Oh Brother! 🔞

Travis's POV

I look around nervously at the large house.

"Honey? Are you alright?" My mom caresses my arm, getting my attention.

"How rich is your new husband, mom?" I whisper, causing her to scoff and shake her head at me.

"Keep it down." She scolds with a frown, leaving me on the couch to walk away to the kitchen.

"Sweetheart? Are you in here?"

I turn to the voice to see my mom's new husband, walking into the house.

"Oh...Travis. You are finally here. Welcome, son." He smiles warmly walking up to me to pat me on the shoulder.

"Thanks, Mr Lancaster." I return his smile.

"Nonsense. Call me Martin. Or pops." He laughs at my expression. "But where is your mom?"

"In the kitchen." I motion with my head.

"Ah great! I'm starving." He walks away, "Sweetheart..." He calls.

"You are home." I could hear my mom's excited voice.

I smile to myself as I start walking around the large room. I linger on a few family photos and stop at their wedding pictures. I smile, remembering the day I saw my mom smile again since my father's death. I really pray Martin will make her happy. She deserves all the happiness in the world.

"Travis? Come on, dinner's almost ready."

She calls from behind me.

"Be right there mom." I put the picture back on the cabinet gently.

I couldn’t move with my mom right after the wedding. I was writing my exams and there is grandma. I didn’t want to leave her but I know my mom needs me too. I was glad when my aunt stepped in and moved to live close to my grandma so I didn't have any other excuses not to move in with my mom in her and her new family.

"Who are you?"

I jump at the voice. Deep, yet calm.

I turn around quickly to find a tall young man dressed in all black with a leather jacket and holding a helmet in his hands, eyeing me.

"I_I'm..." I stutter under his gaze.

"Jason!" Martin calls getting his attention. "Look who finally decided to show up." He shakes his head.

"Hey, dad." He smirks back at Martin.

"Now that you are here....meet Travis. Your brother." Martin introduces with a grin.

Jason glares at me from head to toe. "You got a bastard kid?" He grins causing me to gasp.

"Watch your mouth, Jason!" Martin barks at him. "That’s Evelyn's son." He shakes his head. "Travis, I apologise on his behalf."

I'm too stunned to speak at this point. "Uhmm...uh...it’s fine. I'm Travis. Nice to meet you."  I offer him a smile.

He frowns a little walking away.

"Pay him no mind." Martin waves it off. "Come sit with me."

I nod following him to the dinning table.

"So...your mom told me you are majoring in mechanical engineering?" He starts.

"That’s right, sir." I reply politely.

"Jason is in architecture." He says with a smile.

"Oh...that's cool." I didn't know what else to respond to that.

"Talking about me?" Came a voice behind me.

"Yes...I told you to park that bike and use your damn car! I can't keep worrying about you whenever you leave the house on that giant thing." Martin scolds causing Jason to chuckle.

"That’s my baby, dad." He smirks, sitting right beside me.

I tense under his indifferent gaze.

"So, you're my new brother, huh?" He looks at me casually. "Welcome to the family." He smiles.

I swallow a little of my spit then look away from his eyes. "Th_thank you."

"Let's eat, boys." My mom announces, placing a plate of food on the table.

"Sweetheart, this looks amazing. I told you to let the cook handle it." Martin says with a smile.

"I just helped a little. Let's eat." She smiles, sitting down. "Travis, you remember I mentioned Jason, right? He was out of town during the wedding."

I nod gently.

"Your son looks alot like you, Evelyn." Jason says looking right at me.

"Does he, now? I always thought he looked like his father." She smiles softly.

I didn’t like how they all kept staring at me.

"So Jason..." Martin cuts in, "I hope you will take good care of him and make him feel at home."

"Sure. Whatever you say, old man." Jason grins.

"Jason M. Lancaster!" Martin frowns at him.

"Chill." Jason lets out a throaty chuckle. "I got you, Trav." He smirks at me.

Trav? I want to correct him but then again, I just want to get trough this awkward dinner.

"Honey, are you asleep?"

"Come on in, mom." I respond pulling myself up to sit down.

"Are you comfortable? Do you need anything?" She asks walking into the room.

"Don’t tell me you are here to tuck me in." I tease.

"Maybe?" She chuckles.

"Mom..." I laugh lightly, "I'm fine. Everything is perfect."

"Are you sure?"

"What about you? Are you happy?" I ask taking her hand in mine.

She smiles tucking my hair behind my ear, "Yes. Even more now that you are here."

"I'm happy for you." I hug her.

She pats me gently on the back pulling away. "And don't worry too much about Jason."

"Mom?"

"I know he can be alot sometimes and seem unwelcoming at first but, he is a sweet young man."

I nod with a smile. "Go back to bed, mom. I'm fine."

"Good night, honey."

"Good night, mom."

I have to get along with that strange guy for the sake of my mom's happiness. I know I can handle him.