Seeing Red Read Online Free PDF Page B

right being there with them—just being. They
were her family. It didn’t matter that Alexander was a mess. He was her mess. And Oliver was her rock. She could always count on
him.
    “This reminds me of those nights when we lay on the
beach, staring at the sky, waiting for a shooting star. We’ve
probably seen more shooting stars than anyone else on the planet.”
Jill turned and looked at Oliver, who was looking up, and she
kissed his cheek then turned and looked at Alexander and kissed his
cheek. “I missed you boys so much.” She did a sit up to get out of
bed and left the room.
    ***
    Alexander
    Oliver took the opportunity of being alone with his
brother to talk to him about his concerns.
    “Alexander, I need to talk to you.”
    “What?” Fuck, here we go again.
    “Even though Helen’s gone, my plans haven’t changed.
I’m still leaving for that internship soon. My lease is almost up
on this apartment, and since I will be traveling so much, I’ve
decided not to renew it.”
    “What?”
    “I’ve been telling you for months about my plans,
but you don’t listen. You’re always drunk or stoned. I don’t want
to leave, thinking that you’re going to be homeless or something. I
need to concentrate on my work, Alexander.”
    “Fine.” Shit!
    “Fine?”
    “Yeah, fine. Go.”
    “Alexander, are you listening? You need to look for
a place to live. You need to go back to school or get a job or
something. You can’t live off the trust fund forever, and at the
rate you’re spending it, you’ll be broke within a year. You’re a
mess. I can’t live my life looking out for you anymore. I need to
start living my own life.”
    “I never asked you to take care of me. I didn’t know
that it was a burden having me live here.” He jumped off the bed,
got out of his suit, and put on a pair of jeans and a white
t-shirt. “My life is in order! I don’t need you telling me what I
can or cannot do! You’re my brother, not my mother or father. Plus,
you are boring as hell; even Jillian at ten years old could see
that. One day, you’ll regret you didn’t have more fun when you were
younger. I don’t need you to tell me what to do with my money.
That’s my money to do with as I please. It’s from the plane crash,
and I deserve that money just as much as you and Jill. I’m not
questioning what you do with it, so fuck off.” He was yelling and
frantically grabbing clothes and throwing them in a duffle bag.
    Jillian rushed back in the room when she heard the
commotion. “What’s going on?”
    “Mind your own business, Red.” Alexander yelled as
he continued packing, his serene mood replaced by blinding red
rage.
    ***
    Jillian
    “Where are you going?” She asked, looking at
Alexander, but when he didn’t answer, she turned to Oliver,
“Where’s he going?”
    Oliver shrugged. “I was trying to have a mature
conversation with him. I need him to get his shit together. I’m
starting my internship soon and I can’t babysit him anymore. He
can’t be bringing random women into my home and drinking and doing
all sorts of drugs. I don’t want to lose my twin brother. I want
him to get his life together. But, of course, his reaction is to
run. That’s what he always does, Mr. Avoids-the-problem.”
    “Xander?” She stepped closer to him, but he
continued going through his clothes. “Please don’t go. You asked me
to stay. I’m staying. I haven’t seen you in so long, and the day I
see you, you’re going to leave?” Jillian was pleading. This was the
new and improved, calm, non-cursing Jillian, who she planned on
taking to Georgetown. A week with these boys would definitely test
her non-cursing resolve. She was very close to yelling at Alexander
with a few choice words.
    “Sorry, Jill, I gotta go. I know when I’m not
wanted,” he said, glaring at Oliver. “I’ll call you when I know
where I’m going to stay, and you can come visit me there. As for
you, Brother, don’t bother.” He gave Jillian