“I’m so happy for you.” I smile, and I mean it genuinely.
“Thank you, honey. It means a lot to me to hear this coming from you. I’m so glad to have you home.”
“Thanks, Mom.” She flashes me a warm smile, tears filling her beautiful green eyes. I hate seeing her cry, so I pull her into another hug.
“If you don’t mind, I’m going to go freshen up. Our flight was early, and I want to get out of these clothes.”
“Yeah, of course.” I step back when she leans down to adjust her carry-on over her shoulder, reaching for the handle on her luggage.
“I need to get everything situated, too. I’m in the room down the hall on the left. I hope that’s the right one?”
“Absolutely,” Jasper states. “Make yourself at home. Please ignore my son, too. He’s mouthy and inconsiderate sometimes, but I believe the man I raised him to be is still in there somewhere.”
Jasper reaches his hand out, stopping my mother’s steps. He takes her luggage and she leans in to kiss him on his cheek, smiling as she walks across the living room toward their bedroom.
Picking up my tennis shoes I dropped in the entryway last night, I quickly tie them on my feet, grab my water, and head out the front door.
Originally, I planned to get in a quick run, but with so many thoughts swirling around my head, I decide against it. Sticking my earbuds in, I click the call button on my phone.
“Hey,” Kyla’s heavy sigh greets me, followed by a light, rustling sound.
“Hey, sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you up.”
“It’s all good. I need to get my ass out of bed anyway. What’s up? You sound serious…” She pauses. “Is everything alright?”
“Not at all.” I run my hand over the top of my hair, wrapping the strands of my ponytail around my fist.
“Uh, oh. What happened?”
“You know how I told you my mom got engaged? It turns out they went and got married. You’ll never guess to who.”
“WHO?” Her voice raises like three octaves, causing me to hold the phone away from my face, wincing.
“Jasper Ward. Brix’s dad.”
For a second, I think the line disconnects when she goes completely silent.
“You there?”
“No fuckin’ way!”
“Yeah…” I trail off.
When I reach the end of the street, I make a left turn, heading down the long hill leading through the neighborhood. I take in the sight of the sun rising in the distance, the quiet sounds of nature waking up around me. If my mind wasn’t carried away in the shitstorm I left behind me, I would’ve stopped to admire its beauty.
“Why do I feel like there is more to this story?”
“Well, I woke up to find Brix half-naked, hungover, and passed out on the couch.”
She laughs. “Sounds about right.”
“He had the nerve to bring up last night. We got into a heated argument, and the asshole had the gall to say something about how the hate-sex was going to be the best he’s ever had or some bullshit.”
My mind drifts off remembering the look on his face when he said it. Brix is sexy in a rugged sort of way. He knows it, too, and he uses his good looks and charm to get whatever he wants. He’s the type of guy your parents warn you to stay away from, but the one all the girls wish they could claim.
Brix isn’t the type of guy you want to be mixed up with. He’s a notorious player. He may have a reputation for being excellent in bed, but he’ll wreak havoc on your heart.
Not to mention, he’s now my stepbrother.
