My Hockey Bully Stepbrother

er's

ra

ramped bedroom with the cracked ceiling and the window that doesn't close all the way. I slam th

men in this city, my mothe

t. My whole body shakes with them. This morning I thought things couldn't get worse tha

ugh the door, sharp with disappr

N

nters, you open this

energy to fight. She pushes inside,

sappoi

s. "That was incredibly rude. Ric

." The words tumble ou

m. Please. I don't

steel underneath. "This is my life, Summer. My choice. And this is go

om

about food or bills or clothes. No more living in this tiny apartment with the broken heating. You'l

m, this is Crew's father. Crew Ashford. I've told you about

hat changes things. Being family will change things. This

. "Nothing can make this work. Nobody can replace Dad

er voice g

bring your fat

e years, Mom. Five years

ou think I don't count every single day? I loved your father more than anything in this

er hand goes

om

She gasps, a horrible rattlin

he's too heavy, we both hit the floor.

ack. Her whole

OM

ike she weighs nothing, me following them out, stumbling, crying, everything blurring together. His car is parked

holding her hand. "I'm so sorry

then there are people in scrubs taking her away, someone's asking me questions I can'

ng shut behind her, and I'm left standing in a ste

is my

id

used

houlder, gentle. "You should go home.

to stay

to take care of yourself." He squeezes my shoulder. "Ple

ious because of me, and I can't even call Ruby or Ty becaus

" I wh

hen I get home, the apartment feels emptier than it ever has before. Richard i

the couch because I can't

*

my whole body aching. I've never missed a day of school in my life

t face those hallways, can't

sk

ke the end

ke a bus to t

up in bed, looking small and tired but aliv

y, going to her bedside. "Mom

my hand. "I kno

by the window, looking exhaus

e fine," he says. "She just needs

l over again. I caused

ly. "For paying for ever

r, and there's such genuine warmth in his face tha

esponsibility. I take

Richard handles everything. When they finally discharge my mother-after hou

"You're moving in today. There's n

"I haven't packed anythi

it so casually, like he's talking about thro

ew clothes, new books, new everything. We'll se

nodding, smiling, like th

really h

ally doi

es out of our neighborhood, through increasingly nice areas, un

the gate, I

ron gates that open automatically, revealin

rble sculptures. Trees line the path. And at t

d live here and ne

ard asks, and there's

utiful,"

iforms-come out to help my mother from the car. She's moving s

hat probably costs more than our entire apartment building,

ms crossed, face carve

s hair is damp from the shower. He looks like he just got back from t

hard's voic

ack from

w's eyes don't

e." Richard puts his hand on my moth

ve been telling you about. This

us. "You might know ea

e doesn't reach his

to run. But I'm frozen. My mother is right he

over me, close enough that I have to

home, sis

he hu

p around me, pulling me against his chest, and

s everything so much better. You have no

htens just e

to hell