Drawn to You (Lover to Stepbrother)(33)

“Even though I didn’t know they existed,” Colin says under his breath but I heard it and from the look on his dad's face, so did he.

“Marie and I have spent a lot of time together and we both know that life is too short. We need to grab happiness where we can.” I look to Colin and his eyes are on me and a tear falls so I quickly wipe it away. “I have fallen for this woman. This amazing, caring, sweet woman.” Mom blushes. “I asked for her hand in marriage and she accepted.” I look up at him and everything I ate starts to swirl in my stomach. I am going to be sick.

“You what?” Colin asks.

“We are going to get married. Next month.” The place starts to spin.

They are going to get married. Colin is going to be my stepbrother. I wouldn’t be able to be with him.

“You can’t do this.” Colin stands angrily. “I didn’t even know she existed and then you just throw all this on me.”

“You watch your tone, boy.”

“Why should I? You didn’t even have the nerve to tell me that there was a woman in your life. You didn’t let me process any of this. You just throw it on me and expect me to accept it.”

“Colin, this has nothing to do with you.”

Colin huffs. “You are my dad, I am your son. This has everything to do with me. You’re giving me a stepmother and a… a…” He can’t even say the word.

“Honey, I am so sorry that we…” Mom stands.

“This isn’t your fault. You didn’t know,” he says nicely to my mom. “This is the man you want to marry? He treats his son like he doesn’t exist. This is probably the first time I’ve seen him in two months.”

“Don’t be so melodramatic,” Xander says.

“Okay then, you tell me when the last time we saw each other was.” Xander opens his mouth and then closes it again.

“I love Marie and we are marrying each other.” Colin sits back down.

“Honey, you haven’t said anything.” Mom looks to me. I don’t know if I can even form words.

“Don’t you think you are rushing it?” I say softly.

“I love him, sweetie, you know how short life can be. You go to college soon and we want this to happen before you both drift off.” She looks to me and to Colin.

“You know I will support you no matter what.” Tears fall from my eyes. “I just want you to be happy.” She hugs me, thinking my tears are for her.

But they aren’t.

It’s for the boy I’m losing sitting opposite me.





Colin


My world is crashing around me. I finally got the girl of my dreams back just to find out she is going to be my stepsister. It killed me to watch her falling apart and not being able do a thing to stop it.

After the meal, she wouldn’t look at me. She hasn’t been answering my messages or my calls. I need to hold her, to tell her things are going to be okay, but deep down I know it won’t be.

How can it?

I’m sitting on my car in the school parking lot waiting for her to arrive. She can ignore me but she can’t hide from me. I spot Karen’s car pull up and I jog over and when I see her, my heart breaks. She has dark circles under her eyes and it looks like she’s been crying. I drop my backpack and pull her into me and once she’s in my arms, she sobs into me.

“She told me what happened.” Karen comes to our side. “I am so sorry. It’s such a shitty thing.” I keep holding her and she tightens her hold onto me.

“What’s going on?” Aaron comes over.

“Come with me, they need some space.” Karen links her arm with his and they start to walk inside.

I start stroking her hair and soon I feel her body relax into me.

“I hate this,” she says into my chest.

“Me, too.” She pulls her head back and looks up to me.

“I don’t want to lose you.”

I palm her cheeks. “You never will.”

“But we can’t be together.” I look to the ground and then back to her. “We’re going to be family.” Tears flow down her cheeks.

“I’ll always be there for you, though. No matter what.”

“I want to be with you.” I feel tears prickle my eyes.

“I want to be with you, too, but…”

“We can't.” She steps back. “I better head to class.” She starts to walk away.

“Sasha,” I shout to her and she stops, biting her lip. “Can I walk you to class?” She gives me a watery smile and nods. I entwine my fingers with hers and walk her to class. We don’t say another word.

No more words are needed.



*





Sasha


I feel like I have drifted back through time. Before me and Colin ever said our first word to one another. He is back to sitting at his table at lunch. He doesn’t look my way through class and girls are once again surrounding him, thinking he is now available since he is no longer at my side.

Karen drove me home and I told her that I’m not in the mood to practice and to tell the guys. I just want to be on my own. I walk into my house, looking at the flat boxes at the far end of the living room. Mom told me yesterday that we will be moving in with Xander and Colin.