Chapter 23 Just A Brother
Barth’s POV
My knuckles were raw, the skin on them splitted, blood oozing out as I punched, but I didn’t care. My breathing was haggard, the music playing in my headphones did no justice in calming my demons.
I punched harder on the heavy bag, trying to get rid of the emotions and her voice in my head.
I don’t want you.
Her words had been like a sharp knife slicing through my thick heart yesterday, making me feel different emotions that I tried hard to shut out. I felt like my lungs were knocked out of my chest.
Just an hour ago, she was vibrating in my arms. Her sweet, soft lips in mine as my tongue explored her mouth. Her heart beats syncing with mine. Her body felt just right in my hands, like she belonged with me and was meant for only me.
I gave out a grunt as I gave out another blow to the dummy, steadying it.
During that moment, I tasted her. Truly tasted her and the ruined version of Barth’s Vanguard seemed to have disappeared. That’s the feeling she gives to me.
I hated the fact that she could see through me, but in a way I also loved it. She saw a good in me. A good I never knew I had and she always made sure I knew that which was not normal to me. Others saw the hard, nonchalant Barth while she broke through my hard core.
I sat on the weight bench, my head in my hands, the silence of the gym house added to my sorrows. I had let Tan too close. I should have told her no when she asked to see me to talk about the charity gala. I should have known better and pushed her away.
I stood up, grabbing my shirt from the floor. I couldn’t stay here. I needed to see her. Even though she told me she never wanted to see me again, I still needed her to understand that nothing will ever happen between Tan and I anymore.
I walked into the main house, stopping at the top of the stairs when I heard the front door open.
“You look beautiful, Yvonne,” the voice of the person I had begun to detest so much sounded from the foyer.
Ryan.
I gripped the banister, my vision tunneling. Through the railings, I saw her. She was wearing a coat that I had never seen her wear, her hair was down, styled in waves, and she was smiling brightly.
“Thanks Ryan, “ She said, her voice clear and crisp enough for me to hear. “I’m ready to go, I really need to get out here.”
She didn’t look up. She didn’t look at me. Ryan looked over her shoulders at me, giving me a smirk that almost made me go berserk.
Yvonne took his arm and walked out, leaving me standing with my shoulders slumped, my blood boiling and my heart a shattered wreck on the floor.
I stood there in the silence of the foyer. The door had closed but the image of her arms around his was deeply etched in my mind, replaying in my head over and over again.
“Don’t even think about following them.”
I snapped my head towards the end of the stairs. Summer was leaning against the railings, her arms crossed right over her chest. Her face was stern and unfriendly but I didn’t give a damn.
“Move, Summer!” I growled, my voice low and dangerous.
“No,” She didn’t flinch, our eyes locking on each other. “I know about what happened in the library. I saw the look on her face. You are a mess, Barth and you are dragging her into it.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, taking a step towards the door. “Nothing happened between me and Tan back there! It was merely a mistake.”
“Every time you near her, then that’s a big mistake!” She snapped, stepping down to block my path. “She told me everything. She’s trying to be a good daughter, trying not to jeopardise her mother’s happiness. And you? You are just a distraction. If you really care about her and are not trying to drag her into your dark web then you would let her go on a date with a guy who doesn’t have Tan hovering around him.”
Her words cut deep into me. The truth settled inside me like a hard pill to swallow. I was the wrong one, I was on the verge of destroying our parents’ relationship. I was the one who made her cry.
“Ryan isn’t the right choice for her either,” I blurted out.
“Maybe,” Summer replied, her gaze softening a little. “Even if he is, let her figure that on her own. You’re her step brother, Barth. Start acting like one and stop trying to cross the line, breaking her heart. And stay away from her before you ruin her as well.”
She walked past me towards the kitchen, leaving me standing alone in the empty foyer. My fists clenched, my knuckles burning.
Act like a brother…
The thought made me want to burn the whole place up. I didn’t want to be her step brother! I wanted to be her everything, I wanted to be the one to show her love, to open up myself to her. But, as I watched the snow fall through the window, I realize Summer was right.
I have to stay away from her so I don’t taint her. She was too innocent and too kind for me.