Page 45 of Reconciling With the Rival

“No, I don't. The entire movie, she refuses to get with Laurie, even after he confesses his love to her on the hill, but then as soon as she figures out she could love him, he gets with hersister!” This movie makes no sense, and I know Ella is going to tell me I didn't understand it, but it can’t be that deep.

“You just don’t understand certain characters, Leo. One day, if I have enough time, I can explain it in terms you’ll understand.”

“Small words?” I ask.

“Exactly!” she says as she gets up. “See? You get it!” Ella only walks to her room and shuts her door.

“No goodnight for us?”

“Nope. She’s probably going to talk to her sister.” Alissa goes to put the ice cream away. “Do you want to ring our parents?”

“Do you think they’re still awake?”

“Shit. I always forget about the time difference.” She runs a hand down her face. “We’ll talk to them tomorrow before we both go to work?”

“Sounds good.”

She pats me on the shoulder before she leaves. “Enjoy your first night here, Leo. I hope you sleep well.”

“Thanks, sis. For everything, I mean.”

She locks eyes with me. “You’re my baby brother, Leo. You know I’d do anything for you.”

Even if our parents are an ocean away, I’m glad I still have my sister here. She was my very first friend in life, and I’m thankful that, no matter where I end up, I know I’ll always have her.

16

Stockholm Syndrome

“Leo, if you don’tget your ass out of the shower, I’m going to pour a bucket of ice water on you!” I say as I knock on the door, knowing it’s no use.

Every single fucking morning, Leo takes hour long showers after he gets home from his workout. It’s fucking annoying, and it derails my entire morning. I even woke up early to get in before he got back home, but he supposedly cut his workout short.

It has been forty-five minutes, and if he uses all the hot water, I might kill him.

What does he even do in there any way? Jerk off? There’s no way it takesthatlong, and he probably doesn't even need to. Some girl probably sucked him off last night when he went out with some of the guys after work.

I’ve been trying to avoid Leo at work, since it’s the only time I don't have to actually talk to him. When I’m at home, he’s always around, and I literally have nowhere to run. I can avoid him a bit easier at the office. Since he’s all buddy-buddy with Brody and the other assholes, he hasn't been in his office a lot lately.

Which means I don't have to stare at his stupid fucking face through my window all day, and that is the best present anyone could have given me.

It has only been a week, and I already have a countdown for when he’s hopefully leaving. His place is supposed to be ready in November, which means I only have two months of him living here.

It has been one week, and it already feels like a fucking eternity.

I hear the shower turn off after I bang on the door a few more times. When the door finally opens and Leo walks out wearing just a towel, staring down at me with that stupid smirk on his face, I have to fight the urge to knee him in the balls.

“All yours, darling.”

“Fuck. You. If I’m late, I’m blaming you.” And then I slam the door and turn the shower to the hottest setting, only to discover it’s lukewarm when I step into it.

Today better not get any worse. If it does, I’m going to have to call Paige and Oliver to help me bury Leo’s body when I eventually murder him.

Work has been okayso far.

I’ve been slowly putting together some things for the publishing account, and I have this other account—a coffeebrand—that Imogen assigned me. It has been fun configuring an entire new Instagram feed for them. I sent them some test photos, and they loved what I was doing, so they booked Loft Media for the rest of the year.

After all the losses I’ve been taking, it feels nice to have some positive energy back in my life. Lately, all it seems like I’m doing is trying and failing.

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