“What?”
I hesitate.
“I appreciate it. I really do. But I don’t want you to think I’m with you because of your money. Or that I see you as—” I gesture vaguely.
“— a fancy wallet.”
His expression softens immediately.
“Jamie,” he says quietly.
“I loveyou,” I added, voice trembling just a little.
“Not your money. Not your jet. Not even your super sex body or your insanely huge cock,” I laugh at that, then continue, “not the way you spoil me. I love you for who you are. Even when you’re an asshole.”
A corner of his mouth lifts.
“Especially then?”
“Unfortunately,” I admit shyly.
“You’re… kind of the guy I’ve been dreaming about my entire life.”
The words hang between us.
Then I added, softer, “Was that weird?”
He frowns.
“What?”
“Me saying that.”
“Why would it be?”
I look down at the sheets.
“Because we don’t hate each other anymore. But we are still stepbrothers. And when people find out… not everyone will be okay with it.”
I swallow.
“And your soccer career. If you get outed. Or if people blame me. I don’t want to be the reason your life gets ruined.”
He’s quiet for a long moment.
Then he cups my face, forcing me to look at him.
“Listen to me,” Lex says, voice steady and fierce.
“When we get back, I’m telling my teammates. I’m done hiding and pretending to be someone I’m not.”
My breath catches.
“And our parents,” he continues.
“We’ll tell them too. Together.”
“Lex—”
