War With My Hockey Stepbrother

's voice cut sharp as she pressed

lifted when I saw it: the dean was holding printed photos- my ruined painting, Wa

Kingsley hoodie, legs spread, and his gaz

"Someone had destroyed a student's scholarship-level artwork. And s

t look at Wade right then. I was already pissed and angry enough without it getting wor

ed poorly on both of yo

r painting, Dean," W

times," I snapped back, sti

cent academic and conduct issues. And Mr. Scott's athletic eligibility was being ques

er way to fix this? My son's future depende

could have pulled strings. But from the dean's reaction, it look

he two of you, it was very complicated to fix, especially when

idn'

m gripped my

't sabotage anythin

," his dad

r not didn't matter to the scho

y sigh. Now, we

hey proposin

ervision. Wade Scott would help Layla Anderson rebuild her artwork, materials, studio access,

. "I didn't want to work with him! Did he even

oo, like he was about to laugh while

submit a formal written statement confirming Wade

he stared at me in disbelief, like he

my scholarship by working with him?" I couldn't belie

o babysit her for two months?" W

. "What did you

, the consequences would be applied immediately, sch

Unbelievable! So you wanted me to

lie," Wade

operate," Mom said sof

his flushed face an

were telling us we basically had to be toget

re. Now they were giving me two months? Two

?" No one answered. The dean rubbed his

ly. Perfect. Ab

lking. I walked out of the office in silence with

ing to face her. "That's one reason you shouldn't

it wouldn't be affected by what you two di

amily after this? You wanted to

ot your act together, Layla Anderson." I closed my mouth

yed silent for a few seconds, like no one knew

d said and put his hand on my mo

d Wade followed, sitting at the other end, leaving a

this harder tha

I said, crossing my arms against my chest

for also rui

t ruin y

t like living next to the sun while staying hidden in the shadows. People worshipp

life, with unruly red hair, oversized gl

d happened, it was even more

Mom and Richard were still talking; Richard had his hand

as. Would their marriage have problems if Wade and I kept

could marry the man who truly loved her. But another part of me said

ever live under the same roo

," Wade's dad said. He approached us, his face serious, bu

m. "I hoped you both thought

Auntie," Wade

ower lip a

you needed to explain things to

when she had already hear

for good, Wade lo

h for me to hear it. "Don't forget, that was enough tim

, but I didn't

nything I could do to stop hi