13. Mine

Mine

PARKER

Her posture deflates and for the first time in two days, I question whether this was a good idea. I convinced my parents to adopt her. To take her into their home the moment I learned she’d just lost the only family she had. It came as quite a shock to learn that she wasn’t blood related but adopted by the school nurse only three months ago. The way they were bantering with each other I was sure they were actually related and had known each other for years.

I put my plan into motion without even considering telling the twins. It’s not in my nature to back down from a challenge and this girl… She’s the first real challenge I’ve had in years. I will make her mine. Even if I have to play dirty to do it. She’ll be cared for, have everything she could possibly want or need and when she least expects it, I’ll sweep her off her feet and make her mine.

The twins will find something new to fight over in no time.

Gabriella Pierson is mine!

As my parents sit down to fill out the paperwork, I inch closer to Gabriella. She watches me warily but doesn’t move. I’m not sure what to say to her; ‘sorry for your loss’ sounds too simple. Apologizing for something that wasn’t my fault is not in my nature anyway. I open and close my mouth a few times, but each thought flittering through my head would only make me sound like more of an ass. Sighing, I step closer and simply rest my hand on her shoulder. Hoping that simple gesture will say everything I’m thinking.

She shrugs me off and goes back to watching my parents and the judge without a word. Defeated, I go back to my spot beside my parents and listen to their conditions on taking Gabriella in.