My Stepbrother, My Ruin

onths

u getting into Crestfield!" Elara shrieked through

ncing my phone between my shoulder and ear a

id begging for candy. "You're officially a college student

y to find it depressingly empty. "I got into Crestfield because I h

phone. "So what if Crestfield isn't Ravencrest? At least you're going to c

leaning against the counter. "Elara,

t?" she said, and I could practicall

I muttered, ru

s party, and you're going to come, and you're going to

ped, heat rushi

can't tell me you're still not thinking about

I said firmly, though the li

bably still dreaming about that hot stranger who g

pted, groaning. "I took a shower and

o you know how rare it is to find someone who looks like a Greek god

e bridge of my nose. "I didn't let him disappear. It

d. "Honestly, I'm just disappointed in y

please talk about something else? Like how you're goin

"I've got it all figured out. You just have to

gretting this conversation.

ted. "You're coming.

sight of my mom sitting on the livin

ack," I said quickly, c

t? W

said, already lo

we're not done talking

ng else, stuffing my phone into my po

ok in the sight of my mom sitting stiffly on the edg

how you talk

n bother showing up to her daughter's graduation," I snapped, arms crossed tig

if I were being dramatic. "You're a big girl now. Be

away," I shot back, my tone sh

at clung to her figure like desperation. Her hair, a bright platinum blonde with dark roots peeking through, fell in loose cu

sigh, brushing imaginary dust off her s

ow-class school. Exactly what y

hest, feigning shock. "I wa

llenged, gl

dismissively. "It's not Ravencrest, is

asm dripping from my voice. "Now, can you go back to w

couch and smoothing her dress again

ve scholarships, Mom. That's the whole point. It's for

er tone almost mocking. "There yo

l," I shot back, a grin tugging at my li

before her eyes lit up with an unnerving enthusiasm. "You're going to love it

man, Mom. And not just any woman, his wife. You weren't even the first pick. You we

her voice unusually calm a

e as she pulled out h

r ring finger, was a

o did you steal that