Page 85 of The Spare

Pain explodes behind my eyes, the force of the blow snapping my head back. My legs give out beneath me, and everything goes pitch black.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Sam

Twenty Years Earlier

I slam the front door shut, dropping my heavy gym bag onto the floor with a loud thud.

Today has been an absolute cluster. We lost our high school soccer game to our arch-rivals. Then, to make matters worse, I let studying slip through the cracks as all the weekday games stacked up. My B on the history test dragged down my overall GPA. I’m not exactly looking to get into Harvard or anything, but it’s just one more thorn in an already prickly day.

Heading downstairs, I hear my mother’s bitter, slurred voice before I even reach the bottom landing. She’s pacing around the kitchen, a glass of dark liquor sloshing in her hand. As usual, she’s spouting venom under her breath.

I keep my distance, hugging the wall so I don’t get caught in her line of fire.

My dad walks out into the foyer, carrying his suitcase. Guess he’s heading out on another ‘business trip.’

“Ah, let me guess. You’re meeting up with another one of your trashy little whores,” my mother screeches, her voice dripping with disdain.

I shake my head and slip quietly into the kitchen while she’s busy berating him. I pour myself a cold glass of water, planning to grab some air on the back porch before changing into fresh clothes and heading over to see Alexis. Stepping out into the cool evening breeze, I take a sip of water and look out across the lawn toward the tree line.

Wait. What is happening right now?

I freeze, my knuckles turning white around my glass. Two figures are standing in the shadows under the big oak tree. My heart drops into my stomach. It’s my brother, Sebastian.

And he’s holding Alexis in his arms.

Blood surges to my ears, boiling hot with blinding rage. Alexis pulls back slightly, looking up into Sebastian’s face with a look of pure infatuation. Sebastian gently reaches out, tucking a loose lock of hair behind her ear with a soft, affectionate smile.

“It’s about time you figured it out,” a familiar, spiteful voice causes my spine to go rigid. I turn to see my mother standing on the porch behind me, her eyes fixed on the couple under the oak tree.

“You were just a stepping stone, Sam,” she sneers, her words sinking in like poison. “Her plan B. The spare. Sebastian is the one she really wants. The man who’s going to be rich, successful, and give her the life she deserves. Not some jock hell-bent on playing in the dirt for a living.”

Hot tears of anger sting the backs of my eyes. Isn’t it enough? I’ve had to listen to this my entire life. That I’d never be good enough. That I’m a disappointment. Now I have to have a front-row seat to this?

I frantically scan the deepest recesses of my mind, searching for any sign that Alexis could’ve been using me all this time to get close to my brother. Had there been any indication she couldn’t be happy with me one day?

I turn on my heel, ignoring my mother’s mocking laugh, and march back inside, my hands trembling with rage.

Later that night, the front door opens, and Sebastian finally returns home.

Our mother is sitting in the living room, looking up from her drink. “Where have you been?” she demands.

“Out,” he replies dryly, turning toward the stairs.

“Sowing your wild oats before you head off to college?” she teases, a mocking tilt to her lips.

Sebastian doesn’t dignify her with an answer, but I’m standing in the shadows near the kitchen, hanging on their every word.

“I just hope you’ve moved on to someone far more worthy of you than that gold-digger Shelly,” she adds, taking another sip.

Sebastian ignores her completely and disappears up the stairs to his room. My teeth grind so hard my jaw aches.

A few weeks later, the house is in chaos as Sebastian prepares to leave for college. He’s out on the front porch saying his goodbyes to Rosario and Walter. After hugging Rosario, he turns to me, offering a brotherly smile. He’s got some fucking nerve. “Take care, Sam. Call me if you need anything.”

I bark out a laugh. Standing there with my arms crossed over my chest, I glare at him with a blinding hatred I’ve never experienced before. I refuse to say a word to this asshole.

Sebastian frowns, his eyes narrowing. “What gives?”