.
As they talked, I slowly moved farther from daddy to the other side of the couch. "So how's football and college party's?" Dad's question brought me back to the conversation. Ben shrugged. "Football's fine, and the parties were pretty crazy, you know girl's everywhere and booze."
"So you partied, and fucked every girl you saw?" the word's slipped out before I could stop them.
They both looked over at me, shocked. "S-sunny!" Dad sputtered out. My cheeks reddened in embarrassment, but I wasn't going to back down. "What? That must have been the reason he didn't call or text. No 'just calling to say I'm not dead'?" Ben looked hurt by my words, and I almost felt bad. But I was only speaking the truth, and I wouldn't apologize for it. "I'm sorry," he said softly, his sad eyes on me.
They both looked over at me, shocked. "S-sunny!" Dad sputtered out. My cheeks reddened in embarrassment, but I wasn't going to back down. "What? That must have been the reason he didn't call or text. No 'just calling to say I'm not dead'?" Ben looked hurt by my words, and I almost felt bad. But I was only speaking the truth, and I wouldn't apologize for it. "I'm sorry," he said softly, his sad eyes on me.
I had to get out of here. I started toward the stairs. Before I could reach them, a hand grasped my arm. I tried to pull away, but it was useless, he was stronger than me. I reluctantly gave up, my body going lax as I lost the fight in me.
"What?" I ask, my voice sounding brittle. I just wanted to go upstairs and cry. "I'm sorry that I'm such an asshole," he mumbled out. A laugh bubbled out of me. "A dickhead, too," I say and try to wipe my tears away. "Agreed," he said softly and stood, wrapping his arms around me. Hugging him back tightly, I had to admit, it felt nice in his arms. "I forgive you, just don't do it again."