Broken kingdom

But that’s not what makes it hard to breathe. 

While C.J. mostly takes after Crystal…that big cheeky grin of hers? That’s all my dad. 

Fuck. I miss him. 

Whomp…there it is. The unmistakable pang of guilt. 

I want to confess. So fucking bad. 

But I don’t want to be the one responsible for putting the proverbial nail in the coffin of his marriage with Crystal. 

He loved my mother—so much so I know he never really got over her—but she hurt him too much. 

Hurt us both too much. 

I don’t want to destroy whatever happiness he thinks he’s found with Crystal and tear his family apart. 

I look down at my baby sister and a sharp twinge of protectiveness surges through my gut. 

I want better for her than I had. 

C.J. deserves to have two parents. 

Therefore, it’s best I find a way to get along with Crystal and keep this secret buried for the rest of my life. 

“I’m Oakley,” I tell C.J., not that she’ll understand. 

Giving me another cheeky grin, she starts babbling incessantly, telling me a very intense baby story. 

Then she clasps her hands around my face and I hear it. 

It sounds a lot like Uh-oh instead of Oakley, but I’ll take it. 

“Uh-oh works too, kid.” 

Fuck knows I’m just one giant uh-oh waiting to happen. 

Crystal smiles. “She’s so smart. She’s always trying to say every new word she hears.” 

No surprise there. My dad is one hell of a brainiac. Clearly my apple fell off the tree and landed in a goddamn ditch somewhere, but it’s good to know C.J.’s didn’t and she’ll be able to make something of herself. 

Before I can stop her, she reaches for my necklace and sticks it in her mouth. 

 “Clarissa Jasmine, stop that.” Crystal rushes to remove it from her mouth. “You don’t know where that’s been.” 

I have to stifle a laugh when C.J. ignores her mother and does it again. 

“Don’t worry, it’s my girlfriend’s,” I tell Crystal as I remove it from C.J.’s mouth. “She’s clean.” 

Except when we’re in bed. Then she’s my dirty girl. 

Gri

“I really don’t want you talking about your little w-h-o-r-e-s in front of my child.” 

The tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand up. “My girlfriend isn’t a whore.” 

Unlike her, I don’t spell out the word. 

Beside me, Crystal tenses. “Right.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to remind her she was once on my roster too, but I don’t. 

Out of respect for C.J. not Crystal. 

“She’s not,” I grit through my teeth. “She’s smart and—”

I stop talking because I don’t know why I’m telling Crystal about Bianca in the first place. It’s none of her damn business. 

Hell, I should be thanking her for doing a number on me, because I ended up with something so much better.

A ride or die girl that will always have my back. 

And unlike Crystal, Bianca would never pull some shady shit. 

Crossing her arms, Crystal makes an irritated sound in her throat. “If you say so.” She sighs. “I have to go switch out the laundry. Can you keep an eye on her?” 

“Sure.” 

She starts to walk away but pauses. “You can put her down if you want. She likes playing on the floor.” 

“Okay.” 

The moment Crystal walks away, I plop down on the couch. “Want to play on the floor, C.J.?” 

I take the slimy raspberries she’s blowing as a yes.

I set her down and she immediately lunges for a blue stuffed bear on the carpet. It’s almost as big as she is. 

“I guess he’s your favorite?” 

Brows furrowed, she clutches him protectively, as if to say he’s hers and I’m not allowed to touch him. 

Once again, I find myself laughing at her antics. “Don’t worry, sis. Mr. Blue Bear is all yours.” 

This seems to please her because she gives me another toothy grin, letting me know I’m back in her good graces. 

I watch as she starts doing this hoppy thing on the carpet, almost like she’s trying to stand on her own. I remember my dad saying she took her first steps a few weeks ago, but I guess she still hasn’t gotten the full hang of it just yet. 

I hold out my arm so she can use it for leverage. 

She licks it instead. Apparently, every new thing she comes in contact with must go in her mouth first. 

I’m still getting slobbered on when my phone buzzes. 

Reaching for it with my free hand, I take it out of my pocket and pull up the new text from Bianca. 

Bianca: How’s everything going? 

I quickly snap a picture of C.J. nibbling on my watch and send it to her. 

Oakley: Being a big brother is pretty sweet. How’s your first day of school?

Bianca: Holy shit. She’s so freaking cute. I knew you were a natural. And ugh, school sucks big hairy monkey balls. Bitches be trippin’. 

My eyebrows raise as I type out my next text. 

Oakley: Bitches be trippin’? Or you be trippin’ bitches?

Because with Bianca…it’s usually the latter. 

Bianca: It will be the second one if Caitlyn doesn’t quit ru

Well, shit. 

I know Bianca doesn’t exactly walk the straight line because she’s fooled around with girls, but it’s some bullshit that people are condemning her for it. 

Oakley: Fuck em’. 

Bianca: Nah. These skanks aren’t my type. I’d much rather fuck you. 

My dick twitches in agreement. 

Oakley: I’m babysitting. Stop making my dick hard. 

Bianca: Whatever. We both know a strong breeze gets you hard. 

I grin as I type out my retort. 

Oakley: Only if the breeze is blowing your skirt up. 

Bianca: Tru dat. Oh, I forgot to tell you earlier, but I have to stay after school for cheerleading practice. I’ll be home right after tho.

Oakley: Enjoy practice. Maybe a strong breeze will greet you when you walk through the door. ;) 

I bring my knuckle to my mouth and bite it when she sends me a pic of what’s underneath her cheerleading skirt. 

Oakley: Tease.

I’m quickly brought out of my haze when C.J. starts wailing. 

Shit. Gauging by the red mark on her forehead she must have bumped her head on the coffee table when she tried to stand. 

Guilt prickles my chest as I pick her up. I should have been paying better attention. “I’m sorry—”

“What happened?” 

Crystal rushes into the living room like a cyclone. 

“I think she bumped her head—” I start to say and that’s all it takes for her to go from zero to sixty.

“What do you mean you think? Weren’t you watching her?” 

“I was, but then I got a text and—”

She snatches a still crying C.J. out of my arms and cradles her to her chest. “I knew this would happen. God, you’re the most irresponsible person I’ve ever met.” 

Given the events that just unfolded, her outrage is warranted. 

I honestly feel like shit about it. 

“I’m sorry.” I check out the red mark on C.J.’s forehead. Luckily it doesn’t look too bad and it’s not bleeding. But still…I know I fucked-up. “Should I get some ice?” 

“No. I don’t want you going anywhere near her ever again.” 

She shoots me a death glare before she storms out of the living room.