To Hate My Stepbrother

Ava’s POV

We walked back home grinning from ear to ear and talking about everything we could think of. I told Mason what I understood about constellations and he seemed really interested and I just couldn’t stop talking until we got home.

Something is going on with me and I have no idea what it is.

We both retired to bed since we were both tired and I looked forward to waking up and meeting Mason downstairs, I closed my eyes to try and sleep and thankfully there was no storm.

I woke up to the clanking of plates and after putting on comfortable clothing, I walked down the stairs to see that Mason had already made breakfast and even set the table too.

We sat and had our breakfast in silence before going to watch a movie in the sitting room and this time I got to pick out the movie we were to watch.

Even though Mason teased me about my choice of movie, he still sat and enjoyed it with me. It was an emotional romance movie and I didn’t think it would have such a big effect on him.

“Are you crying?” I asked, sniffing and drying up my own tears as I turned to look at Mason whose eyes were red but he managed to deny the fact that he was crying.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“It’s just a stupid movie, why should I cry?” He asked and I couldn’t hold back my laughter when I heard the crack in his voice as he spoke.

“C’mon, I don’t judge.” I said nudging him but he only shot me a stare as he stood from the couch.

“Get ready, we leave in twenty minutes.” He announced, changing the subject and when I asked where we were going to, he told me our parents had a reservation at a restaurant and we’ll be going there for dinner.

Getting up, I went to my room to get ready. I had my bath and walked to my closet as I rummaged through it. I wanted to look nicer than I usually do so I picked out a blue gown.

It was strapless and short and had a little brooch on it, perks of having a fashionista best friend. Nicole would be so proud if she saw me right now.

I picked out my black wedge heels shoes and tried it on, it fitted perfectly and I found myself checking myself out as I let out a slight proud smile at myself.

Walking out of my room, I found Mason and he was ready too. He had his back to me and his shoulders were perfectly shaped. He also had a blue tux on and when he turned to look at me his jaw dropped.

“You look…… beautiful.” He said, blinking multiple times as he spoke and I felt butterflies in my stomach when he complimented me.

“Thank you.” I muttered, my cheeks burning when he took my arm in his like he was my date to the dinner. Frankly, he’s my date for dinner.

We got to the restaurant and we both couldn’t ignore the comments the customers passed at us, almost everyone thought we were dating and even one of the waiters had made the mistake which we had to correct.

The restaurant was one Mason and I had once had lunch together in and our waiters recognized us almost immediately as he came to take our orders.

Our food soon came and we both started eating in silence until Mason decided to break the silence. It was starting to make me feel uncomfortable and I was grateful when he spoke up.

“You know why I claimed not to remember anything about this place when we first came here and you asked me to talk about my time here?” He asked and I nodded.

I was quite unsure where this conversation was heading to but I was curious and wanted to know where.

“It was because my mum was with us back then and I hated talking about anything that involved her so when I said I couldn’t remember, I lied.” He confessed and his face fell as he spoke.

My heart ached for him because I knew how painful it must’ve been to talk about his mother willingly. I’d tried to avoid the topic but he’d mentioned it on his own will.

He hated talking about her because of the terrible memories talking about her brought back, he was still sad about the fact that she left him and his dad all alone.

Instinctively, I took his hand in mine and rubbed it slightly to make him comfortable. I had no idea why I did that but I knew it made him feel better because I saw him relax.

“I’m glad our parents found each other because my mother had never been as happy as your dad makes her, your dad makes her really happy.” I said with a smile that he returned.

“I’m glad they found each other too,” he said, “My dad seems way more happier with your mum than mine.” He finished with a smile as he squeezed my hand.

His hand on mine for as long as this without both of us tearing each other apart felt new to me, the way his gaze bore into mine and how his smile widened when he looked directly into my eyes as if he was peering into my soul.

I normally would be uncomfortable but I wasn’t, instead, I felt hot from within and it wasn’t from my uncomfortableness but from the way my heart beat anytime he was around.

My heart has been beating a little bit too fast these days and I seem to not be able to do anything about it. The excitement I feel whenever I’m seeing him for the first time in a day was unexplainable.

I had no idea what to make of my feelings and after a while of staring at him, I removed my hand from his and he let them go easily.

Adjusting my dress and moving on my chair, I suggested that we both concentrate on our meal.