Filed to story: My Life with the Walter Boys Book (I & II) PDF Free
I almost choked on my bite of meatloaf. I’d completely forgotten his words from earlier, but now they played through my head in a loop:
I have exciting news to share…doubt you’ll be able to keep your hands to yourself…
“Oh, honey! That would be wonderful,” she gushed. “You’re always welcome here, and we’d love to have you back. I’ll need to figure out what to do about sleeping arrangements, though.” There was already a far-off look in Katherine’s eyes as she contemplated the dilemma. “Maybe Isaac and Lee can move back in together?”
“What?” Isaac exclaimed, breaking his silence for the first time this evening. “That’s bullshit! I finally have my own room, but he’s allowed to change his mind, swoop in, and steal it from me? How is that fair?”
“There was nothing fair about the way you spoke to me or your aunt this afternoon,” George said, his voice laced with steel. “What makes you think you deserve your own room right now?”
Jack and Jordan, who were covertly flicking peas at each other, stopped what they were doing to listen. If Katherine hadn’t instated a no-camera-at-the-table rule, I was positive one of the two would have pulled it out and started recording.
“What about me?” Lee said as he stabbed a tater tot with his fork. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”
The problem-solving expression on Katherine’s face softened into a smile. “You’re absolutely right, Lee. Cole and Isaac can share instead.”
“I don’t want to displace Isaac or Lee,” Cole said. “Plus, I plan on also keeping my other job at the Gas Exchange, and that’s typically second shift. Wouldn’t it be better if I had my own space? Otherwise, I’ll constantly be waking up whoever I have to share with. I was thinking I could set something up in the basement?”
Katherine hesitated. “I’m not sure I feel comfortable with you sleeping down there. We don’t have an egress window.”
“Mom, Cole can stay in my and Benny’s room!” Zack said, bouncing up and down in his chair.
“That’s very kind of you to offer, Zack,” she told her youngest, “but I don’t think there’s space for all three of you in there, and your brother is right. He needs his own space.”
The table fell quiet as everyone considered the problem, then Parker lit up. “Oh, I have something!” Her eyes flickered over to me, and she grinned. “Why don’t Jackie and I share? Cole can take the art studio, since my room is bigger.”
Cole’s expression was unreadable when his gaze found mine. It was the first time he’d looked at me since sitting down to dinner, and I made an effort not to squirm in my seat. “Is that really such a good idea?” His tone suggested concern, but I didn’t believe it for a second. “Jackie’s never had to share a room before. It might be difficult for her. Besides, she’s so hardworking and dedicated to her schoolwork. What if Parker is a distraction?”
I narrowed my eyes. “I can handle it.”
“Hmm…” Katherine tilted her head in consideration. “I suppose that could work. Are you sure you’re okay with this, Jackie?”
“Of course!” I smiled at Parker. “The two of us will have a blast. Right, P-Walt?”
She nodded eagerly. “We can play
Mario Kart every night, and I can show you how to burp the ABCs!”
That prospect alone was enough to make me regret my decision, but Cole was watching me with a smug grin, and I refused to give him the satisfaction of backing out now. Besides, if sharing a room with Parker made the situation easier for Katherine, then I could make that sacrifice. I would miss the art studio, but if I really wanted to be considered one of the Walters, I couldn’t allow myself to be treated any differently from the rest of the family.
Dinner wrapped up shortly after that. I had yet to be added back to the cleanup rotation, so after bringing my plate over to the sink, I slipped outside for some much needed fresh air and a quiet place to reconcile with the knowledge that I’d lost my safe haven. As I paced back and forth, my racing thoughts split into warring factions—one stubbornly determined to help Katherine and stick it to Cole, the other screaming, “
OhmyGodohmyGodohmyGod
, what have I done?”
The front door snicked open, and Cole stepped out, a private smile tugging his lips. Instead of making for the steps like I thought he would, he stopped and took a deep breath as if savoring the moment.
“Little bit of advice?” he said, not bothering to look in my direction.
Even though I was the one watching him, I startled, caught off guard that he knew I was here.
“You don’t have to be a people pleaser ad nauseam. It’s obnoxious.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said politely, even though I wanted to snap. How dare he call me obnoxious when I gave up my room for him? What he should have done was thank me, but since I’d turned him down, he was throwing a tantrum instead. I refused to sink to his level.
Cole snorted. “Don’t play dumb, Jackie. I know you didn’t want to give up your room.”
My fingers tightened into fists. “Well, of course not! But your mom needed—“
“Exactly,” he said with vicious satisfaction. “My parents are stuck with you whether you suck up to them or not, so stop trying so hard.” He mockingly bowed his head to me when my jaw dropped, then stepped off the porch and headed for his car. “Enjoy your new digs,” he called over his shoulder. “I know I will.”
Four
Four
By Wednesday evening, the move was official.
I spent Monday and Tuesday packing and hauling the majority of my belongings from one side of the house to the other, but even though Katherine rearranged the furniture and managed to squeeze an extra dresser into the room, there wasn’t enough space for all my clothes. After paring down my wardrobe, I was allowed to keep what didn’t make the cut at the back of my old closet along with Lucy’s nail polish collection.
Other than losing my privacy, I thought the worst part of the situation was the old bunk bed George pulled out of storage for Parker and me to share. Then Cole arrived with all his boxes. Watching him empty them in what had been my refuge in the Walter household, the thought of him sleeping in my bed, felt wrong somehow.
On top of everything, Cole had spent the past two days pretending
I didn’t exist. Whenever we passed each other in the hall, he kept his gaze locked straight ahead as if I was invisible. If I walked into the same room as him, he made a point to leave. And the one time I tried to start a conversation with him? Cole glanced at me with emotionless eyes, then looked away without saying a word.
Trying to fall asleep was impossible. I tried to blame my restlessness on Parker’s night-light and the monstrous snoring I could hear through the wall we shared with Lee, but the truth was my mind wouldn’t slow down. I kept thinking about Cole. How confusing it was that he was suddenly here instead of leaving for college or the way his expression closed off when I told him the timing still wasn’t right. I made the best decision for myself, but my thoughts kept returning to how good it felt when he pulled me into his lap and kissed me in the dark of his car.
After tossing and turning for over an hour, I threw off my covers and decided to make Katherine’s favorite remedy for insomnia—a glass of warm milk and honey. I nearly tripped at the bottom of the stairs when I noticed a light on in the living room; for a split second, I thought I would find Danny watching one of his favorite crime shows, but then I remembered he was all the way in New York. A lump lodged itself in my throat. While I was happy he’d taken to city life like a duck to water, I missed his easy companionship and our late-night chats. We grew closer over the summer, and while Nathan would always be my best friend among the Walters, Danny had become my brother.
I poked my head around the corner to see who was awake and grinned. Nathan was stretched out on the couch, one arm tucked behind his head and a bag of cheese puffs on his stomach. The TV was on to a rerun of
Jeopardy!. Withdrawing to the kitchen, I quickly made my drink and returned five minutes later with a steaming mug in hand.
“Scoot.” I pushed his feet off the end cushion to make room for myself, but once I sat down, he stuck them on my lap. “Is that really necessary?”
He smirked and wiggled his socked toes. “What? I was here first.”