My Stepbrother Came Home for the Anniversary, and I Didn't Know Him novel · Chapter 16 of 24

Chapter 16: The Window

"She's called you four times," Matti said.

He stood in my bedroom door on Friday night with his duffel on his shoulder and the lake lights behind me in the window.

I had my phone face down on the dresser and my back to him.

"I know how many times she called."

"You could pick up."

"I could jump off the lift bridge," I said.

"Kaisa."

"She stood in that kitchen and watched me put you out of the house," I said. "She watched through the glass, and she didn't open the door."

"I know what she did."

"Then why do you keep taking her side?"

"I'm not taking anyone's side," he said. "She's your mother. I'm only saying she's the one who taught you to braid your own hair."

I turned around so fast the braid hit me in the face.

"Don't you tell me what she taught me."

"Okay."

"Don't you stand in my bedroom and be fair about it," I said.

"Okay," he said again, and set the duffel down on the floor.

That made me madder, and I crossed the room and shoved him in the chest.

He didn't move.

I shoved him again, and he caught both my wrists in one hand, easily, and held them against his sternum.

"You're doing it again," he said.

"Doing what?"

"Looking for something to hit that isn't her."

I tried to pull my hands back.

He held on, and I looked up into his face, and he was not angry.

He only looked at me.

"Turn around," he said.

"Why?"

"Because you want me to say it, and I'm not going to say it. Turn around, Kaisa."

I could have hit him.

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