Just Once Stepbrother Novel by Katie Ball _ Novel





Just Once Stepbrother Chapter 01

The new transfer student, Yvonne Campbell, showed up today looking ridiculously excited. "Angie, guess what? I'm dating someone!"
I took the phone she handed me.
But in the next second, I froze.
The guy in the photo was Matthew Ortega, my stepbrother.
The year I depended on him the most, I finally worked up the courage to tell him how I felt.
He shoved me away without hesitation, disgust written all over his face. He said coldly, "Don't call me Mattie anymore."
I was still stuck in that memory when my phone buzzed. Matthew, who I hadn't heard from in a long time, texted me, "Come home for dinner tonight. I have a girlfriend now. I'll introduce you."
I took a deep breath. For the first time, I turned him down. "I can't make it tonight."
***
It was the first time I'd ever seen Matthew reply instantly.
He sent a single question mark.
A few minutes later, a voice message came through.
"What's going on? You're not still into me, are you, my dear sister?"
His low voice came through the phone, flat and without any emotion, except at the very end.
The word "sister" was drawn out, heavy with deliberate mockery.
I knew exactly why he said it like that.
He wanted to shut me down.
He wanted to make sure I never crossed that line again.
All I could ever be to him was just his stepsister and nothing more.
I stared at the two voice messages on my screen.
My thumb hovered in midair, unable to tap the screen.
In the end, I typed, "Midterms are coming up. I don't have time to come back."
Matthew's reply came quickly, but his tone sounded distant. "Fine. It's better if you don't come back. It'll just be awkward for everyone if we run into each other."
My fingers dug into my palm.
A dull, spreading ache tightened in my chest.
Before I could think any further, Yvonne leaned over, pouting.
"Angie, are you even listening to me?"
I locked my phone and forced my voice to stay steady. "I am."
"Why didn't you congratulate me then?"
My hand, holding the pen, paused.
I spoke, my voice a little muffled, "Congratulations. I hope you two stay together."
That finally satisfied Yvonne. She was the kind of girl who wore her emotions on her face, happy but with that shy, fluttery energy one would see in teenage girls.
Just when I thought she'd drop it, she spoke again, "Hey, Angie. Didn't you use to have a crush on someone?"
She looked confused. "How come you don't talk about him anymore?"
"I don't like him anymore," I said softly.

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