The Sister Code (D.O.R.K #2) (15 page)

He chuckles. “Just do it.”

I comply, and I feel him duck in front of me. I keep my eyes closed at first, but then something sweeps across my face, making my eyes pop wide open. I see Gio for a split second before his lips are on mine for the first time in two and a half months. I moan and lean into him for just a few seconds before popping up out of the water.

I gasp for air and laugh nervously, swiping water away from my eyes. “You scared the hell out of me!”

“I told you I wanted to kiss you,” he says.

I wrap my arms around him again. “Do you even realize you’re speaking in Italian sometimes?”

“Actually, it just kind of happens. Usually it’s when I’m feeling something really deeply and can’t express myself any other way.”

“Aw…”

I tangle my fingers in his wet ebony curls and lean in until our noses touch. He feels just as deeply for me as I do for him. I don’t want to keep my distance anymore. Raven doesn’t deserve my loyalty if she’s going to lie to me and treat me like a second-class citizen all the time. The least I could do for myself is kiss the guy of my dreams.

I go in for the kiss, savoring his wet, warm lips when he presses them back with equal fervor against mine. He tastes my lower lip and I let him in, barely aware he’s moving us ever so slightly toward the shore. His feet touch to the sand underwater, and with his newfound stability, he careens his lips into mine with force he’s never used on me before. I love the passion behind this kiss. Our relationship just developed into something real. His vulnerability and care for me were his way of letting me all the way in.

Chapter 23

October 10, 2015

Catch-Up Time

I haven’t been writing in this diary lately because I got my Gio therapy back. Even with Raven staying here over the course of five days, my nights playing
Battlefield
with Gio got me through. He might as well be my boyfriend with how close we’re getting. Some of the conversations we have over text make me blush. He’s still the amazing guy I fell for over the summer and then some. It’s almost like we were never apart.

Life at school has been kind of a drag except for Chorus. I never imagined how hard my senior year would be. I have five hours of homework most nights and an ass-load on the weekends too. Music and Gio are the only things keeping me sane right now.

Raven has been a whiny bitch the entire time she’s been here, except her whine is more like a screech.

“This bacon is overdone.”

“I asked for poached eggs.”

“I thought I told you I never drink anything with my breakfast other than cranberry juice.”

Poor Dad never gets a moment’s peace. I caught him groaning and rolling his eyes on more than one occasion. I have to admit, it makes me feel good to see that. I’m pretty sure after the week we just had I’m still his favorite daughter. There were moments when I doubted on the family press tour since it seemed like they might be getting along too well, but now I know they were both just on their best behavior. Now Raven’s true, nasty colors are coming out, and Dad can’t stand it. I win.

Two more days and I’ll never have to live in the same house as Raven again. I cannot wait for that freedom.

The one good thing Raven did while she was here was plan the Halloween-slash-birthday party we’re having on Saturday, October 31. It’s going to be a costume party, of course, and I already know who I’m going as. It’s a certain comic book character that my almost-boyfriend would be very impressed by if Raven would let him go.

That’s right, you guessed it—

Wonder Woman.

I’m going to take some special pictures in the costume just for him as a peace offering since I can’t invite him to my birthday party. I might even sneak over to his place after everyone’s gone. Unfortunately, because of Jess’s illness, Raven talked me into having the party over here, but as long as I see her drive away before I climb the wall, I think it should be all right.

I haven’t decided yet if I’m going to make plans with Gio after the party or surprise him. Surprising him could be a lot of fun. I can’t wait to see the way his eyes light up when he sees me actually dressed as Wonder Woman. He’s going to think it’s his birthday instead of mine.

Three weeks. I hope they go by fast. Turning eighteen means I’m finally a legal adult, which means technically Dad couldn’t prevent me from signing a record deal if we’re offered one before I graduate. Of course I’ll still wait just because I want to finish school, but having that little bit of power is somewhat freeing.

Ttyl,

Mads

***

Early Sunday morning, Dad’s low-pitched, thundering rumble and Raven’s banshee wail combine from downstairs to create a comical alarm clock. I rub my eyes and snicker to myself as I rise to a sitting position. I sink back down into my mattress when I realize my bed is way too warm and soft to leave, even if I do smell something yummy cooking downstairs. Poor Dad, stuck with the ungrateful evil twin while his favorite twin selfishly snuggles into bed. I’m being a bad daughter right now and loving every second of it.

My phone buzzes on my nightstand and I jump, thinking it’s Gio. Instead, I’m met with a message that boggles my brain.

Dalton: Hey, did you do something to Logan’s girlfriend? She’s freaking out, and he thinks he might have to leave the band because of you.

I reply as quickly as my fingers can type.

Me: No way! I’ve never even met Claire. Why the hell would he have to leave the band because of me?

Now the mystery of why he didn’t text me back last night is solved. I messaged him early in the evening about playing WoW and he never responded. I figured he was busy with Claire and didn’t bother him after the first message. I had no idea he was busy with Claire because of me.

Dalton: I dunno, it’s some stupid jealousy thing. She thinks since he’s in a band with you and you’re playing games together, that means you’re screwing around behind the scenes.

Me: Hell no we’re not! I’m seeing someone else.

Something burns in my chest. Disappointment, embarrassment…I can’t pinpoint the feeling. I was really hoping Gio would have at least told his best friend about us. I told Ana we were hanging out again as soon as it happened. Does Gio not even trust Dalton with this news?

Dalton: Oh, okay. That’s good. I’ll let him know. Maybe that will get Claire off his back.

Me: Good idea.

I lock the phone and lay it down on the crisp white sheet beside me. My head spins trying to figure out why a girl I’ve never met would be jealous of her boyfriend playing games with me. We’re just friends. Yeah, I had an attraction to him, but I would never try to steal someone else’s boyfriend. I guess maybe she’s seen the headlines about me being a wild girl and believes them. That’s the only explanation.

I roll over and swipe my palms down my face, letting them roll my dry lower lip down and sling it back up with a
smack
. I’ve really got to do something about this false reputation.

Maybe I should have let Gio out me as a virgin after all.

I search for Logan’s contact and tap on the Call icon. When he answers after three rings, his voice is low and full of morning gravel.

“Hey…Mads?”

“Hey, Logan. Listen, Dalton texted me—”

“Aw, great,” he sighs. I hear him groan as he struggles to a sitting position. “I’m really sorry about that. He shouldn’t have bothered you. Claire is just being…well, Claire.”

“No, I’m sorry. I had no idea I was causing you relationship problems. If we need to stop gaming together, I totally understand—”

“
No
!” He clears his throat, seemingly as surprised as I am by the outburst. “I mean, I really like playing with you. I’m not going to let her tell me who I can and can’t be friends with.”

“But she’s your girlfriend. If it bothers her—”

“She can learn to deal. You and I are going to be together a lot whether she likes it or not if this band takes off like we think it will.”

I shrug. He makes a good point.

“Plus gaming with you is a stress reliever I really need right now. I missed it last night.”

“Yeah, me too,” I admit with a touch of guilt. I played
Battlefield
with Gio last night and still missed playing WoW with Logan. It’s nice playing with someone I don’t have to carry.

“Don’t worry about me, all right? I’m a big boy. I promise I won’t let Claire make me leave the band.”

“Well, all right. Keep me posted, okay?”

“Will do. Thanks, Mads. You’re amazing.”

I smile, warmth filling me from the belly up. “Thanks, you are too. Talk to you soon.”

“Okay, see ya.”

“Bye.”

I hang up, still smiling at the phone for some reason.

***

October 11, 2015

Confused

I always used to roll my eyes at girls who had feelings for more than one guy. It seemed fickle and unfaithful to me. I thought, “Pick one and stick with him. Get over yourself.”

Now I realize you can’t always control your feelings, and they don’t always make sense.

I adore Gio. He’s incredible. Not only is he famous, hot, and funny, but he’s really opening up to me now. He has told me all about the problems he has had with his mom and how deep his abandonment issues go. Sometimes I think he might struggle with those feelings even more than I do. We trust each other now, and things are bordering on serious. I’m happy with him. I can’t even believe how well things are going.

So why do I get butterflies in my stomach and stupid grins on my face whenever Logan Caldwell even pays attention to me?

This is so wrong. This whole situation is weird. I’m falling for the guy my sister wants me to have nothing to do with, yet at the same time I have a crush on a guy I’m in a band with who happens to have a girlfriend. All these ingredients combine to make one big mess. Sometimes I think maybe I shouldn’t be going out with anyone at all…

Then Gio sends me a cute winky text and I melt into goo and start this whole cycle all over again.

Seriously, the dude is my kryptonite. He’s going to get me in so much trouble. I’m not even worried about Dad finding out now. If Raven ever reads my unread texts, it’s all over. That’s why I put my phone upside down now and never leave it alone. I live in mortal terror of her snooping on me.

I wish my love life could just be simple and not an effing soap opera. If I found a genie in a bottle, I’d wish for that, a good reputation, and for Jess to be normal and never have given me up.

I don’t know what to do. I guess my only choices right now are to hide things with Gio or be alone, and I don’t like that second option at all. Living next door to Gio and not having him when I know he still wants me would be torture. Hiding things from Raven is hard, but not as hard as that. When it comes to Logan, I just need to squash my feelings. No good can come out of them. I have to pretend they don’t exist.

Right now I’m almost missing the period of my life when guys didn’t even give me a second look. I never thought I would, but at least back then it was a lot less confusing.

Ttyl,

Mads

Chapter 24

October 12, 2015

Save Me

It’s the end of another Monday, and Raven is getting unbearable even for me. I swear to God if she tells me one more time I need to straighten my posture I’m going to permanently alter hers. She thinks since I’ve stood up to her a few times that means she can squash me by bossing me around even more. I’ve started slumping at the table on purpose just to show her I couldn’t care less what she thinks.

On top of that, now I have to try to run not just one, but three miles for P.E. and I hate running. I’ve always been more of a hiker/climber. Running any sort of distance without stopping is hard for me because I don’t have much endurance. I thought you were supposed to run one mile for school, but since this is Wilcox, of course everything has to be three times harder. Now I have to practice like I’m entering a 5K. Luckily, Cass has experience with that, so she’s willing to help me train. I just don’t know when I’m going to get time for this. My schedule is crammed as it is.

I guess it won’t be so bad to spend some extra time with Cass. Sometimes it feels like she’s the only sane person in my life. She’s a celebrity too, but she never engages in any sort of drama or scandal. People love her because she’s so laid back and approachable. I wish I could be just like her. If only I wasn’t so damn clumsy and prone to making stupid mistakes, I would be.

I’m amazed she hasn’t run screaming from our family and all the drama we’ve been a part of. It must be because she loves Dad so much. You can see it in her eyes every time she looks at him. This, the culmination of over twenty years of love, is what she’s been waiting for her whole life. They may have been afraid to commit to each other before, but all of that is history. I’m expecting Dad to have a talk with me about asking her to marry him any day now.

Our little family dynamic is pretty blissful when Raven’s not around. I mostly give Dad and Cass their privacy so they can act like middle-aged lovebirds without making me want to vomit. They do invite me to spend a lot of time with them, though, especially in the music room. Both of them want to see me succeed with this band. I think they feel responsible for my success in a way, and I couldn’t ask for better mentors. I still get stars in my eyes sometimes when they show off their skills for me in private. Being a fan of your own father’s music just makes you love him even more.

Yes, I’m a teenager and I love my dad. I’ll admit that to my diary. If a friend asks, I’ll be like, “Yeah, my old man’s all right.”

Ttyl,

Mads

***

I stagger to a halt, my chest burning and constricting with every labored breath. Not even half a mile in, I’m unable to run even one more yard. Sweat is running down into my eyes and blurring my vision, giving me even more of an excuse to stop. I flick my water bottle open and relish the ice-cold liquid as it slips down my fevered throat. Cass jogs in place patiently beside me as she waits for me to hydrate and catch my breath.

“I’m sorry, Cass,” I rasp.

She smiles and shakes her head, not breaking her rhythm. “You’re doing fine, sweetie. You’re just a rookie yet. You’re going to have to build up to this, but you can do it.”

“Man, between you and Gio…” I stop to gasp for breath and then continue. “I should have twice the lungs I have now by the end of this school year.”

“Gio?” She arches a blonde eyebrow.

My eyes widen when I realize what I just said. No one else knows about my surfing escapades with Gio yet. I just gave myself away.

“He’s teaching me how to surf after our Physics study sessions,” I explain without going into further detail.

“Ah, I see.” Cass is oblivious or she’s pretending to be, either of which I’m fine with. “Anyway, having bigger lungs is actually a really good thing for you. Not only will you be healthier, but you’ll sing even better than you already do.”

I smile. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. That’s a benefit I hadn’t thought of.”

“Set a goal for yourself that means something to you,” Cass suggests. “Don’t make this just about school. Think about your singing and where you’d like to be when this school year’s over. How long can you hold a note right now?”

I grimace. “Not long enough.”

“See? That’s a great thing to strive for. Holding a note for several measures is so important in any kind of music. I’m sure in your Chorus class they’ll be teaching you the same thing.”

“I think Ms. Juarez already mentioned that once or twice,” I say with a nod.

“Well, if that’s the case, there’s no time to waste. You ready to go again?”

I reluctantly nod. Cass picks up a slow jog again and I follow slightly behind her. She slows her pace even further to match me. I feel a little guilty for ruining her daily jog with my inability, but she flashes me smiles along the way to show me she doesn’t mind. She’s a tough trainer, but her sweet nature keeps me from feeling like a failure. I just keep telling myself over and over as my aching feet pound the pavement that I can do this. If I can put up with Raven, if I can deal with the media, if I can hide a relationship with the hottest guy in L.A.—scratch that, anywhere—I can run a damn 5K, even if it does feel like my heart is going to drum right out of my chest.

Cass brings us back to the mansion about forty minutes later when I can barely even move, let alone run. She reassures me of how well I’m doing as we approach the front gate. Just at that moment, Gio drives past us in his Maserati from having dinner out with Steph and Alfonzo and sees Cass and me. I force a smile when he waves at us even though I actually want to melt through the ground. He has now seen the beet red face and hair soaked with sweat that results from me doing any sort of strenuous exercise. I wasn’t planning on him seeing this side of me until we were married and having our first child.

I hurry inside to take a cold shower. For once, I actually enjoy the cold water hitting my skin. Hot water would roast me alive after having my internal temperature spiked a good five degrees. After getting all fresh and fruity-smelling, I dry off quickly and put on a fresh t-shirt and athletic shorts. I have a ton of homework to do in a very short amount of time, so I need to get comfy and get on it right away.

I hear a buzz on my nightstand and go over to check my phone. The heat returns to my cheeks when I see a text from Gio.

Gio: Hey, sexy. Saw you running in on the way home. Looking forward to inching my fingers toward your fit butt and getting them slapped away later.

I giggle and text him back.

Me: Please don’t judge my hot, sweaty face. I didn’t grow up running 5Ks or even miles.

Gio: Your face is hot, all right. I wish it was across from mine as I’m lying in my bed on top of the covers.

I smile and lie down on my bed.

Me: I’m on mine pretending I’m with you right now.

Gio: Yet you’re right next door…

Me: Yeah :/

Gio: This really sucks. Sneaking around, having to hide everything, not being able to be together when we want to…

Gio: Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to do it if it’s the only way I can have you. It just sucks.

Me: Agreed. I miss you :(

Gio: I miss you too, even though I just saw you in Physics today.

Me: That doesn’t count. We can’t make out in the middle of Physics class.

Gio: We can’t even go under the bleachers.

Gio: Are you sure you want to stay on Raven’s good side?

I mash my lips together in thought. Do I? Come to think of it, I’m not really on her good side, anyway. She just has to stick up for me and support me in front of other people because we have a deal. Still, she holds a lot of sway not only at Wilcox, but with the general public. I still need to keep her from destroying me. Plus, there’s the thing with Jess…

Me: Idk. I’m still thinking about everything. It’s hard because things are really complicated right now.

Gio: How so?

Me: I can’t really say. Not yet. It’s a private family thing.

Gio: You can’t even tell your boyfriend?

My stomach jumps. Excitement buzzes in every nerve of my body. I reread his text five times to make sure that word is actually there.

Me: You’re my boyfriend?

Gio: Well, I assumed you weren’t seeing anyone else.

Me: I’m not. We just never talked about this.

Gio: Well, let’s talk about it then. What do you think about having a secret boyfriend?

A smile bursts onto my face in spite of myself. Part of this feels wrong, but the other part has me soaring fifty feet above the ground. Giovanni Abate just referred to himself as my boyfriend.
My boyfriend
. I never knew what cloud nine felt like until now.

Me: Hmm. “Secret boyfriend.” The concept is intriguing.

Gio: Intriguing…and naughty ;)

Me: Lol you’re just naughty in general.

Gio: And you love it.

Me: Yes I do.

Gio: You love me. Just admit it.

Me: Let’s not push it, babe ;)

Gio: Damn. I’ll wear you down one day.

I grin and shake my head, thinking that day might not be too far away.

Me: Lol. Maybe so. Anyway, I’m down as long as you swear you can keep a secret.

Gio: I swear.

Gio: I’m so happy you’re my girl, bella.

I muffle a squeal into my pillow.

Me: Me too :)