Adeline's Ροv
“I swear to God, Altas!” I could hear the frustration in his voice.
My eyes widened as Rhyett pulled a gun on me that I'm pretty sure I heard him load a split second before the door opened.
His face was flushed with anger and had a bed sheet wrapped around his waist that he was holding with one hand which didn't look any bit secure.
“Fuck!” He cursed as he realized it was me.
His gun was off immediately and he tried hiding himself behind the door. I finally turned around knowing that I wouldn't be shot if I tried to move. I covered my eyes even if the room of sin was behind me.
“I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to- I just came to offer you cookies. I didn't know you were- I'll just go. Sorry. I'm going. Continue.” I said all the words that came to my mind and rushed back to the living room.
Rheytt didn't say a single word nor did I want him to stop me. I would rather just not show him my face for my whole life. I don't even know how I'm supposed to look him in the eyes after this.
What would he think of me now?
Gosh! Why would I even go see him when his girlfriend’s over? They aren't kids, obviously they're gonna do the nasty when they meet. That's what all adults do.
Images of Rhyett came back to my mind. His hair was ruffled and there was sweat on his naked chest. If I'm not mistaken he had hickeys on his neck and even nail marks. It feels so wrong knowing my brother was doing something so…
Why couldn't I just live my whole life thinking Rhyett and Valerie just hold hands?
The moment I reached the living room I grabbed the closest thing —which was a small wooden showpiece— and threw it directly on Altas.
It hit his arm and he cried out in pain. “What was that for?”
“Why would you tell me to go there when you knew they were-” I asked him with anger visible on my face and in my voice.
“They were…? What were they doing?” He asks, leaning against the couch.
“You know what they were doing.” I blush hard.
“No, I don't. What were they doing?” He asks again with the most casual tone.
“Don't be a pain in the- you knew and you still sent me there. I'm never ever talking to you again.”
“Shit! You saw them do it?” Adam asked, panicking. “Or you heard something.”
“Rhyett-”
I cut myself off and looked around to make sure no one else was listening. They both came close to hear the secret and I dropped my voice before telling them exactly what I saw.
They were minutes away from losing it and when I said the very last line, “Can you believe he was doing that?” They both burst out laughing.
I hit Adam’s arm this time and he tried composing himself. “Sorry but it was given that they will do it. What were you expecting they'd be doing in a bedroom?”
“I- God it's so weird. I don't even know how you guys are so chill with it.” I pushed past them and went to sit down on the couch.
“Chill, just forget about it. Be grateful you didn't see the act.” Altas said, patting my arm.
“What if I did? Why would you send me there knowing I might see them?” I give him a sharp look.
“I just planned for you to annoy him. I thought he'd come out decent and you’ll intentionally be a cockblock.”
“And that's a very cool thing to do right?” I glare at him. “I won't ever go to his room again. And definitely never ever try to talk to him when he's with Valerie. Oh my God,” I gasped as I realized something. “When they get married, they'll do it everyday and my room is next door.” I gasp. “What if my kids ask what the weird noise is coming from their uncle’s room-”
“His room’s soundproof.” Adam added.
“But what if they see them? That's so gross.” I cringe at my thoughts. “My kids are gonna grow up traumatized.”
“Trust me Addy, Rhyett must be more embarrassed than you —terrified possibly— he’ll not let that happen again.” His reassurance did nothing to help.
“I never expected this from Rhyett-”
“You want him to be a celibate?” Altas chuckles.
“No. Never. I like Valerie. I want her to be my sister-in-law. But… I didn't want to see the evidence of it and it's all your fault. You shouldn't have sent me there. I'm not talking to either of you ever in my life.” I get up frustrated by the whole situation.
“Ever?”
“Yes, ever.”
“How about an hour?” Altas negotiates.
“No atleast one whole day.” I was firm on my decision.
“Three hours.”
“No, you don't deserve to get off so easily. Midnight it is.”
“Till dinner. Let's agree to that. I think it's a fair middle ground.”
“Fine. But you're also getting me tiramisu as an apology.”
“Any day my beautiful sister.” He says with a fake English accent.
“I'm going to go take a nap in my old room upstairs.” I announce.
“Why?”
“Rhyett’s room is next to mine and I really don't wanna go anywhere near that area. I'm gonna go hide somewhere and possibly die in isolation.”
“Don't be dramatic. He’s twenty five let him have some pu-” He cringed and tried to come up with an alternative word. “pun- I mean fun.”
I scowled. “You’re seriously disgusting. You think it's not a big deal, I wish I had a sister, she would understand how horrible it is to see your brother in such a state.”
“I’m killing this hypothetical sister for disagreeing with us.” Adam said.
“That's our sister. You can't kill her.” I argue.
“No one will know she ever existed. Just like if you give me Rheytt’s share of cookies.”
I shook my head at him. “Wake me up ten minutes before din- no actually twenty minutes before dinner because I need time to freshen up.”
———
We all saw them walk in. They looked so normal like they weren't just doing that a few hours ago.
The memory still haunts me.
Hopefully it'll go away in some days. Because I desperately want to see my brother as a guy too busy with work that the only time he has is spent reading boring nonfiction.
I avert my attention to the head of the table as Lucius takes his seat. We all start to fill up our plates as mine naturally lands in Rhyett's hands.
“Can I have my tiramisu before dinner?” I ask Lucius.
“You don't have to ask me as long as you eat your dinner later.” Lucius replies.
I nod to him and get up hoping my tiramisu would be in the kitchen and I'll just go and grab it for myself but Adam stops me.
“Actually Addy…”
I waited for him to complete the sentence but when he didn't and his face turned into one of guilt, I understood what this was.
“You didn't get my tiramisu?” I ask dramatically. “I knew a few hours wasn't a good enough punishment. I should be mad at you for atleast a decade.”
“I’ll order it now, it'll be here in twenty minutes-”
Leave it, I don't wanna eat anything now.”
I slump down on my chair even though I should probably go to my room if I don't plan on eating anything. But I know someone will convince me to eat because I’m starving.
“Why were you mad at him?” Lucius asks, taking a bite of his lasagna.
The twins had not shied away from telling the rest of our brothers what happened. But since Lucius got back home late, he hasn't heard the tea yet.
“Not just him, Altas too.”
“And she wants us to get her tiramisu as an apology. But Adam being an idiot, forgot to order.” Altas adds.
Adam grimaced. “Dude you forgot too.”
Lucius ignores them and turns to me. “The reason for the fight was?”
I bite my lip trying to think how to answer the question. I was planning to handle it maturely and make some excuse so the couple here won't be embarrassed but Adam had other ideas.
“Rhyett pulled a gun on her and she's mad because we sent her to his room.” He explains it so casually.
Our father's head snaps to Rheytt who subtly looks down at his plate and clears his throat to speak. “It was a misunderstanding. I thought it was Altas.”
I lift up my gaze to see Valerie who's as red as the tomato sauce in front of her. It must be so uncomfortable for them and I hate being the reason for it.
Everyone already knew they did the nasty but I shouldn't have told the twins that I witnessed anything because they publicized it like it was breaking news.
“And why would you pull a gun on Altas?” Lucius crossed his arms.
“He kept knocking on our door and Rheytt got pissed.” Valerie says with a small embarrassed smile.
Lucius probably understood what she meant and gave her nod before resuming his dinner. But Altas had a different idea and wanted to dig deeper into the subject.
“You should punish Rheytt for indecent exposure in the presence of a minor.”
Among all our brothers Altas has gotten the most amount of punishments from Rhyett and this seems to be the perfect opportunity for him to get back at him.
“There wasn't any exposure, Altas.” Rhyett grits through his teeth.
“Just because you weren't fully naked then the trauma you caused my sister doesn't count?” Altas shot back.
“I'm not traumatized. Just leave it.” I interject.
“You don't understand, tigress. I'm fighting for you and your babies. He needs to keep it in his-” He couldn't complete the sentence because Rhyett abruptly stood up.
Altas was fast and ran to stand behind Cyrus' chair so he would protect him. I immediately held Rhyett's wrist to stop him. I don't want to see Altas get beat up —if that's what Rhyett's planning to do— so I hope he'll stop for me.
“Sit back down both of you.” Lucius ordered.
Altas took his seat first and after glaring at him for a few seconds Rhyett got seated as well so I dropped my grip on him.
“Altas, Adam,” Lucius called. “Next time don't send her to places you bloody well know she shouldn't be at.”
“Sorry.” They both replied in unison.
“Do you find it funny to let her see that?”
“No…” Adam said ashamed. “We just wanted to annoy Rhyett by sending her there… we didn't think he would come out wearing little to nothing…”
“We won't do it again cause she really looked a second away from throwing up.” Altas said seriously then an amused look came up on his face. “She was judging them so hard.”
My eyes widened and I tried finding something to throw at him but everything could accidentally hurt more than I intended.
“No, I didn't.” I say to Lucius but then realize that I should probably tell this to Rhyett and Valerie so I turn towards them. “I wasn't judging you. You can do whatever you want-”
“But you did say it was weird and gross.”
“Trust me Valerie I didn't say you guys were gross.” I desperately wanted her to believe me. “I just always get weirded out thinking why any girl would do it willingly. It hurts so bad, I couldn't even walk after it. I think it's only fun for men. So I'm just surprised whenever I hear women actually enjoy it. I prefer not to think how babies are made and that every person with a kid has atleast done it once, even my own parents like eww. I swear to you it's the only reason I want to stay single my whole life, I never ever want to do that again. It's not your fault, it’s me. I'm scared of it so it's gross for me to think about. But you can do it. I don't mind- not that it's my place to have any opinion on your personal life but I'm just saying I'm not judging you. And I love that you and Rhyett are together.”
I explained perfectly. I didn't want her to think I judged her and I certainly didn't want to ruin my relationship with the only woman in my life just because of Altas’ dumb choice of words.
I expected Valerie to reassure me and tell me she doesn’t hate me but she didn't say anything. Instead, a dead silence fell over the room and everyone stopped eating.