“You moved in? Into my house? Without asking? Hal, are you out of your mind?”

He rolled his eyes, propping his feet on the couch like he was settling in for a movie.

“Yeah, so what?” he said. “I needed a place, and it’s not like you’d agree. So, we skipped that part. Relax, Alden. Just help your brother out.”

Something snapped inside me—the years of watching him sponge off our parents, his life one excuse after another, always playing the victim.

Now, he’d taken over my home. Seriously?

Just as I was about to speak, my phone rang. Mom. Of course.

I answered, keeping my voice as steady as I could.