Second Chance Stepbrother(10)

Probably because I was too busy focusing on another member of the family and my own growing attraction.

I clench my fists and lean away from Josh. He reaches for my hand, but I twist out of his grasp. Dart away to approach our parents instead because it’s the only way I can think of to be sure he won’t do something crazy, like try to kiss me again right here, right in front of them.

I can’t do this to my dad. He’s spent so long alone, all because of me. He couldn’t date while he had a young daughter to worry about, he always said. Now he’s finally found someone, he’s finally happy, and I want to throw it back in his face by starting the most inappropriate relationship possible?

No way.

I owe him more than that.

“Hey guys,” I call, forcing pep into my voice.

“Pau.” Susan stops laughing, though she keeps the bright smile as she waves. “How did the wood hunt go?”

“Got plenty for a fire tonight,” Josh says, stepping up beside me. He stands close, far too close. I can feel the heat radiating from him. It’s almost a dare, I think. He’s daring me to move away again, show our parents that I’m uncomfortable.

Two can play at that game.

I rest a hand on his shoulder, friendly, and smile at our parents. “We were just talking about what we should make for our first family dinner.” I lay into the word family a little hard. Just enough emphasis that Josh knows what I mean. We’re family now. Lay off. “What do you guys think, hot dogs?”

“You read my mind,” Dad replies, and squeezes Susan’s hand for emphasis. “Family dinner it is.”

Right then, watching the two of them brush past us, hands clasped, my heart finally snaps in two. Because I know, for certain, that I cannot do anything to damage my dad’s happiness. Not when he’s finally found it at last. Nothing can happen with Josh, ever again.

I break away from him and follow our parents into the cabin for the start of our new life. One big happy family, right?





3





“Remember the time you filled that whole jar with fireflies?” Dad is asking, laughing as Susan prepares another round of s’mores for us.

I accept mine with a grin of thanks and roll my eyes at Dad. “I let them go right after.”

“Yes, but you insisted on catching at least fifty of the buggers first. Took half the night. It was worth it for the look on your face though, when you finally caught them all.”

“That was the night we had the Fourth of July bonfire, wasn’t it?” Josh butts in. “I remember that. When you let the jar go you released all the bugs in my face.” He nudges me with a knee.

We’re side-by-side on one of the few logs around our backyard firepit, marshmallow toasting sticks in hand. I tried to sit on the other side of the fire from him, but he followed me around and plopped down right next to me. It would’ve looked weird to move away again, so we’ve been stuck here ever since, me trying to avoid his more obvious touches.

I bite into my s’more now to avoid responding.

“You were so afraid of them,” Susan interrupts, sparing me. She’s snickering too. “They’re only fireflies, Josh.”

“The way they light up is creepy,” he protests.

I glance past him, out across the fields behind us. A few fireflies are out already, dotting the grass here and there. “You still scared of them?”

I swallow my bite of s’more and cast him a smirk.

“Of course not,” he scoffs. Over his shoulder, Susan winks and nods. Josh, on the other hand, is glaring at me. “You missed a spot,” he says, and I tilt my head in confusion, until he runs a fingertip along my cheek, scooping up some marshmallow goop that escaped my s’more. We lock eyes as he slowly slides his finger into his mouth and licks it clean.

I swallow again, louder this time. Glance past him. But our parents are deep in conversation again, this time about their children’s respective phobias.

“Pau can’t stand werewolves,” Dad is saying, and Susan bursts into laughter.

“What?”

“Seriously, any horror movies that involve them, even big dogs…”

“Dad,” I groan.

Josh wraps an arm around my shoulders and jostles me slightly. “Don’t worry, Pau. I’ll protect you from the big bad wolf.”

I groan and bury my head in my arms. Mostly to avoid giving anything away, because damn, my whole body feels like it’s on fire right now, the way he’s touching me. So easy and self-assured. Almost possessive. Like he already knows he has me right where he wants me.

But he doesn’t.

He can’t.

When I straighten again, Josh lets his arm drop. But he still casts me a sideways grin, a knowing smile, like we’re sharing a secret.

We are, I realize, remembering that kiss earlier, the hard press of his cock against my thigh, the way my belly tightened and my panties still feel a little damp now as I shift in my seat on this uncomfortable log.

We’re sharing a terrible, impossible, sinful-as-hell secret.

Suddenly, Josh stands up. Strides away without looking back. I frown after him, then catch my dad scowling at the fire.

Quick, change the subject.

“So Susan,” I say, then I pause, stutter. Realize I should probably call her something else now. But Mom sounds so wrong, so… fake. We all trade awkward glances. “I mean, er…”