The Ugly Stepsister Read Online Free Page B

didn’t take it from her.
    Tom became serious. “Why the makeup?”
    “Why the stud in your nose?”
    Tom smiled fleetingly. “You going to get out so I can have a shower or were you planning on sticking around to wash my back?”
    Ellie laughed. “My phone has heaps of space still on it for photos. I bet I could make a fortune at school showing them around.” When Tom said nothing, Ellie grinned. “Round four to me?”
    “You go to my school?”
    She had to be more careful of what she said. “If I did, I’d probably have to be insulted by the fact you don’t remember me.”
    “With the amount of students at my school it’d be impossible to know everyone. Although if you did go to my school you mustn’t wear that makeup. No one could miss seeing it.”
    Sam appeared at the bathroom door. “Are you coming back to play?”
    “Do you play?” Ellie looked at Tom.
    He shrugged. “Sometimes.”
    “Do you die every minute?”
    “No.”
    “Then come and play. My dude needs another shield to hide behind.”
    “I can’t do anything until I’ve had a shower. How long were you expecting me to stand here dripping?”
    Ellie reached out and ran her fingers across his chest and then held them palm up. “You’re nearly dry so stop whining.”
    Tom grabbed her wrist, taking a step forward. His lips parted to speak. He glanced at his brother then changed his mind. Letting go, he gave Ellie a gentle push in the direction of the bathroom door. “Out.”
    Ellie grinned when she heard the door lock behind her. Even Sam’s constant stare didn’t bother her for nearly an entire minute. “Ready to watch my poor dude die another million times?”
    Sam nodded and headed back to the lounge suite. “Do you want me to put the game on an easier setting?”
    Ellie shrugged. “I don’t think it’d make that big a difference. I’m hopeless at these games. But I don’t mind. At least I die spectacularly.” She hesitated near the lounge chair. “Can I bring the beanbag out to sit on?”
    Sam stumbled to his feet. “I’ll get it for you.” He rushed away before Ellie could speak. He was back in seconds, dropping the beanbag at her feet.
    “Thanks.” Ellie moved it to where she wanted it, moulded the beanbag into shape and then dropped into it. She wriggled until she was comfortable. Looking over to tell Sam she was ready to play, she saw he watched her again. Now there was someone who needed to be told to take a picture. She ignored the urge to comment. He was letting her stay. And for that she could forgive him his unnerving tendency to stare. “Okay. I’m ready to die again.”
    Another couple of hours were taken up playing games and then Ellie hit on the idea of watching movies. They were stored in the lounge room upstairs. She looked around as she stepped onto the soft carpet. It was as perfect as it had been earlier in the day. Instead of a ‘keep off the grass’ sign, she felt like there should be one that read ‘keep off the carpet’. She forced herself to follow Sam across the lounge room to the television cabinet he’d opened.
    “I’ll let you pick out some movies while I figure out what’s for dinner.” Sam stepped back, giving her more space.
    “If it tastes even half as good as breakfast I’m sticking around to eat it.”
    Sam nodded, wandering over to the kitchen. Ellie stared after him for a moment. Should she take that as a yes? She gave up trying to figure Sam out. He was odd. You couldn’t figure out someone who was that odd.
    She picked out five movies and closed the cabinet. A picture on the wall caught her attention. It was Tom and Sam with two older men. She looked at the next picture. The two of them were with a woman now. She guessed it was their mother. She wandered down the hallway, looking at the pictures.
    “Where are you going?”
    Ellie spun to face Tom. “Isn’t your father around anymore?”
    “What?” Tom looked puzzled.
    “I haven’t seen any pictures of him. Unless