He doesn’t say anything right away but instead gives me a smile that’s genuine, and begins scooting closer to me. “Not so complicated. You like what you like.”
And that’s only you… apparently…
I’m going to have a sad, lonely life it seems.
Before he can get too close—because I’m worried my restraint won’t be as good as it was last night—I start to stand. “I should get to the store. You need to eat something since you expelled everything last night.”
He looks disappointed, and I wish I could admit that I feel it too.
“I’ll be quick, and we can put on a movie to watch… if you want.”
A moment of hesitation occurs before that displeasure melts away, replaced by genuine joy.
“I’d love that.”
Age 17
“Auwe!Keoni!”
“They’re grown, Mom, I don’t need to stay home and watch them.”
It isn’t that I have a problem hanging out with my stepsiblings. The past year and a half with them has been… great. Alysa is a spitfire who really wakes up the house every day. She’s also smart and enjoys board games on Saturdays with my… our mom.
But she’s also a troublemaker, just like her brother. They’ve both talked about sneaking out tonight to the same party I’m supposed to be going to. If I say I’m staying and she finds out I went, everyone’s in trouble.
“It’s just one missed party.”
“It’s the first of my senior year. Tyler and I are captains, it would be weird if…”
She’s giving me that pleading look. Her round brown eyes framed by her thick eyebrows tug so hard on my heartstrings.
Again, I don’t mind hanging out with them.
Them. Together.
I can’t be alone with Ayden. It doesn’t matter that we are now legally stepbrothers. It hasn’t stopped me from finding him attractive, enjoying his company, and edging closer and closer into his space. I’ve been respectful, both out of fear of what our parents would do if they found out I was… thinking about him in any way other than I should about a family member.
Plus, I’m about to turn eighteen and hejustturned sixteen over the summer.
AndMandy and him are basically a couple, even if he’s adamant he’s not actually seeing her. You don’t just hang around someone like they do and are justfriends.
Am I jealous?
Yes, yes I am.
Do I wish that he wasn’t my stepbrother?
Yes, yes I do.
I’m not blind to the way he reacts when our eyes lock. It only makes things harder. I haven’t confessed that I like him, and he hasn’t said anything to suggest he feels the same. But is it strange to say I can just feel like there’s something meant to be there between us? Something other than family…
God, it sucks so bad. I’ve never wanted anyone so badly in my short life.
“Keoni, honey?”
I shake my head, pushing away thoughts of my stepbrother I shouldn’t be having.
“Sorry, Mom, what was that?”
