My Life as the Ugly Stepsister by Juli Alexander

Author:Juli Alexander [Alexander, Juli]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2012-04-30T16:00:00+00:00

When I got back to Dad’s, Diane said he’d just come by. I walked over to find him in the backyard with Ben. Ben was wearing full soccer get-up. I couldn’t help but grin at the little guy. His back yard had mostly dried up, but the dogs still sported muddy coats.

“Where’ve you been?” Ben demanded in a huff. “We were waiting.”

“Sorry, Ben. I didn’t know.”

Jonathan nodded to the orange cones he’d set up. “I told Ben you wanted to play.”

He was really too funny. “I’d love to,” I told my four-year-old opponent. “Does Jonathan think he’s too grown up and important to play with you?”

Jonathan glared.

“No,” Ben said missing the undertones. “He’s playing too.” His tiny little legs were covered in blue socks and pint-sized shin guards.

“Me and Ben against you,” Jonathan said with a huge smile. “Unless you think we’re too much for you.”

“Bring it on,” I said.

I was prepared to back off of Ben and play aggressively when Jonathan had the ball. What I wasn’t prepared for was Buddy. He stole the ball from me and ran off with it in his mouth.

Mojo and Ben chased after him.

“How can he get his mouth around that thing? It’s bigger than his head.”

“Practice,” Jonathan answered. “Soccer is his favorite game.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t offer him as my tutor.”

A mischievous glint lit his eyes. “What do you think this was all about?”

“Well,” I said trying to sound irate. “I’ve had plenty of practice today anyway. No thanks to you.”

After twenty minutes, Ben gave up chasing the dogs and flopped down in the grass beside us. He looked so disappointed.

“Wanna shoot some hoops?” Jonathan asked his brother.

“Yeah!” Ben looked at me. “Will you come?”

“Sure, but I stink.”

“That’s okay,” Ben said, his little chest puffing out with pride. “I’ll help you.”

The goal was way too high for Ben, but he seemed to enjoy trying to get the ball in.

“I’m surprised you don’t have another goal his size,” I said to Jonathan.

“We did,” he told me as he took another shot and watched Ben run to rebound it. “He refused to use it. He likes this one.”

Ben caught up with the ball and brought it back in front of the goal. He leaned down, pulled the ball back between his knees, and chucked it up to the goal with as much force as he could manage. It wasn’t enough. The ball hit the bottom of the rim and rocketed back at him.

Jonathan reached out with a strong arm and snagged it before it could squash his brother. A warm sensation flooded my chest. He was just too adorable.

Jonathan handed the ball to me, and I took a halfhearted shot. Ben shook his head as I missed yet again. “You aren’t doing it right.”

“Ben,” Jonathan warned, rebounding the ball. “She’s doing as well as you are.”

Ben put his little hands on his hips. “Hello,” he said. “I’m four.”

I cracked up. His exasperated look mirrored his brother’s.

“Watch how Jonathan shoots it,” Ben said.

Jonathan blushed as I turned to watch him.

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