In The Arms Of My Ex's Elder Brother.

ra's

pte

ror

answer. I was too busy inspecting my new dress in the mirror. It was perfect. I'd ordered it spec

hell are you? Ope

was with Ruby's tone? Annoyance flared in

and dad married Lydia, Ruby's mother, just for the money, this hous

n, practically hitting the wall. Ruby stood there, her fac

ng? Why the hell did you

ischievous smile suddenly creeping across her lips. S

She actually laughed, a short, sharp sound that stung. "You're so pathetic, Aurora. You're p

close, her breath warm against my ear, which made me feel uncomfortable, and more sad. "What do you see? Y

ht fists. A quiet fury lingered just out of sight, but it felt...useless. I was trapped,

w? How would you know how to satisfy a man like Richard?" This time, her words cut deeper than any insult she'd thrown before. I'd always suspected Ruby had a thing for Richard. Th

ught about me and Richard. "I love him, and he loves me too." I snapped back, final

rage. Then she turned and stormed out, leav

shed over me. Why hadn't Richard called yet?

hts when I heard voice

ou off to?" It was

Don't wait up. I h

my head. I told myself it didn't matter. Rub

nt. Tonight was the night. I was going on a date with Richard, a date I had secretly vo

**

Richard. I'd been looking forward to this for weeks! I gave myself anot

earlier... just in case. I hurried to my drawer, grabbed the pa

dodge Ruby's Tantrum Zone, my step

're off to?" she hissed, her

was too important. "I'm going out with Richard

under her breath – too quiet for me to make out – and walke

outside. My cab! Relief wa

greeted the driver chee

texts. No calls from Richard. A knot of worry tightened in my stomach. I dialed hi

. I leaned forward, grabbi

me to this address?" I showed him Richard's address on my phon

d, clearly annoyed. "Ma'am, th

ust... please, just take me ther

out on our date again without telling me? He's pulled that stunt before, but he always said it was

r ran down my spine. -Richard- I checked the time on my phone. There, it was the time that was meant for

hard." Just the thought of her words made my stomach clench. My face probably looked like

you... please take another route? Any route that avo

I started dialing Richard's number again. Straight to voicemail. Again. Frustrated, I sent him ano

**

. This... this was the house I had always pictured myself in. I imagined evenings spent here with Richa

of the car, shoving a few

hange..." he c

way to the gate. I struggled with the

as weird. Richard always locked up. I

the wall, searching for the light switch. "Richard?

llway that led to his bedroom, each step hea

. A moan. A slow, deep moan. It was Richard