To Hate My Stepbrother

Ava’s POV

My day at home with Khalid wasn’t boring, the boy is a sweet ball of sunshine and he assisted in every way that he could and I just knew that he will grow up to be a gentleman.

“I love you, Ava.” His voice made me move my head from the movie we were watching as I turned to look at him.

My heart fluttered and my cheeks flushed from Khalid telling me that he loved me. I didn’t expect that he would say it so randomly while we were watching a movie.

“And I Love you too, so much.” I groaned as I pulled him closer to me and held him tightly before kissing his head.

“I know you do.” He chuckled and I raised an eyebrow as I let out a laugh.

“That’s pretty confident, how do you know that?” I asked.

“You cook for me on time, I’m never late to school and you pick me up early. You never beat me too.” He explained and my heart sank.

My stomach tightened and I just knew that all that must’ve been all Aisha used to do to him, “where is my mommy?” He asked, his voice jolting me out of my thoughts as I let out a nervous laugh.

I could tell that he still loves his mother.

“Well, your mommy is out of the country and she promised to get you a lot of things when she’s coming back.” I explained and I saw his eyes light up.

“When will she be back?” He asked excitedly and I shrugged as I told him that I had no idea yet but he should be expecting her with tons of gifts.

I couldn’t tell him that his mother was in jail and he looked happy right now, I just don’t want to mess with his feelings so I thought lying about his mother would be best.

“You don’t know?” He asked and I nodded positively, “is she in jail?” He asked and my eyes widened at once.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

How does he know that?

“Why would you even ask that? You know that she’s…” my voice went off and I could swear that I didn’t intend for it to be like that.

“You can tell me the truth, you know?” He started, “you can tell me if she’s in prison because my class teacher said anyone who steals, kills or even hurt people go straight to prison.” He explained further.

Each word he spoke clawed at my heart and I felt sorry, “you know what? Let’s just concentrate on the movie for now and we can talk about your mommy later.” I suggested.

I heaved out a sigh of relief when he nodded and leaned more into me as we watched the movie. Stroking his hair lightly, I couldn’t help but think about his question, about what he said.

I should probably have just told him that his mother is in jail. She doesn’t deserve him anyway but I couldn’t do that to her.

I couldn’t let a son know that his mother is in prison and I knew that she would be there for a long time because no one had the ridiculous amount of money the court put on her bail.

We should’ve told him but this is also a way of protecting him, “do you want ice cream?” I asked and he nodded immediately.

Moving his head from my lap, I stood to get a bowl of ice cream for him and he happily took it from me and I watched as he ate it happily forgetting that we had an unfinished discussion.

The Ice cream worked.

We finished the movie and I helped him with his homework. Checking the time, it was almost his bedtime and I took him to bed.

He’d told me he wanted to talk about school and his friends and I sat by his bedside as I listened to him talk to me about his new best friend and she’s a girl.

“Her name is Eva, it’s almost the same as yours,” he pointed out and I laughed, “she gave me her coloring book and we had lunch together.” He added.

I teased him about the girl and we talked more before he started closing his eyes. When I was sure that he was asleep, I planted a kiss on his forehead before leaving his room to the sitting room.

I hadn’t fully settled when I heard my phone ring and I picked it up to see that it was Chad who was calling me.

“What do you want?” I breathed as I picked the call, “I thought you were mad at me and don’t want to talk to me.” I added immediately.

I have no idea what Chad has been wanting with me and at first I’d thought that we were just platonic friends but after the necklace incident I knew he wanted more.

The kind of more that I don’t have to offer.

“I can’t stay mad at you,” he laughed from over the phone, “I wanted to ask if you want to go out and get something to eat with me sometime?” He asked.

I’d wanted to decline the offer but his face when I rejected his gift earlier appeared again and I felt sad for him.

“Sure, we can go get something to eat.” I responded and the effect of his shriek from over the phone made me move my phone away for a bit.

“Thank you so much, I’ll come…”

“Oh No, not today. We’ll go some other time because I have a kid in the house and he’s asleep at the moment. I can’t just leave him at home.” I explained.

Chad understood and I could hear his excitement because I’d agreed to go out with him. We spoke for a little while and I found myself getting comfortable with him again.

“You know what, I have things to do, I’ll talk to you later.” I lied and before he could say anything I hung up the call.