His voice was louder than it should have been. He was nearly yelling. So what if he took my virginity? It’s just the V-card. Who cares? “Rafael, why are you being weird about this?”
“Because, your fucking stepbrother shouldn’t have taken your virginity,” he whispered. “Ishouldn’t have taken your virginity. It should have been someone who cares about you—”
He stopped abruptly. Rafael shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Yeah? How’d you mean it?” I could hear the tremble in my voice, and I hated it. I felt so exposed. So vulnerable.
“Cody…” He took a deep breath and continued, “I meant it should have been with someone you can actually be with. We can’t be together, Cody.”
My heart sank to the pit of my stomach. I schooled my features, keeping perfectly still so that the burning in my eyes didn’t turn into tears.
“Why?” I asked.
He glanced at the driver, then whispered, “Because you are my stepbrother. That’s fucking weird, dude. Don’t you think this is weird?”
This? You mean this thingTHAT YOU FUCKING STARTED?
“You think being with me is weird?” I asked.
“Fuck!No, I didn’t say that!”
“I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what you just said.”
Despite my fractured heart, I didn’t get emotional. I controlled everything inside of me and assumed an air of neutrality. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of an emotional outburst. He already took my virginity. He wouldn’t take my dignity.
“Cody, listen to what you’re saying. I cannot be with you. Being with you implies that we are dating or something—you’re Jill’s son. I am Hank’s son. We cannot be together. Period.”
My gaze found the window. I didn’t want to look at him anymore. “You didn’t seem to have any qualms messing around with me before. You’ve pursued me the whole time.”
“I didn’t pursue you, I was fucking with you.” He gasped when he said it.
Done. Completely done.
“Got it.”
“Cody, no. Don’t do this. Sure, yeah, I was fucking with you before, but last night—”
“Shut up, Rafael.” The car slowed to a stop in front of Rowan’s house. I turned to face Rafael, and it felt like the moment in the action flick when the protagonist says one last thing before they toss a match and the building in the background explodes. My eyes met his and I said, “We’re at Rowan’s and we wouldn’t want the guys to know you boned your stepbrother last night. So don’t beweirdin front of them, okay? Be cool.”
That’s when I got out of the car.
Chapter 23
Rafael
Cody stopped talking to me altogether. I had no idea he was a virgin. I grew up with rich, little assholes who’d already gone through rehab by the time they were fifteen. Being a virgin at eighteen was unheard of at my school.
I needed the distance, though, because the joy I felt waking up with Cody in my arms was undeniable.
It fucking terrified me.
That being said, the falling out couldn’t have been more poorly timed. Our parents were out of town, and I wanted to break down his bedroom door and pound him doggie style while his hands gripped the headboard and he screamed my name.
We also had a scrimmage, and I was hoping he’d talk to me before it started. It was a nothing game—just some friendly competition in preparation for pre-season. Still, I was really hoping there wouldn’t be any tension on the ice.
***
Yeah, there was fucking tension, alright. From the minute we started, it felt like Cody was playing against me and me alone.
