Stepbrother Bad Boy's Baby Boxed Set(46)

I decided instead to change the subject. "So what are you doing after breakfast today?"

Mom shrugged. "Well, I was originally going to go into the office with John to help him out on his work today, I've really come to enjoy it, but with your Aunt Gina coming, in I knew I couldn't. God knows what she's got on her mind, but she insisted on coming up. Have you spoken to her recently?"

"No, not since the wedding. You know how Gina is, Mom. She's always had a side to her that's very strategic. She likes her surprises."

"I'll say. Although I will admit at times to thinking other words to describe her than strategic."

I nodded and pursed my lips. "I know, I know. Mom, I've said the same things about Gina you have. But she is Dad's youngest sister, and she's never directly tried to pull anything on us. So, despite her Machiavellian demeanor and, let's face it, her morals of Mae West, she's not all that bad. You did have her as the maid of honor after all."

We were going to continue the conversation when Julian came in, still rubbing his hand through his hair. He was so cute when he just woke up, I wanted to cuddle with him right then and there. While he normally shaved daily, that morning he looked scruffy and scrumptious. "Good morning ladies. Sorry I slept so long."

"That's okay, it gave us a chance to talk like two girls," Mom replied. She gave me a look that I returned, then finished her last bite of breakfast, and stood up. "Julian, I hate to say it, but I think the rest of breakfast is cold by now. Do you want the staff to heat something up for you?"

"That's okay Sandra, I'll probably just go raid the fridge. Let me go see what Chef has in the leftover pile and nuke that for two minutes. I don't want to put him out any more than he is, thanks though. So what's on the agenda for today?"

"Not much. You two go enjoy yourselves, and when John comes home we can all get together and figure out what to do later. In the mean time, I'm off. I'll see you soon." Mom got up and left, and Julian watched her go before turning to me.

"She's still not cool with us, is she?"

"I don't think so," I replied. "But she's trying, Julian. Give her time."

"I understand. If I were her, I'd be a little worried with my daughter dating a guy like me too." He walked towards the kitchen, and stopped about halfway there, turning towards me. "Whoa."

"What?"

"I just said dating in connection with us. It's true, isn't it? We're boyfriend and girlfriend now."

I sat there, surprised as well. "I'd never thought of it that way. I was just kind of going with the flow, you know?"

Julian thought about it and nodded. "Me too. Hold on though, I do need some food before I can actually think more."

Julian ended up with leftover hamburger patties with a bit of barbecue sauce, which he heated up and then ate in efficient, large bites, wiping his mouth with a napkin in between. "If we have time later, I'd like to head down to the community center. I want to see if my record is still on the wall," he said as he washed the plate and put it away. I noticed that the washing caused the kitchen staff to whisper in surprise to each other, and they watched Julian like he was a total stranger. In a lot of ways though, he was. "I mean, that and get a workout in."

"I'm sure. But we should probably be back by early afternoon. My Aunt Gina is coming in."

For the first time, I saw something pass over Julian's face that I didn't understand. "Gina?"

"Yeah, you remember her. She was the maid of honor at Mom's wedding, and you had a dance with her at the reception."

Julian nodded like he was in shock. "Um yeah...yeah. I remember Gina."





Chapter 20





Julian





Gina.

Fuck.

Of all the people in the world, why did Krystal's aunt, who I had just happened to have had sex with, come to visit at the exact same time that Krystal and I came out to our parents about our relationship? Talk about karma coming to bite me in the ass.

"Julian? What's wrong?"

I blinked and saw Krystal looking at me, concern mixed with something else on her face. She was confused, and I could see why. But what was I supposed to say? "Uh, nothing. Just something crossed my mind. Okay, so we'll be back by early afternoon. Before that though, I'd like to find Yuki and ask her some stuff. Would you mind letting me cut loose and talk to her? Some of it goes back to before you and I met, and I don't want to drag up too many old problems."

Krystal looked at me, that same expression on her face, and nodded slowly. "Okay," she said, and I knew I had to do some serious thinking and quick. "Maybe we can head down to the community center at about eleven?"

"Okay," I said. I wiped my hands on the kitchen towel and hung it back on its rack. Leaning in, I whispered in Krystal's ear. "Please. I know it's weird, but it'll be okay."

Krystal nodded again, and whispered back. "You sure?"

"Yeah. I love you."

"I love you too."

We headed off our separate directions, and I looked furiously for Yuki. It wasn't that I really needed to apologize for anything, or to rehash old issues from my high school days. Instead, I wanted to find Yuki for the exact purpose my father had her around. Besides being an excellent house manager, she was smart as hell, and had given my father plenty of good advice over the years. If she could advise Dad, maybe she'd have some advice for me as well. My father already had enough to think about with Krystal and I, and I didn't want to bother him.