Blackbird (A Stepbrother Romance #1)(29)

He came back from the bar with another sweet, alcohol-free cocktail. I drank it quickly. I thought he brought the second one for himself, but he gave that one to me, too.

“You were home schooled,” he said.

“Yes.”

“You weren’t around any other kids? Ever?”

“No. I wasn’t allowed.”

He scratched his neck. “Jesus. You’re supposed to start college this fall?”

“Yes.”

“I want you to call me if you get in any kind of trouble.”

“Why?”

He shrugged. “I guess I’m your big brother now.”

I scowled at him.

He touched the back of my neck lightly with his fingers. It turned into a caress.

“I wish we weren’t.”

I stood up. “I should go back to the dance floor. I’ll be missed.”

“Wouldn’t want that, would we? You go, I’ll wait a bit. Wouldn’t want Daddy Dearest to think we were making out in the bathroom.”

I was a mess, but it was dark out there. People were milling around more than dancing. I thought it would be over soon. I hoped so.





Chapter Ten





Evelyn





Moving day.

I didn’t take all my things. I packed two large suitcases, two small ones, a bag of toiletries and few odds and ends, like bed linens for a twin mattress. Karen went with us. Victor did not. The topic was never raised and I never asked what he was doing at the time. The Firebird was gone from the garage on the day I moved. The servants carried my things out to the car. Father purchased a new one not long after the wedding, a BMW sedan. I rode in the back seat, while Karen sat next to Father. I didn’t want to sit next to him. I kept my face a mask, but the whole world felt itchy. I was giddy and terrified at the same time. I was going to be free. I was going to get away from him. I had no plans to do anything radically different, but it would be a relief not to watch every word I spoke, every gesture, every movement for fear he’d see some wrong in it and punish me. He didn’t even go through my bags, so my books were coming with me. Karen even let me take a few from the library.

So far, this was my second trip to the college. There was a tour in July. I went, with Father, and saw the dorm where I would be living, but I hadn’t been assigned a room yet. I was on the second floor, in an all-girls dormitory. When we arrived I had to check in first. Father blessedly let me handle that, walking around a row of tables in a conference room. It was a small institution-a single large X-shaped complex of four halls and a College Center in the middle, four dormitory buildings and one detached hall of classrooms. Registration took place in the main building, near a little store that sold snacks. I was terrified the entire time, staring at my feet. I’d never been with so many people my own age. We arrived early. Check-in began at eight in the morning and I walked in at seven fifty-three. I had my official identification card by eight thirty. Then we walked to the dormitory, to get my key and start moving in.

“This is a lovely campus,” Karen said. “Nice town, too. I think you’ll have a wonderful time here, Eve.”

I was growing closer to my stepmother than I anticipated. She spent most of her day doing things, in a way I never really experienced before. She had a dozen hobbies, all sorts of interests, and she read and had a sharp mind. I understood why Victor’s father married her.

I thought I was starting to understand why my father married her, too. It unnerved me. He’d bought a whole new wardrobe, new watches, the new car. I wasn’t stupid. I knew he was spending her money. I didn’t have an idea about their finances. My understanding was that Victor was the heir to the family fortune, but I didn’t ask about it. I wasn’t interested. I just wanted out.

My key was in a small envelope in a box with my name on it. The Resident Director gave me papers to sign. I promised to attend a Freshman Mixer, whatever that would turn out to be.

The room was small, barely eight feet wide, but almost fifteen feet long. A bunk bed sat in the corner, opposite from that two desks sitting next to each other, and two armoires-there was no closet built into the wall. We all carried my things in. It took all of ten minutes.

Father put his hand on my shoulder and I flinched.

“Alright, Eve. We’re going to go now, so you can get settled in.”

Karen looked at me.

“Can I have a minute alone with her?”

Father nodded, and stepped outside. I heard his shoes on the hallway floor.

Karen threw her arms around me.

“You call me if you need anything, or you just want to talk. Alright, hon?”

“Yes, Karen,” I said.

My chest tightened and my eyes burned. I was supposed to be happy? Why was I starting to cry?

“This is going to be a big shock for you. I mean it. Call me for help if you need it,” she reached into her purse and handed me a slip of paper. “Or call Victor. He’s closer.”

I took the paper.

“He likes you.”

My eyes snapped up to meet hers.

“My son has always been difficult,” she sighed, lowering her voice. “He has quite a reputation, and with good reason. When he grew older, without his father around, I had a lot of trouble controlling him. There were fights. There were a lot of girls. I never saw him look at any of them the way he looks at you.”