“Summer, did you know your sister was making out with a boy in her room?!” he demanded quietly, his eyes not moving from Alice.
Summer’s eyes went wide as she stared at Alice. “What?!” she asked dumbfounded.
“Your brother threw him out because he found them making out in her room.” He turned to me then, speaking through gritted teeth. “On her bed?’ His voice trembled when he spoke, his fists clenched beside him.
Alice pleaded with me with her eyes, but I was just as pissed as he was. I didn’t want my sister to be a slut at thirteen. Or at any age, to be exact.
“Yup. Tongues,” I smirked at her as she launched for me. My mom grabbed her just in time and ordered me out of the room.
I heard Dad explode as Mom tried to calm him down, to no avail. Alice had every teenage right removed from her.
No phone, no Netflix, no sleepovers.
Howwouldshe survive?
Summer touched my arm, and I turned to see her blue eyes looking at me anxiously. “This will upset Zane. He hates it when Dad loses his shit.”
She was right. Zane avoided confrontation at all costs, and my dad wasn’t exactly shy when it came to raising his voice. I nodded, heading into the lounge to where Zane sat, his knees pulled up to his chest as he stared at the floor miserably.
“Hey, Z.”
“Did you have to tell him?” he sighed. I stared at him with a stern glare.
“Yes, of course I did. She’sthirteen. You don’t make out with guys in your room when you’re thirteen.”
He raised his eyebrows at me, and I rolled my eyes, holding my hand out to him.
“I’m gonna drop Summer off at Jade’s. Why don’t we grab an ice cream on the way back?”
His eyes lit up, and he jumped up excitedly, following me to the car.
Family crisis forgotten. God bless ice cream.
Summer grinned and slid her arm around Zane. Calling out to our parents, we told them we were going out and would be back soon.
“Look after each other,” barked Dad as we left, knowing Alice was going to be on her knees begging for forgiveness. She better hope Dad didn’t go around Winterburg and find the little shit.
Good luck, Mom.
CHAPTER 5
CALEB
“Tell Jade I said hey.” I grinned as Summer shot me a look.
“Erm, no. I won’t.”
She got out, slamming the door as Zane scrambled into the front seat, clipping in his seat belt. I watched Summer go into Jade’s house, making sure she wasn’t at risk of being snatched by some predator.
Dad has seen too many movies.
“Do you know Jade?” asked Zane curiously.
“Not well enough.” I winked at him as he made vomiting noises, making me laugh out loud. “One day, little guy, you’re gonna be chasing girls just as I am.”
I pulled off from the curb, content Summer was safely inside.
“Nah, I’m not gonna be chasing girls. They can chase me.”
