The Better Brother

She opened the door all the way to reveal Gabriel standing in the doorway. The center of my cheeks burned when our eyes met. I hoped to God he didn’t hear that previous statement out of context.

He urged us on with talks of a big snow about to fall and we decided to go grab lunch now.

I rose from the bed to follow Alyssa out into the hallway. Gabriel lingered back to give us both room to walk by him. I found my eyes drifting up from the carpeted floors to meet Gabriel’s stare. A ghost of a smile tugged at his lips. A smile graced my face in return as I followed Alyssa into the foyer to grab our coats from the closet.

My phone buzzed in the back pocket of my jeans. I pulled it out while Alyssa chatted absently with her father to read my mother’s text message.

I wish you would pick up my calls, Penny. Really need to talk this out. Would be nice to hear from you this week. Shall I ship out your Christmas present to you there?

My mother was the Queen of passive aggression. I deleted the message with a frown because I didn’t want it festering throughout my time off. My mother would never intentionally sabotage my break away from college, but she wouldn’t hold her feelings back, either. No matter how hard she tried to understand, she had her opinions about the situation.

And when it came to her recent boy toy, nothing else mattered; including her own daughter.

CHAPTER THREE – GABRIEL

Monday morning came too fast for my liking. I rose with darkness still lingering outside and the swirl of snow circling the entire building. Resting a hand against the cold glass, I peered out at the city that was still tucked in under the blanket of clouds. It was going to be a long and cold drive to work.

I took a long, hot shower to thaw the chill from my bones, and dressed for the day before exiting my room to walk down the dark hallway. Both Alyssa and Penny’s doors were closed. I walked by them as quietly as possible so I didn’t disturb them.

The lights were on in the kitchen when I rounded the corner to cross through the dining area. I stopped in surprise to find Penny standing in the kitchen with the coffee pot full of water in her hands. She started in surprise as well, splashing water onto the tiled floor.

“I’m sorry,” Penny said, cheeks reddening. “I didn’t think you got up this early. I was just making some coffee.”

I reached up to absently run a hand along the silk fabric of my tie. I loosened the knot slightly because it felt a bit too tight all of a sudden. Grabbing a towel that was hanging on the edge of the kitchen island, I crouched down to wipe the water up from the floor. It gave me a small amount of time to take in Penny’s dainty bare toes, with nails that were painted a purple color, before I straightened up.

“I find it’s easier to beat the traffic when I get up early,” I answered.

Penny turned to pour water into the coffee maker. I found my gaze resting on the patch of visible skin between her sleeping shirt and baggy sweatpants. The skin along her waist appeared smooth and soft. She really was a petite thing still, but she had plenty of curves to show off.

What the fuck are you doing?

Hot shame filled me, and I twisted around to hide the fact that I had appreciated the view a little too much. It wasn’t like I was a sexual hermit. I had my fun; I just didn’t allow myself to get into anything too deep. Ever since Kelly had left me, I’d kept my heart under lock and key. My cock? Well he was a different story. And right now, he was showing way too much interest in Penny. I needed to get ahold of myself, and fast. I would not allow myself to become that creepy guy pining after his daughter’s best friend. The thought left a bad taste in my mouth. Still, she was so damn beautiful.

Penny closed the lid to the coffeemaker behind me. “I swear Alyssa could sleep through a nuclear war, but I have trouble sleeping in strange places.”

I nodded my head in understanding, but she looked a little embarrassed.

“Not that your house is a strange place,” she said quickly.

I raised my hand and offered a warm smile. “It’s ok Penny, I know what you mean. It’s been a long time since you’ve been here.”

She nodded and looked grateful that she hadn’t offended me. Her sheepish smile tugged at my heart- and my crotch.

“It’s just that being back here brings up a lot of memories for me,” she said softly.

The smell of coffee filled the kitchen. I brushed past Penny on my way to the pantry to grab a few apples to bring with me for breakfast. The moment my skin touched hers, a jolt of electricity shot through me. I tried my fucking best not to look at her to see if she’d felt it too. I turned to find her seated on one of the breakfast bar stools while she waited for the coffee to finish brewing. A conflicted expression crossed her freckled face. Her long blonde locks were tangled and pulled up into a messy bun on top of her head.

“It’s just strange being back here,” she said. “I remember coming down here all the time to play with Alyssa, but then I remember Dad. That’s when my feelings really get complicated.”

I grabbed the coffee pot when it beeped a few seconds later to signal that it was done brewing. Setting two mugs down on the kitchen island, I poured us both a full cup of steaming hot coffee. I inhaled the aroma deeply with a sigh. The first sip nearly scorched the back of my throat, but it tasted wonderful. Penny knew how to make a good pot of coffee.

“Is that weird?” Penny asked, cradling her cup close. “I mean, that I’ve avoided places that make me remember my dad for so long?”

“I’ve avoided my hometown for the past ten years,” I said. “Just because it reminds me of my parents who are buried in the cemetery there. I suppose it’s somewhat normal.”

Penny sipped at her coffee thoughtfully. “Do you miss your parents?”

“Sometimes,” I said, shrugging. “It’s been ten years since they both passed away, but I do occasionally get the urge to pick up the phone to share something with them.”