Taming The Playboy

to this scene of my teenage brother's room. I ro

ng goes, another d

re we hoarded cheap furniture and the s

olding it all together with Felix since we

chen, the linoleum h

lapping up his cereal like it's the

' he says, mouth f

too tired to smile

ally tearing his face from his phone, long eno

he urge to bark back at him. "Noth

you came out, every once in a while, and did something besides work

prickling of resentment rising up inside me. W

ice dripping with sarcasm. 'The last time I looked, it's no

maybe if you put yourself out there once in a while, y

myself from punching him in the face

getting old and you've never had a boyfriend since... What's his name? Tom? It's

fortable against me."Shut up, Felix, I respond, trying desperately to sound irritated while a smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. "Just so you know, those "cringe novels" a

will not allow anything to separate us.I gaze at Felix as I pour warm coffee into my cup.I can't help but be thankful for him even if he has the tendency t

eparing for yet another day of wha

g to dismiss Felix's annoying hum, as he sucks down his cereal. For

milk on your way home from work today? F

e while playing video games all day?"Felix rolls his eyes despite my annoyance. "Hey, somebody has t

sing up again. He knows I'd do anything for him, but so

d then, maybe we wouldn't be living from cheque t

ike you're some kind of saint, working yoursel

oaster pops, startling us both. I snatch the burnt toast with a

fog. I can sense Felix's eyes on me, waiting for m

s before and I'm sick of playing the 'ever

ce. "Look, June, I didn't mean it like t

p up the fight. "Yeah, well,

nd his face loosens. "Hey, don't say t

. He may drive me crazy sometimes, but he's still m

e and ruffle his hair. "Yeah, you're

porating in the breeze. "That's the spirit. Now, a

t help laughing. Maybe thi

hining is repeating in my head like a broken record. Am

efore I realize it, tears are pouring from my eyes as my throat becomes choked.What a mess-I just used the back of my hand to wipe my eyes. Not

into its hole, buryi