Is it too much to wish he’d left work because my picture worked him up so much he had to come home? Absolutely. Do I still hope that’s why he hasn’t responded? Also, yes.
The thought of him does everything right to my body, even if society would see it as wrong. Why can’t I have my stepbrother—the one who no longer even holds that title? We’ve only been “family” for… like thirteen years.
Alright, that is a long time. That’s half my life.
Son of a bitch…
It’s so wrong. I get that. But honestly? I don’t care. It’s a small town, and I feel like once it got out there, over time, people would just move on.
Rolling over onto my stomach, I grab the pillow and groan loudly into it. Then, chuck it across the room, suffocating myself in the mattress.
Fuck this.
I don’t care.
I’m going to tell him, and damn be the consequences. I’ve never felt this way with anyone.
No one has ever made me feel the way he has, not even close. I’ve never felt safer than when I do with him, and it isn’t even just now. I care what he thinks and sees in me.
I just know there isn’t anyone else out there for me. If I have to live with people judging me, then so be it. I’ll never give myself to anyonebutmyformerstepbrother.
I deserve to be happy, and I know Keo will make me that way. I’m already there, even with how we are now. If he tells me we can’t, then that’s that. I won’t argue. I won’t fight. I’d take this,us, however I can.
Platonically or not.
Releasing a sigh, I roll onto my back and stare up at the dark ceiling.
Great. Now I’m emotional and horny, what a combination.
I grab my phone in the hopes that maybe I missed his call.
Nothing.
So, I fire off a text.
You owe me. I’ll remember this
Night, Keo
29
“Engine 1 on scene, heavy smoke from the second floor of Maples Inn,” Dom shouts through the walkie as the truck screeches to a stop. “Assuming command.”
Corey jumps from the driver’s seat, and I quickly follow Kali and Taylor out.
“Call off-duty responders, now!” Dom barks, rounding the front of the truck. He stops short, muttering, “What the fuck?” before snapping his gaze back to the three of us.
I know the drill, but this is bad. The smoke is thick; not quite black, more of a heavy brown. And the way it’s pushing out of the blown windows tells me it’s hot.
“Kali, work with Corey!”
“Pumping to inch-and-three-quarter line. Pressure at 120 PSI,” she responds.
Dom’s eyes shift to me. “Check the back entry. Call came in that there are people inside.”
I nod and break off, radio in hand, while Dom keeps issuingorders to Taylor and the others.
Rounding the four-story hotel, I find the side door—metal, no windows to break, locked up tight.
