Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

Chapter 47

KASMINE

I stirred restlessly on my bed, tangled in the sheets, still as restless as I had been three days ago after saying those hurtful things I said to Kester in his car.

Three days. Three whole days since, I had torn into Kester with words meant to rip him apart. And they had.

I knew it the moment I said them. Knew it by the way his grip had loosened on my chin, the brief flicker in his eyes before they turned ice-cold. I knew it when he let me walk away without another word or a fight.

That was the part that hurt the most.

I replayed the events and conversations in my head, and sincerely, I realized that he didn't deserve those cruel words. I had let my anger and jealousy take over. 1

I hadn't set my eyes on him after that evening. I hadn't seen him at the office all day Friday. When I got home, I half-expected-no, hoped-he'd be somewhere, anywhere in the house. But he wasn't.

And when I finally caved, when my pathetic ass swallowed my pride and walked

to his door, June was standing in my way like a fortress.

He had instructed her not to let me in, pretending to be in the middle of something... Always

there,

I canceled my movie plans with Claire the next day. I couldn't stomach the idea of laughing at mindless comedies and pretending I was fine. Because I wasn't!

I was drowning in something I didn't have a name for.

My heart raced uncontrollably, and no matter how hard I tried, I remained

constantly sad. It was almost as if a part of me was slowly dying

I hated it.

A dull vibration against the mattress pulled me from my thoughts. I reached under the bed and grabbed the phone, already knowing who it was

Jake:

I had hidden our secret phone under my bed, more securely this time.

was no point in being too careful. Kester wasn't going to barge in on me after all. Not today. I

with concern, and for the first time, it didn't soothe

nerves. Sincerely, at the moment, I

it was Jake,

in my throat, forcing out the words. I'm sorry. I slept

on the other end of the line before he spoke again. "I was starting to worry," he finally said in a warm voice, as if gauging

murmured, sitting up and running a hand through my hair. "I just... Needed

went silent for a second too

Chapter 47

rest. You've been so tense

not trusting myself to

his cue to move on. "I

Ah. Right.

bridge of my nose. If I were to choose, I wouldn't have stepped an inch out of my bedroom. But I didn't have the heart to

stick to the date? No ride.

be running his fingers through his short, black hair by now while letting out an

excitement in his tone had dimmed. "Whatever makes you comfortable, Kasmine. As long as you're

pressed my lips together, hating the way that simple sentence made something

was way too sweet and understanding. Always putting me first. I had taken advantage of it, giving him just enough to keep him around but never

even if I didn't really want to go... Even if I knew

of being in Jake's presence right now-of faking smiles and pretending

speaking to me at the moment. I could slip out. Have dinner. Come back without him ever

at your house,"

of the tension easing from his tone.

up before

perfectly, its silky fabric gliding over my skin as I adjusted the straps in front of the mirror. Midnight blue. One of the many expensive dresses Kester had bought for me, but

it for me, Kasmine. Only me." I remembered the way he had said it in his usual dark and unapologetically claiming voice... Remembered the way his fingers had trailed down my spine as he zipped it up in the dressing room of the mall, his

now, here I was, wearing it for someone

the smooth fabric, ignoring the way

why did it feel

small, tucked into a quiet street where

Chapter 47

parked in the driveway,

to lower my hand before

like he had been waiting all his