Stephan (12 page)

I giggled when Evelin hit Lucas. “We do know
you jerk.”

Lucas raised his hands in surrender and
winked at me. A huge weight I didn’t know had been holding me down
lifted, and I felt hope things could work.

*****

He was dreaming if he thought I’d be moving
into his room. Standing at the entrance to his room I shook my
head. “I don’t care what you think. I’m not sleeping in your room
with you.”

“Fine. We’ll sleep in another room.”

“No. We won’t be sleeping in the same room at
all.” I slowly walked toward the stairs only to be lifted up and
brought against a hard chest.

“Are you trying to hurt yourself? You’ve just
come back from hospital and were about to attempt to go downstairs.
Jade, the backs of your legs are covered in stitches.”

Was he for real? I know I have over thirty
stitches in my legs. The muscles in my calves pulled every time I
walked. “You don’t think I bloody know? The only reason I was going
to go downstairs was so I could get away from you, find your
mother, and see if she could talk some sense into you.” I was
yelling now, but didn’t care. I probably sounded like the brat my
grandpa accused me of but again, I didn’t care, I was grateful for
everything Stephan had done but he was suffocating me.

“Mum doesn’t need to talk sense into me. You
need to listen and stop arguing.”

My anger was rising and I struggled in his
arms but he just held me tighter. Stephan carried me down the
stairs and still didn’t let me go when we reached the bottom.

“I can walk now.” I wiggled to get out of
Stephan’s hold.

“I know. I like you in my arms though.” He
walked to the games room were his mum sat on the sofa with an
eReader.

Evelin glanced up and smiled. “How are you
settling in?”

Stephan placed me on the sofa next to Evelin.
“Good thanks. I would be doing even better if you would tell your
son I’m not staying in his room.”

Evelin raised one dainty eyebrow in question
to her son. Stephan crossed his arms over his chest and glared at
me. I rolled my eyes heavenward praying for patience. Evelin
sighed. “Stephan, I did the room up right next door to yours. I
really think you should let Jade stay in there. You won’t be far
from her and you’ll see her every day.”

“Mum, she belongs with me.”

I chewed on my lip and looked to Evelin
hoping she wasn’t going to fall for his crap. Evelin stared at me
for a while and she must have seen something because she cleared
her throat and stood so she was almost toe-to-toe with her son.
“Stephan, I won’t ask you again, I’ll tell you. Jade is staying in
the room I did up for her. When Jade chooses, she can move into
your room.”

I felt like doing a fist pump and sticking my
tongue out at Stephan, but the stare he sent my way had me sinking
into the sofa and quietly enjoying my victory. I liked Evelin. She
was my ally and I felt bad for using her but I intended to use her
as much as I could. Stephan was just too tempting and hard to
fight.

*****

Stephan

“She never friggin' listens, Dad. I swear I’m
going to strangle her.”

My dad chuckled and patted me on the back.
“Give her space, boy. She’s been home for three days and you’ve
done nothing but hover.”

“Do you know she told me she was going to
school on Monday? She chucked a fit that I have missed over a week
of school. Of course I wasn’t going to school while she was in the
hospital or when she got home. Who would have helped her?”

“I’m sure your mother and I could have
he—”

“Dad, whose side are you on?”

“Er, yours, son.”

“Well tell Mum to stop encouraging her. The
two have gone off this morning and she didn’t tell me where.”

“I’m sure your mother is taking great care of
her. She told me she was taking Jade to have a spa day. Why don’t
you go out and see your friends. I think some time apart will be
good. You’ve both been in each other’s faces way too much.”

I sighed, my dad was right. I’d barely left
Jade’s side since the beating. “I do need to go see Cassie. Jade’s
birthday is less than a month away and I want to get everything
organized.”

“It’s not exactly what I meant but if it gets
you out of the house and stops your pacing, I’m fine with it.”

*****

I’d called Scott because I didn’t have his
sister, Cassie’s, phone number. They were both at home. I drove
there and Scott answered the door. “The others missed you at the
games. We lost today.”

“Sorry, man, but my girl comes first.”

“I understand.” His eyes narrowed and he
smirked. “Come in. Cassie is watching a movie.

I went into the house and to the back family
room. Cassie sat on a huge L shaped sofa. She had tears running
down her cheeks and tissues all around her. I looked to Scott in
alarm. He waved his hand.

“It’s all your fault. You haven’t let her see
Jade and she’s been blaming herself for not noticing anything with
her grandfather. She thinks you won’t let Jade be friends with her
or some shit. She’s been watching all these girly movies and
crying. I only let you in so you can do something and end this
crap.”

I stared at my best friend shocked, he hadn’t
mentioned anything about this to me. He hadn’t told me he was
pissed at me either.

Fuck, I wasn’t good with this emotional
stuff. And right now I didn’t have the energy to deal with this. I
slowly approached Cassie. “Um hi, Cassie.”

“Oh, Stephan, I’m so sorry. I should have
seen it. I mean, she never liked being home, I just thought she
really liked me. I’m such a bad friend. How bad is she? Am I not
allowed to see her?”

“Cassie, I wasn’t keeping you from seeing
her. I just forgot to ask you to come and visit. I’m here now to
get your help for her birthday.”

“You’re not angry? You want me to help?”

“Sure. Look, why don’t we sort out her
birthday stuff here so it’s a surprise and then you can come back
to my house and see her. She had a spa day with my mum.”

“She had a spa day and I didn’t get invited?”
Cassie started sobbing again and I looked at Scott begging him to
help me. He just gave me an evil grin. “Ah, um…I’m sure Jade would
have invited you…it’s just that…just that…it was a mother/daughter
thing.” I waited, hoping I’d said the right thing.

Cassie sniffled and blew her nose. “Okay.
Let’s get her birthday sorted out so I can go see her.”

I felt like a real douche. Not only was my
best friend pissed at me but I’d upset my girl’s best friend.

*****

I drove Cassie to my house and was surprised
at what we both came in on. Jade had the music on in the kitchen
and she was dancing around as she mixed with a big cooking bowl. My
mum sat on a kitchen bench stool singing along, watching my girl
smile, laugh, and sing.

Not daring to move, I watched Jade. I’d never
seen her so happy. Her guards were down and she could sing. My
heart beat faster as I listened to her beautiful voice and I fell
even more in love. She was gorgeous, her hair was down and flying
around her, her eyes shone with life and love. I couldn’t tear my
eyes from her even if I’d wanted to.

The song finished and Cassie clapped beside
me. “You have an amazing voice, Jade.”

Jade dropped the bowl on the bench and ran to
her friend. “Cassie!” She gave Cassie a one-arm hug.

Cassie started crying again. “Oh my God, look
at you. Jade, I’m so sorry. I wish you’d told me. You could have
stayed with me.” Cassie ran her hands over the still healing
bruises.

I’d forgotten about Jade’s injuries for a
moment as I watched her dance about the kitchen. Cassie hadn’t seen
her in nine days. If she thought Jade still looked bad now, I would
have hated to see how Cassie would have reacted when it all
happened. I wanted to get upset at Jade for overdoing it dancing
around, but after seeing how happy she was, I wouldn’t say
anything. I needed to touch her, to kiss her. She was amazing.

Waiting until Cassie let her go I went to
Jade and gathered her to me for my own hug. “You’re beautiful, you
know that right?” I stroked her hair before easing her away,
leaning down and kissing her. I didn’t give her the kiss I wanted.
I was gentle and gave her more of a brush of my lips against hers
but when she sighed against me, I deepened the kiss by licking her
lips. I knew I’d done good bringing Cassie and not pushing for a
deeper kiss.

Jade ended the kiss. “Thanks.”

I felt like I was on cloud nine. It was the
first time Jade had taken over and the first time she really showed
she cared. I was making progress getting her to like and trust
me.

I smiled. “No need to thank me. I’d do
anything for you.” I left her with my mum and Cassie. I needed to
go talk to my brother to see if anyone else besides Scott was
pissed at me.

*****

I’d neglected my friends and had some kissing
arse to do. I’d missed Brad’s nineteenth birthday and he was hurt.
I’d let down my rugby league team missing two games.

“They are sympathetic, bro, and feel bad Jade
had to go through what she did. But they don’t understand the curse
as you call it. They don’t know when we Silverman men find our soul
mates we turn into possessive cavemen. They think you’re pussy
whipped. Before you roar about that I told them Jade hasn’t given
you any and if she had her way, never would.”

I growled at Derick, he was really starting
to piss me off.

“Oh stop your growling. They all forgive you.
Let them see Jade.”

“No.”

“Stephan, they’re going to see her Monday. I
think we should do something together tomorrow like go shopping,
out to dinner, a movie or maybe all.”

“No way. Jade has only been out of the
hospital for three days.”

Derick scrubbed his face with his hand. “Bro,
I really think they need to see her, and Jade needs to get out too.
I know you want to wrap her in cotton wool and make sure no one can
harm her again, but she’s young and doesn’t want to be smothered. I
didn’t want to say this but they need to see her injuries. Monday
is going to be a big day because everyone at school will be looking
and pointing. I know you don’t want to hear it and you can’t beat
them or glare at them all. I think if we get our friends’ shocked
faces out of the way it will be easier.

I hated my brother was right and Cassie’s
response downstairs confirmed it. “Fine. We’ll all go to a movie
and dinner.”

“Good. I’ll call the guys.”

“I better go out now and get Brad a big
present to make up for missing his big day.” I got off the sofa in
Derick’s room and walked to the door.

“Oh you did get him one. You bought him an
Omega DeVille Tourbillon, the diamonds in the watch alone should
have made him happy. But he’s still pissy, he went on for hours
about how he was down one wingman. I told him even if you were
there you’d not help him troll for pussy.” Derick winked at me. “I
had to take your share.”

Laughing, I shook my head. “I can see you’re
really torn up about that.”

“It hard work, you know, keeping the
Silverman name out there with the ladies, but I suppose I’m up for
the challenge.”

I shook my head and walked to the door. To
think only a month ago I was the Silverman who didn’t date and
never had the same pussy twice. Now I’d found my soul mate. My
carefree days were gone. Now I thought about it. I was exhausted. I
was sick of fighting Jade and never getting anywhere with her. I
hadn’t gone this long without sex since pre-puberty. Shit, I had
become pussy whipped and I wasn’t even getting any pussy. Fuck
this, I needed a night out. “How about just us guys go out tonight.
Cassie can stay over and keep Jade occupied.”

“I think that’s best idea you’ve had in
weeks. Let’s go stay in the Sydney apartment. Mum or Cassie can
bring Jade to meet us for the movies.”

I hadn’t left Jade alone since the beating. I
didn’t like leaving her in case she needed me. Ha, what was I
thinking—Jade never needed me. She wouldn’t care if I went out. I
was done fighting.

“Come on, bro. What’s the saying? Absence
makes the heart grow fonder. Jade will be fine here for one night.
Come on, I bet I can beat you at who can drink the most without
passing out.”

I grinned down at Derick, he knew not to
challenge me, I never lost. “You’re on. I’ll call Scott and Brad,
you call the others.”

Derick nodded and I went in search of my mum,
Cassie, and Jade.

Jade

Cassie stayed the night and we’d talked until
the early hours of the morning. The only other person I’d spoken to
like I had with Cassie was my best friend in the city, Jess. Her
house had been a safe haven for me from my mother and her
friends.

I was surprised when we woke up and Stephan
wasn’t hovering over me. He may let me sleep in my own room but he
was in it almost as much as me. Stephan had no boundaries. I
showered and got dressed. Cassie took a shower while I dressed.
Together we went downstairs and to the kitchen.

It was so quiet without Stephan and Derick.
Stephan had come in while his mum, Cassie, and me had been watching
a girly movie in the theater room. He came over and pulled me to
the side. I stepped away from him and stared up at him.

“I’m going out tonight. You don’t need me do
you?”

I couldn’t help the grin that spread over my
face. Peace and quiet. I’d have one night off from his overbearing
ways. I wondered if jumping up and down squealing with joy would be
rude, especially in front of his mother. I bit my lip and took a
minute to compose myself. “Sure. No, I don’t need you. Yes. Go out
and have fun. I’ll be fine here. Don’t worry about me.”

By his glare I knew I hadn’t fooled him.
“Fine. If you’re going to be like that I’ll see you tomorrow.” He
looked over at his mum. “Can you drop Jade and Cassie into Sydney
at the apartment? We are going to the movies and dinner. Any time
after lunch would be good.”