Chapter 1
ZOEY
It’s my stepfather’s birthday. I don’t go to my parent’s house often, but I knew Zane would be there tonight, so I agreed to stop by. It kills me to see him here with his girlfriend. But I can’t fault him for bringing her. I brought my boyfriend Todd. I mean, I tried to get him not to come, but he insisted. I just want to be close to Zane.
I sneak away to my old room and lay on the bed. It’s not long before Zane finds me crying. “I’m sorry, Zo.”
“You have nothing to apologize for Zane.”
He lays down on the bed beside me and pulls me into him. “I didn’t plan on bringing her tonight, but somehow your mother invited her.”
I cry in his arms, “Sorry. I know I must be making a fool of myself.”
“You aren’t Zo, I promise. She won’t be around anymore after tonight, Zo.”
“You’re breaking up with her?”
“Yes, she’s not the one Zo.” He kisses my cheek, “I’m tired of wasting my time with people like her.”
Before we can finish our conversation my mother barges in. “What the hell is wrong with the two of you?” She starts waving her hands around. “Get the fuck back to your dates and for the love of God, stop whatever this is between the two of you. It’s sick.”
She laughs after Zane leaves, “Really Zoey? You keep throwing yourself at your brother? You’re fat and ugly. He will never want you. So quit the theatrics and go back to your boyfriend. At least he’s willing to be with you and for God’s sake stop thinking you are better than you are. You need to accept that you and Zane will never be together. You’ll be lucky if Todd sticks around with the way you look. You really need to start taking care of yourself. Go to the fucking gym. Hell, I’ll pay for surgery if you can’t be bothered to do it the hard way.”
She gives my face a little slap, “And fix your make up, you look even uglier than usual.”
I go to the bathroom crying my eyes out. I hate her. I fucking hate her.
ZANE
I was so fucking close to telling Zoey how I feel about her and her fucking mom ruined it. I didn’t lie to Zoey; I dumped Amanda as soon as I pulled up to her apartment to drop her off. Amanda was pissed, but she only wanted to be a trophy wife. She doesn’t care about anything except money. She’s just like my damn stepmother. Money and looks. Nothing else matters to them.
Without Amanda around I can finally put my full attention on winning Zoey over. One way or another Zoey will be mine. I know she wants me. Her damn mother is a real piece of work. We’d already be together living the life my Zo deserves if it wasn’t for her damn doing everything she could to keep us apart.
I know I have a lot of work to do to help Zo heal from the emotional damage her mother has caused. She deserves the world and I’m going to give it to her. No matter what it takes.
ZOEY
It’s been a couple weeks since I last saw my mother. I haven’t even been answering or returning her calls. I hate the way she treats me. No wonder I have no self-esteem. I don’t know why I keep putting up with her. It makes me miss my dad so much more. I mean Adam’s great, but he doesn’t hear what she says to me. It’s not like he’d believe me if I said anything to him.
I fixed dinner for me and Todd of course he’s late, again. Now he’s blaming me for his food being cold. “You knew I was going to be late.”
“No Todd, I didn’t. You didn’t say anything to me.”
He shakes his head and picks up his plate of spaghetti and throws it at my face, laughing as he spreads it in my hair. “Go clean yourself up. Next time, my food better be at the right temp.” I just shake my head and clean up the mess and jump in the shower. He’s never been this much of an ass before.
I climb in bed and he gives my ass a slap. I force myself onto my hands and knees, “Good girl.” He fucks me harder than usual and comes inside me. Lately he’s just been coming all over my back. He doesn’t think I’ve “earned” his cum.
Once he was finished, he laid back down. “Go to sleep. It takes too much work to make you cum, be happy I even fucked your fat, ugly, ass.”
I lay there and cry myself to sleep. Maybe my mom’s right… Maybe this is all I deserve.
ZANE
Zoey’s been ignoring my texts. I hate how her mom messes with her head. Well… she’s not responding to them but at least reading my messages, so I keep sending them. I have to find a way to get her to stop listening to her mom. I’ve thought about asking Joey for a favor, but I’m not sure if asking for that favor would help Zoey or hurt her more. So, I haven’t. But I think about it more every day.
I gave her a few more days, but I can’t wait any longer. I need to see Zoey. I stopped by her favorite bakery and got some of her favorite cookies and headed to her house. Making sure to stop by when that dumbass wasn’t around. “Zane, what are you doing here?”
I grin, “I just wanted to check on you. I brought your favorite cookies.”
She smiles, “Come on in.”
I sit on the couch while she gets me a soda from the fridge. “Seriously Zane, why are you here?”
“You haven’t been responding to my messages, I needed to make sure you were okay.”
“I’m fine.”
“That’s not okay.”
“It is what it is. Like my mom said, I don’t deserve anything better.”
I caress her face, “Your mom’s wrong Zo. You deserve the world, please stop listening to her. You are beautiful and perfect the way you are.”
She looks at her phone, “I hear you Zane, but Todd will be home soon.”
“I’ll go Zo, but this conversation isn’t over. We still need to finish the last conversation.”
She blushes then starts crying. “Zane, please, there’s nothing to say. I know nothing can ever happen. I can’t handle the what if’s right now.”
“Please don’t cry, if you aren’t ready to talk about this that’s fine. Just please don’t shut me out.”
She shakes her head. “I promise, I’ll text you. I’ve missed talking to you.”
I kiss her forehead, “I’m here anytime you need Zo.”
“I know you are Zane.”
I left before Todd got home. I didn’t want to, but I did. I knew her mother messed with her head… I knew it was bad, but I hadn’t realized the extent of how bad it really was. She’s made Zoey feel completely worthless. I’m going to fix that.
