Blended Hearts (An Interracial Stepbrother Romance Book) Read online

  “Sure. I mean I won’t deny it. He’s good-looking alright. But living in the same house with him is rather more of a hassle than anything else.”

  “And you are not the socializing type, are you?”

  I had to smile. “You know me…”

  “Oh yes, I do indeed,” Gabby replied, packing up the chicken bones in the empty container. “You’re not going to give him an inch, are you?”

  “I just wish my mother hadn’t married Richard, that’s all.”

  “Are you jealous of him by any chance?” Gabby asked, taking the cupcake out of its plastic bag. “You don’t have to answer that, I can tell already.” She split the cupcake in two. “Have the bigger half,” she added, handing it to me.

  “Okay, okay, but if I become as fat as Miss Piggy, I’ll blame you.”

  “That’ll be the day!” Gabby said. “Besides, look at the success the girl has. I mean she gets the presents, the applause and the little guy – Kermit – to boot. What else would a girl want?”

  The spell had been broken. Thanks to Gabby, I found another dose of courage to return to class for the afternoon.

  Yet it wasn’t long until I heard people chatting about me and Daniel. I felt as if I were under attack once again.

  When is it going to stop? I asked myself. It had been several weeks now since the wedding, and they were still harping on it. I was tired of it all. I truly wanted to escape this nightmare.

  Then I remembered Daniel’s reaction, or lack of it, when Elise and her fans had tackled me at lunch. He had practically ignored the whole thing.

  CHAPTER 4

  When the last bell sounded throughout the school, I couldn’t wait to get out. I felt oppressed, confused, terribly upset and thoroughly helpless. I hated the way I felt, but I hated my life even more. This whole deal was driving me crazy. Everything is spinning out of control, I thought.

  On my way to catch the bus, Daniel caught up with me.

  “Hey,” he said, as he fell in step with me, “how was your day?” He looked down at me.

  I shrugged. “As well as could be expected,” I answered without looking up at him. “How was yours? Had fun at lunch?” I threw him a sneering look.

  “Not bad, and no, I didn’t have fun at lunch. Some of the guys wanted to go out for a beer, and I told them where to get off, if you want to know the truth.”

  I was somewhat surprised that he had opened up to me about something like this. I hadn’t expected him to discuss his friends or their behavior with him.

  “You don’t like beer?” I asked.

  “That’s not the point. See, I like to have a drink like anybody, but I don’t drink at school and I don’t want to get caught with a can of beer in my hand either. I want to get to college and not in prison with a DUI and a rap sheet as the highlight of my resume.”

  I could hear in his tone that Daniel was not happy – to say the least. It sounded as if I wasn’t the only one getting hassled at school. Yet, it didn’t alleviate the fact that Daniel’s little altercation with his buddies wasn’t anywhere as grave as the rumors Elise and her friends had concocted against me.

  On the bus ride home, Daniel and I remained silent. We were lost in our own little worlds it seemed. I couldn’t wait to get to my room, shut the door and shut my existence out. I wanted to get away from my school life. I wanted to return to being my mother’s daughter. To have fun with my mom. I wanted to return to the way things were, although I knew it had become an impossible dream.

  As soon as I reached my room, I closed the door, and slumped on my bed. I would have to do some studying tonight again – that last year was really becoming a drag as far as studying was concerned – and I didn’t seem to have the courage to look at my laptop or my tablet, which I used to take notes during class.

  A few minutes into my musing, I heard my mom at my door.

  “May I come in?” she asked before opening it.

  “Sure, Mom,” I answered, not moving from the bed.

  “Oh, I thought you said you would unpack last weekend…”

  “So what?” I barked, not even looking at her. “I changed my mind. I don’t think this life is for me, Mom. I mean… all this”—I sat up and waved my arms around—“it’s your life – not mine. I don’t know if you can see that. Can you?” I looked at my mother as she sat down beside me.

  “I thought you were okay with my marrying Richard. What’s changed all of a sudden?” Mom asked quietly.

  “I was, Mom. I was. But now, it’s like everybody is thinking things should have stayed the way they were.”

  “And who’s everybody? Who’s been talking to you?”

  I plopped down on my pillow again. “I don’t want to talk about it, alright?”

  My mother had seen the changes in me while I was growing up, but she had never been confronted with such denial before.

  Seeing my mother’s concern, I sat up on one elbow. “It’s okay, Mom. Just don’t worry about me. I’ve got it licked, okay?”

  Mom had to smile. I used to say that every time I spilled something on my clothes or on the floor. She couldn’t recall when it all started, but it still made her smile every time I would come out with it.

  “Okay, okay, I’m sure you have, but if you want to talk about what’s really bugging you, you know where to find me, right?”

  I nodded and lay down again. As my mom closed the door, I began crying. I couldn’t believe what a mess my life had become. It was just frustrating. Everywhere I turned, I only saw obstacles. I couldn’t even go to the bathroom without finding a naked man staring at me….

  That night, somewhat resigned to my fate, I went down to have dinner with the family. Mom had prepared some veal scaloppini with pasta, salads and fresh rolls. I loved Italian food, and a smile tugged at my lips unannounced as soon as I saw the plates on the table. Richard had even bought a bottle of Chianti.

  “What’s the occasion?” Daniel hazarded when his dad poured the wine in his wife’s glass. “Are we celebrating something?”

  “You could say that son,” Richard answered. “Before we get into all that, why don’t we enjoy the nice dinner Janice prepared for us, okay?”

  “Yeah,” Daniel said, “ it looks great, too.”

  “You should taste it, Daniel,” I put in. “It’s my favorite actually.”

  “Is it?” Daniel threw me a smile as he helped himself to the spaghetti.

  Since Daniel and I were now of age, Richard poured wine in our glasses too. I wasn’t a drinker by any means, but a glass of red wine with such a nice entrée was certainly welcome. Maybe it would ease some of my inner tension, I thought.

  “Okay, let’s see if it’s as good as it looks,” Janice said, finally sitting down on the right of her husband.

  “It’s great, Janice,” Daniel burst out, after taking the first bite. “Just perfect.”

  “What did I tell you,” I added, grinning at my mother. “It sure tastes fantastic, like Daniel said, Mom. What did you put in the sauce?”

  “Don’t ask a chef for his secrets,” she replied, “but I thought to put some different herbs this time when I cooked the sauce, and I guess it turned out okay.”

  “More than okay, Janice,” Richard said, a broad grin across his lips.

  We ate in silence for a while, each of them appreciating Mom’s latest culinary feat. When it came time for dessert, however, with it came Richard’s announcement.

  Mom had succeeded in making some crème-brulée which both Daniel and I gobbled down as if they were candy.

  “Truly, Mom, you’ve outdone yourself tonight. Is it someone’s birthday or something?” I looked around the table.

  Richard smiled and took Janice’s hand in his. He looked at her.

  I wondered what was really going on. Would it be possible? Maybe Mom’s pregnant? Oh God, no! I hope she’s not pregnant.

  Richard then said, “Sorry for making such a fuss about this, but we thought it was about time for us to go out as a family”—h
ere’s that awful word again, I thought—“I’d like for us all going bowling next Saturday. What do you say?”

  “Love it, Richard,” my mother erupted, all smiles. “That’s a grand idea. Don’t you think so, kids?”

  Daniel and I exchanged a glance. Really? Bowling Mom? I wondered if my mother had a screw loose or something. And Daniel didn’t look that thrilled with the idea either.

  “I guess that might be fun, Dad,” Daniel uttered without much enthusiasm.

  “Different,” I rejoined. “Have you ever bowled before?” I asked Daniel.

  “Yeah, a couple of times when I was a kid. But I haven’t touched a bowling bowl in years.”

  “You sound like you’re just about ready for the nursing home,” I joked.

  “I guess that’s what bowling reminds me of,” Daniel said.

  Trust him to be telling it like it is. But, truth be told, that was exactly the way I felt, too.

  “So, is it all set?” Richard asked, “We’re going to the bowling alley on Saturday, right?”

  “Absolutely we are, honey,” Mom agreed. “Madison, why don’t you help me clear the table and serve the coffee?”

  “Sure, Mom,” I replied, standing up and gathering the plates from the table.

  ******

  As soon as we were out of the room, in quiet tones, Daniel said, “Come on, Dad, what’s the big idea? We’re not kids anymore. Why bowling?”

  “Janice loves it, that’s why. And she has not had a night out with her daughter in ages.”

  “Okay, okay,” Daniel said, reclining to the back of his chair. But don’t ask me to like it, okay?”

  ******

  Meanwhile, in the kitchen, I was rinsing the dishes and putting them in the dishwasher, while my mom was getting the coffee ready.

  “You sure you want to go bowling, Mom?” I asked, turning my face to my mother.

  “Exactly, Madison. We haven’t been anywhere together for a while and I thought it was about time we had a bit of fun you and me.”

  “But, Mom, that was ages ago. I’m no kid anymore…”

  My mother poured the milk in the jug and looked at me. “I know, you’re not a kid anymore, but I still think it should be fun for all of us to have a night out. Besides, this old lady loves bowling!”

  CHAPTER 5

  We had coffee in the living room while watching some TV. Richard and Daniel focused on some of the latest football scores for a bit while Mom changed the channel to watch her favorite sitcom. When my phone vibrated in my jeans pocket, I was relieved. Watching one of those gossipy sitcoms wasn’t my kind of pastime. I excused myself and went back upstairs to my bedroom.

  Gabby was on the line. “Hey, what you doing?” she asked, laughter in her voice.

  “Just had dinner with the family,” I replied as I opened the bedroom door.

  “Whoa! That sounded as if you were speaking about the people next door. Did you have visitors?”

  “No. I’m the one who feels like a visitor round here.” I plopped on the bed and lay down. “Richard announced tonight that the family was going bowling on Saturday!” I heard Gabby cackling at the other end of the line. “Yeah! How’s that grab you? Mom is all happy about it, but me and Daniel…”

  “You mean Daniel is going bowling too?”

  “Oh yeah – like no one in the family would dare miss an outing like that, now would we?”

  “And Daniel is not too hot about it either, I gather?”

  “Like he hates it more like…,” I added.

  “Right. Do you think you could be sick or something on Saturday?”

  “No, why? What have you got in mind?” I wondered what Gabby had concocted again. She was a great one to imagine all sorts of outlandish plans, like renting costumes and playing usherettes in a theater to meet guys! How crazy was that? I mused.

  “It’s just that now that we’re eighteen, maybe we could go clubbing. I heard there’s a fancy costume party on at Annabelle… What do you say we rent a couple of French maids’ costumes and go check it out?”

  I burst out laughing while I imagined the two of us walking into the most expensive club in the city dressed as French maids. Talk about wanting to attract trouble!

  “I’d love to, Gabby, but I am totally locked down this Saturday. Not that I really fancy a bowling night with the family, but my mom’s got her heart set on it, and disappointing her at this point is not on my calendar.

  “I hear you, Girl. I just thought I ask. It’s something we need to keep in mind though, ’cause I hear Annabelle is the best. Like I mean the coolest club in town. My brother told me the lights are so”rad” and the music…, well I guess we’ll see it when we get there, won’t we?”

  “You’ve got a date,” I replied with laughter in my voice.

  We talked about school and the next exam for a while until I noticed that it was almost eight o’clock. There was a show on TV I wanted to watch. And since I didn’t have a set in my room yet, I would have to see who was watching what downstairs. I secretly wished Daniel had gone out to his friend’s place or maybe gone for a drive somewhere with his dad – as far away as possible from the house – I hoped.

  I thought my wish had been granted when I returned to the living room to find it empty. I smiled to myself, rushed to the sofa, grabbed the remote and switched the TV on to my favorite show.

  The Game of Thrones was certainly popular. Millions of people had their eyes riveted on the screen every time an episode was aired. And this time was no exception.

  I gathered one of the cushions and hugged it tightly as the first ugly scene evolved on the screen. I didn’t want to shriek, but almost let out a scream when the man was decapitated. At that very moment, Daniel jumped over the back of the sofa and plopped down beside me. He gave me such a fright that I practically leaped out of reach.

  He laughed at my reaction. “Hey, don’t worry! Come on. Come back!” He waved at my bewilderment and patted the seat beside him. “I don’t have a sword and I don’t behead young maidens either,” he said, laughing as I regained my seat.

  “I didn’t know you liked these kinds of shows,” he remarked, crossing his arms over his chest.

  “I do; so what of it?” I replied, a little defensively.

  “Hey, I’m not criticizing. I was kind of surprised, that’s all. I thought you were more into frilly things.” He shrugged.

  “I don’t like frilly things,” I retorted, still hugging my cushion.

  A moment later, when the next commercial break came on, I asked, “Do you want a Coke or some popcorn?”

  I was up again. He looked at me and smelled his armpits. I rolled my eyes into my head.

  “Do I smell bad?” he asked me. “Or is it that you don’t like to sit beside me?”

  “I just asked you if you wanted a Coke or some popcorn, because I’m going to get some for me. Nothing to do with your body odor, you idiot!”

  “Okay, okay, don’t get all huffy about it. And yes, I’d love some popcorn and a Coke. Are you gonna make them: the popcorn I mean?”

  I shrugged before I turned toward the kitchen. “Come and see for yourself,” I replied over my shoulder.

  Laughing, Daniel propelled himself out of the sofa and followed me to the kitchen.

  I placed a tray of popcorn on the stove, turned it on and watched the foil expand into a dome while the corn kernels started popping. Meanwhile, Daniel grabbed a couple of Cokes out of the fridge and went back to the living room.

  He probably figured that if he had stayed with me and had stood too close to me, I would not have hesitated to claw his face out. I was definitely a cat to watch. “Approach with caution” or “Approach at your own risk” kind of thing, he must have thought.

  A few minutes later, I reappeared with a large bowl of popcorn cradled in one arm and a small jug of melted butter in the other.

  “Wow! That looks great,” Daniel said as I deposited the lot on the coffee table.

  “By the way, have you se
en Mom and your dad?”

  “Gone to bed early,” Daniel whispered in reply as I took a seat at the other end of the sofa. I was happy to watch the show with him, but I wanted to put as much distance as possible between the two of us.

  His closeness bothered me. Since the previous night’s incident, images of Daniel naked kept interfering with my sanity. I wanted to be close to him – actually as close as I could – yet I couldn’t let that happen. So, keeping my distance was key at this point.

  CHAPTER 6

  While Daniel seemed to be engrossed in the story, I was watching him. I inched my way beside him, a little closer each time, while I grabbed a handful of popcorn. By the time the next commercial came on, I was again sitting beside him. I couldn’t get his body out of my mind. He looked so ravishing when I saw him the night before – God Almighty did he ever look good! I shook those awful thoughts off my mind and stood up. Without a word, I went upstairs to get my phone. I brought it down a few minutes later and, without Daniel noticing me doing it, I took a photo of him. I wanted to have the pleasure of his company without having to venture a look here and there.

  In a way, this wasn’t fair to him, I mused. I saw him nude while I was dressed. Daniel didn’t move from his seat nor did he say anything when he saw me take a picture of him.

  The show came back on.

  “Come on, Madison, what you’re doing? You’re going to miss the best part.” He patted the seat beside him. “Do you want another drink?”

  “No-no, I’m fine,” I replied, sitting down – as far as possible from him again. I’ve got to stop seeing him naked, I thought. This is getting crazy!

  When the show ended, Daniel stretched and stood up. “I think I’ll hit the books for a while,” he told me, “but don’t worry, I’ll put my earphones on, so you won’t have to holler at me through the wall.”

  I smiled. “Thanks for that,” I replied, glad the show was over – at least glad that Daniel had decided to leave the room. There was something else on, which I wanted to watch anyway.

  Finally some time alone, I mused as I brought the practically empty bowl of popcorn back to the kitchen. I threw the empty Coke cans in the recycling bin and returned to the living room.