Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36643 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36643 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
“The maple glazed salmon is to die for,” I tell anyone who’ll listen. “Everything here is good, though.”
Eric leans close to me and mutters, “They have an interesting menu.”
I knew he was studying it.
“Interesting bad or interesting good?”
“I guess we’ll see if the food lives up to what they’re promising.”
After we order, Eric finally tells our parents about why he’s here.
“They lost the best thing that ever happened to them,” Mom says, pursing her lips and frowning. “I’m just so glad you’re home.”
“If your sister gets tired of letting you shack up with her, you can come to the house. We have that extra room upstairs,” Mike tells him. “And you can always work for me until you get on your feet.”
Eric is tense at his dad’s words. I rest my palm on his upper thigh, hoping to give him some comfort.
“He’s fine staying with me,” I assure Mike. “I think after all the years of hard work he’s put in, he deserves a little break.”
Mom beams at me with pride. If only she knew how selfish I’m being. I want Eric there because I missed him. But also, there’s something charged between us. It’s forbidden and wrong, but I ache to peel back the layers to see what it is.
And to see if he feels it too.
His thumb on my lip earlier wasn’t a mistake or an accident. There was fire burning in his eyes. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel it too. I’m still feeling it.
Eric’s hand covers mine and he squeezes it. Under the table like this, it feels like our dirty little secret.
What would Mom think if she knew I was dying to kiss my stepbrother?
Disappointed doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface. I think she’d be disgusted and maybe a little pissed off too. And, with good reason.
Crushing on my stepbrother sucks. I need to drive these erratic thoughts from my mind because it absolutely cannot happen. These impulses I’m feeling around him are nothing more than me having missed him so much and simple infatuation. He’s a good looking guy. I’m not immune.
But you can’t look at him like that, Clara.
They’ve gone on to discuss Eric’s financial status and savings, but I’m stuck on my attraction toward him. I’m also keyed in on the fact we’re still holding hands under the table. When we get home later, I think a conversation is in order.
“Hey, Eric, I really want to kiss you, and I know you want to kiss me too, but we can’t do that, right?”
My stomach churns, souring the gingerbread tastings from earlier. A conversation seems like a horrible idea. What if I’m just interpreting things in a different way than he is? That would be humiliating to be told I’m alone in this.
“…and I told him you’re single and ready to mingle,” Mom says, winking at me.
I jolt at her words and frown. “What? Who?”
She huffs as if annoyed I was daydreaming. “Lord, pay attention, sweetie. I’m talking about James.”
“Bug Eyes?” Eric blurts out with a laugh.
James, the son of my parents’ neighbor, Clark, is between me and Eric’s ages. As a kid, he had huge eyes for his small head. At least now he’s more proportionate.
“Don’t call him that,” Mom chides with a chuckle. “James is in real estate. Clark said he’s done really well for himself.”
James was fun to run around with in the neighborhood when we were kids, but I never have been and never will be romantically interested in him. We never had chemistry. Just friends.
“You told James I’m single and ready to mingle?” I ask, shaking my head in astonishment. “Seriously, Mom?”
Mike pats her arm and smirks at me. “Your mom is a regular cupid. She’s set up most of the guys at the office with friends of hers. Teddy and Rina are getting married in the spring.”
Eric threads his fingers with mine. It’s possessive and claiming. I’m definitely imagining things, right?
“He’s not good enough for Clara,” Eric says, sitting up straighter. “James used to eat his eye boogers.”
Layla and Ruthie join the conversation after that gem, both of them screeching in disgust. This earns a yelp from Frosty down below. Though Eric is clearly exaggerating, I don’t correct him. It seems no one but Mom is rooting for me to date James.
“I’m good,” I say to my mother. “I can find my own boyfriend.”
Thankfully, our food arrives an instant later, and that horrible conversation is officially over.
Eric
Bug eyes?
Seriously?
I’d wanted to razz Yolanda more about her choice in men for my stepsister, but I let it slide. Things have been nice with the family. Having been gone for so many years, I didn’t realize how much I missed being around them. There were holes inside of me that were hollow and cold. Now they’re being filled with warmth.