Chapter 3

"I guess that makes me one well-protected little sister," I chuckled, knowing my comment would bring a smile to his face. And it did; he beamed with pride.

Brady assisted me in carrying my belongings upstairs, using the opportunity to give me a tour of our new home.

The house was quite spacious, featuring seven bedrooms—four with en-suite bathrooms—six bathrooms in total, two kitchens, a dining room, a lounge area, an entertainment room (which Brady proudly declared as his favorite), a laundry room, and two studies. One study belonged to Dad and Bella, while the other was designated for Brady and me.

"Why do we need a study?" you might wonder. Well, it turns out my new brother is just as much of an A+ student as I am, but he finds it hard to concentrate in his room. So, he does all his schoolwork in the study, which allows him to enjoy more freedom outside of that space. It's actually a brilliant arrangement.

We arrived at the room set aside for me, and I was pleasantly surprised. I hadn't expected it to already be decorated—and not just any decoration, but one tailored specifically to my tastes.

The walls were painted in varying shades of pink and lavender, with the ceiling adorned with butterfly motifs. Even the bathroom followed the same theme, and the walk-in closet was as large as my old room at Aunt's house.

"Obviously, Dad isn't great with this kind of stuff, so Mom and I took care of decorating it for you. Do you like it?" Brady asked, looking at me with anticipation.

I was surprised to realize that hearing him call my father 'dad' didn't bother me at all.

"I love it, but how did you know about my preferences?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Dad mentioned that you're fond of pink and purple, and that butterflies are your favorite animal—or there was some debate on whether a butterfly counts as an animal since it's technically an insect, but yeah," he explained, speaking rapidly as if trying to get everything out in one breath.

"Brady, slow down. I'm not going anywhere. You don't have to rush everything you want to say," I teased gently.

His cheeks flushed again. "I know. I just can't believe you're finally here. Growing up as an only child can be tough, so having you around is really exciting for me."

Unable to resist, I hugged him. "I understand exactly what you mean, Brady. But don't worry, I'm not going anywhere."

"Promise?" he asked, looking down at me.

"I promise," I confirmed with a nod.

"Great! Since Mom will take some time, let's get you settled in first. Then I can update you on everything you need to know, especially about school," he smiled.

I grinned. "We're attending the same school?"

He shot me a dry look. "Now that I've finally got you here, did you really think I'd let you go to a different school?"

Blushing, I admitted, "Right, I should have known."

"Sure you did," he teased, laughing when I muttered, "Shut up." His laughter eventually subsided, and we began arranging my room.

"Okay, I won't dictate your friendships, but I'll warn you about the cheerleaders. They're the stereotypical mean girls, and you don't seem like you'd hang out with that crowd. Everyone else is generally fine," he explained as I packed my clothes and he hung up my photos.

"What about the troublemakers?" I called from the closet.

"The most popular guy and his group are labeled as the troublemakers, but it's mostly based on rumors. I haven't witnessed much beyond the occasional smoking and drinking," he replied.

"Understood. How are the academics?" I inquired.

"You'll share all your classes with me," he said, practically bouncing with excitement.

Looks like someone's enthusiasm was about to reach a breaking point.

Through Brady, I learned a lot more about the dynamics of this new life. As expected, he's a jock, playing football, and he hangs out with some of the other athletes. He mentioned that he planned to introduce me at a party we were heading to the next day.

By the time Bella called us down for dinner, Brady and I had become well acquainted, but I inadvertently dampened his mood. It wasn't intentional; I just trusted him enough to share details about my past, and it was clear from his reaction that he was upset by what I'd been through.

"Brady honey, are you okay?" Bella asked, noticing her son's demeanor.

"I'll be fine," he mumbled. Both Bella and Dad looked at me questioningly.

"I, uh, told him some unsettling things about my past before coming here," I admitted nervously. Understanding and concern flickered in their eyes.

"You're safe here, pumpkin. Remember that," Dad reassured me, holding my hand.

"I know, Dad," I smiled at him, feeling tears well up.

"I'm here for you anytime you need anything, Lillian. I won't push you into anything, but I'm available day or night, okay?" Bella said sincerely.

"Thank you," I whispered.

The rest of dinner was spent learning more about Bella, as I already knew quite a bit about Brady. I also got insights into Dad's new life. After dinner, Brady and I volunteered to do the dishes while Bella and Dad headed upstairs after saying goodnight.

"Brady, you need to calm down," I sighed as he nearly smashed a plate in frustration.

"It's not fair, Lillian. Why did you have to live like that? If anyone should've gone through that, it should've been me. At least I could've defended myself," he argued heatedly.

"I understand, Brady, but it's all in the past now. The important thing is that I'm here with you, and that's all that matters," I pointed out gently. He stopped and turned to face me, his expression softening.