Second Chance Stepbrother(4)
Admittedly, I stalked him online for a while afterward. But I was never brave enough to take the leap again—be the one to message him on Facebook and ask what happened. He took the first jump off that bridge. Surely he should’ve been the one to follow up, if there was anything to follow up on.
I guess what hurt the most was that kiss. I thought it meant something. Clearly he didn’t feel the same.
But I can’t let that taint my memories of the cabin. Whatever happened next—even if we stopped talking and the only time I ever hear from him is when he posts a bland “Happy Birthday” on my wall once a year—that summer was still amazing. It remains one of my favorite memories. And maybe this year, who knows? I could find some new cutie in a nearby cabin to wash away the taste of those old memories.
I try not to picture Josh’s perfect abs when he dove into the lake from the shore, or remember the way his eyes would catch mine, seeming to see straight through me, because he always looked at me so intensely…
Damn.
I reach over to switch the shower to cold for the last minute. Then, sufficiently clean and shivering, I head back to my dorm room.
By the time I get there, Becca is up and dressed, tapping away at her computer.
“What was that all about?” she asks as I wrap my hair in the towel and set to work finishing packing my last few possessions.
“My dad is crazy.” I roll my eyes. “Went and married someone.”
“Well, he’s been single for how long?” she points out. “He had to move on eventually.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about. I’m happy he’s moving on. Just… Does it have to be so sudden?”
“He’s from a different generation than us, Paulina. At his age, it’s probably normal to marry if you meet someone you like. I mean, why wait around? He’s not getting any younger.”
“Ugh. Don’t remind me.” I sigh. “You’re right, though. It just…” I shake my head. “She’s got a kid. I have a…” I can’t even say the words. They sound so alien, so strange. “A step-brother,” I force out. “Ugh.”
Becca snorts. “What, don’t want to grow your family tree?”
“Hell no! I’m an only child and loving it, thank you very much.” I flip my hair over my shoulder in a faux-dramatic move. “Besides, I bet he’ll be annoying as hell. I don’t want to deal with some rando guy stinking up the cabin.”
Becca rolls her eyes. “Where’s your optimism, Paulina? Maybe he’ll be cute!” She winks at me from behind her computer screen.
I throw a pillow at her head. “Gross. He’s related to me, Bec.”
“Yeah, but like, not actually. I mean you didn’t even know he existed until today.”
“So what? He’s still my sibling. Siblings are not hot, by definition. That’s just…” I pull a face.
“Incest is best, put your sister to the test,” Becca sing-songs.
I throw my laptop bag over my shoulder. “I hate you,” I announce. “I’m going to the dining hall, want anything?”
“Oh, yes please. Bagel?”
“Bagel with a side of inbreeding, got it.”
“Hey, it worked for Cersei Lannister!” Becca shouts as I slam the dorm door between us.
Jokes aside, I have no plans to make my already-awkward summer even worse by going after my own step-brother. I just hope that we get along well enough that it won’t be awkward as hell to share a cabin—and a set of parents—with a complete stranger.
At least, if nothing else, I can wander off alone and lose myself in memories.
Because that sounds like a fun and totally not-pathetic summer break. I roll my eyes at my own ridiculousness and head off to get some food. If nothing else, I’ll head into this lonely summer well fed.
2
We don’t get to the cabin until nearly midnight. It took way longer than I expected to pack Dad’s van, and then there were all the dramatic goodbyes—hugging Becca and swearing to text her every day. Bidding farewell to our wider circle of friends, setting up group chats so that we can annoy one another with memes all summer long. Planning our next party at the start of fall semester, because oh my god, it’s going to be our senior year, and we are going to live it up!
For the first time in a while, I find myself not looking forward to summer. Not the way I was just a couple days ago, anyway, when I thought it would just be me and Dad. Back then I could daydream about finding some cute guy who lived in a nearby cabin and flirting with him all summer. Now, I have a whole bevy of new problems to worry about.
What’s Dad’s new wife like? Is she a crazy person? She’d have to be kind of nuts to race into a marriage this fast, wouldn’t she?
Is her son crazy too? Is he going to follow me around all summer driving me crazy? What if he’s a total weirdo, like obsessed with bugs or snake-collecting or something gross?
Dad keeps asking me questions about school, but I’m distracted, half-asleep. By the time we get to the cabins, I only want to pass out. Well, first use the bathroom, then pass out.
But when we pull up the drive, Dad clears his throat. “So, about the sleeping arrangements…”
My eyes widen. I didn’t even think about this. There are two cabins, connected—the big one Dad and I shared last time, with a big master room and the couch Dad usually slept on. And the little one with two separate single bedrooms. But of course, Dad needs the master now. He’s married.