Tasting 287

287–My Stepbrother Is Coming Over

Nora:

“Okay, I understand. We will leave after a few days,” she responded in

a much sadder tone.

“Did you not hear me? Not in a few days. You are moving out and staying in a hotel starting tonight,”

Brody sounded so stern. I have not heard him talk so rudely to someone before. And then I

remembered. that he never actually liked Natalya because she had lied once. He told me that he

hated liars and that he had no desire to give second chances to such people.

“Fine, but at least let us stay over for the night,” she requested, and he let out a grunt in response.

“Please don’t be so harsh on us, I am your cousin. It is not like I will eat your innocent Nora alive,” I

could hear the bitterness in her tone. Even when trying her best to not sound like she had any

grudge against me, she couldn’t help but be rude towards me.

At this point, I really wanted to wake up so that she could make eye contact with me and realize that

I had heard what Brody told her. The weak side of me wanted to flaunt my friend and his support

right in her

face.

As I opened my eyes, I watched April fold her arms and look away, but Brody’s face brightened with

a smile.

“You need to stop scaring me like that,” he joked, but the way he held my hand so gently made me

smile for him.

207–My Stepbrother Is Coming Over

“I’m fine now. Maybe lack of sleep made me pass out,” I said, not lying. I had been pretty restless

for the last few weeks.

“I’m glad you’re okay. And why

en’t you sleeping well? Do you need me to sing you a lullaby?” he teased, and I laughed with him.

That’s how comforting his company was.

“I’m sorry if our arrival stressed you out. It’s just that we haven’t said anything to you, and we didn’t

argue with you. Then why did you pass. out from stress?” The moment April started talking, Brody’s

jaw clenched.

He steadily turned his head toward her and shot her a deadly glare that made her straighten her

posture before she smiled at me.

“Whatever it is, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to bother you,” she quickly changed her tone. If only my

stepbrothers had done that too, these girls wouldn’t have dared to play games with me.

“It’s fine. You girls are going to be staying at the hotel anyway, so I think everything will be okay.”

His words made her smile vanish. entirely.

I could tell they didn’t want to leave. Of course not, especially when they planned to torment me.

“Yeah, we’re leaving. But I was expecting to leave in the morning. It’s pretty late now, and we’re

afraid of this pack for some reasons,” she muttered under her breath, mentioning the ominous

mountains.

“The creatures don’t just wander around on our roads,” Brody seemed pretty adamant about kicking

them out.

“So it’s decided, we’ll leave in the morning. But for now, how about we all dine together?” she

clapped her hands excitedly. making me

III 287–My Stepbrother Coming Over

look down to avoid her gaze.

After a few moments of silence, Brody spoke up again, “Sure. You girls can have dinner here, but

I’m taking Nora out. We’ll come home pretty late and head straight to our rooms. So go ahead, have

the mansion to yourselves for the night.”

I smiled when he didn’t even need me to tell him I didn’t want to dine with them. He just understood

me so well.

“Oh, wait! Ummm, so you really want us to leave in the morning? Will Silas also stay at the hotel

when he arrives?” The mention of his name on her lips suddenly made my heart race. My body

tensed up, but not from sadness. I was happy to hear his name.

“What? Silas is coming here?” I could tell it was a big shock for Brody. because he didn’t like the

brothers visiting his pack.

“Oh, did I not tell you? He has to come here and quickly wrap up some work before he goes away,”

she finished, and I didn’t understand her at all. But the fact that he was coming here was enough for

me to realize that at least one of them wanted to check on me.