Chapter 13
Chapter 13
The celebration had gone from uncomfortable to unbearable.
Henry’s grandma couldn’t contain her excitement to see me, hovering over me throughout dinner.
“Iris, honey, you’ll freeze in those Minneapolis winters. Let’s have Henry take you to Saks tomorrow. they have the most amazing winter collection.”
“That’s okay, grandma. I can shop online, or hit the stores once I’m there.”
She beamed at my mom across the table. “I already got their whole dorm setup – matching comforter sets, those adorable string lights everyone’s doing now. And the warmest North Face jackets – you know how brutal there winters can be. Don’t worry about a thing, Karen.”
Mom shifted in her seat, probably thinking that clothes works in Juilliard too. Then she plastered on her best social smile and murmured her thanks.
Gianna’s perfect smile cracked slightly, but Mrs. Carter didn’t notice.
“Once you’re both at UMN, you’ll be all each other has. Henry, promise me you’ll look after your little sis. No more of this fighting nonsense.”
Henry rolled his eyes. “Grandma, please. She’s not exactly helpless.”
The tension at the table could’ve been cut with a knife until Gianna chimed in, her voice dripping with false sweetness.
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Carter. I’ll take good care of Henry in Minnesota.
Besides, Iris will be too busy in New York to worry about him.”
The silence was deafening. Two heads snapped up.
“New York?”
Gianna’s eyes widened in mock surprise. “Oh, Henry, didn’t you know? It was posted on the school’s acceptance wall… but I guess you haven’t been around much.”
Every eye at the table turned to me.
16:08
Offside with My Step Brother: Hockey Star Refuses to Accept My Goodbye
11.2
Chapter 13
Under their collective stare, I managed a small nod.
Mom jumped in, her voice artificially bright. “Iris decided Juilliard would be a better fit. Their music program is actually ranked –”
“Bullshit,” Henry cut her off, his fingers closing around my wrist. “I watched you accept UMN. I was literally there.”
His grip tightened, sparking my anger.
“Yeah, well, plans change. Not that it’s any of your business.”
He stared at me like I’d grown a second head, then let out a harsh laugh.
“This is a joke, right? You always can’t live without me. You’ll be willing study in New York?”
I pulled up my Juilliard acceptance letter and thrust my phone at him.
He studied it like a detective with evidence, zooming in and out as if the pixels might rearrange
themselves. Finally, his face hardened into something I’d never seen before.
Before anyone could react, he yanked me out of my chair and toward the exit, ignoring the startled
looks from nearby tables.
16:08
