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)
“Food’s ready,” Eric says with a grunt.
After a hectic few minutes where everyone loads up on food, we eventually settle at the dining room table. The girls happily eat at the coffee table while watching The Grinch on TV. Mike devours half his plate of biscuits and gravy before Mom speaks up.
“This year we’re hosting a neighborhood Christmas party,” Mom says, shooting Eric a nervous look. “I got in over my head.”
“Why?” I ask with a snort. “The party, I mean. Since when do you play hostess to the whole neighborhood?”
“She’s gunning for HOA president,” Mike says with a teasing grin. “We all know the party isn’t necessary. She’s going to win.”
Mom rolls her eyes at him. “It’s important to me. I just didn’t expect so many people to RSVP.”
“You promised them amazing homemade treats,” Mike reminds her. “Totally shot down my catering idea.”
To be fair, a caterer could never cook as well as my mother.
“I need your help, Eric,” Mom finally blurts out. “We work well together in the kitchen. I know we could make this the best party ever. Please say you’ll do it.”
Eric relaxes and his lips curl into a grin. “Of course, Ma.”
My stomach twists uneasily. He almost always calls her Yolanda, but every now and again he’ll teasingly call her Ma. Normally, it’s endearing. After all the sex we’ve had, it shines a bright light on the wrongness of what we’ve been doing lately.
As they discuss the event, I finish up my plate and then excuse myself to the bathroom. Rather than go there, I dip into my bedroom and close the door behind me. Once I have my phone in hand, I crawl into bed and dial my best friend.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Casey.”
Her baby whimpers and then she whispers until it’s quiet again. Then she says, “How have you been? Haven’t heard much out of you lately.”
My heart sinks. Is it that obvious? “Can I confess something to you and not get judged for it?”
“Always. What’s going on?”
I chew on my fingernail for a moment, working up the nerve to answer her. Finally, I blurt it out in one quick, whispered breath. “I’ve been sleeping with my stepbrother.”
She gasps. “Oh my God.”
“I know,” I say with a whine. “It just happened and now we can’t stop.”
“Hold on a sec.” She shuffles and then says to Brayden, “I need to talk to Clara. Here.”
Once she passes their baby to him, she goes somewhere quieter and demands I tell her everything. Since I’ve been needing to get this off my chest, I unload every sordid detail onto my best friend. To her credit, she listens quietly, only offering the occasional “ooh” or “ahh.”
“So the dumpster rumor is true?” she asks, chuckling. “Brayden and Reid had a lengthy discussion about how it couldn’t be possible. You’ll be happy to know they defended your honor.”
“Ugh,” I grumble. “That makes it worse. I’m awful.”
“No, Clare-Bear, you’re not. Love isn’t awful. Not ever. You’re happy. I can hear it in your voice.”
“But he’s my stepbrother. Mom and Mike are here with our sisters. It’s super awkward. If they find out…”
We both grow quiet because as much as we’d like to pretend it won’t be an issue, it absolutely will be.
“Why of all people do I have to love the one person I’m not supposed to?” I ask, eyes flooding with tears. “And we’re being so reckless about it too. The dumpster thing was because he was trying to throw away my birth control.”
Casey chokes on her own spit and starts coughing. Once she’s settled, she says, “You’re playing a dangerous game.”
“I know,” I murmur, bitterness in my voice. “It’s not fair. He’s the perfect man for me. So loving and caring. I feel safe and treasured. No other man has treated me this way. I can’t go back to dating douchebags. Not after this.”
“Hey now,” Casey croons. “Who said anything about going back to those losers?”
“I can’t be with him, though. Not without serious fallout.”
Casey laughs softly. “You’ve been sleeping with him, in public, and without protection. I think you’re subconsciously asking for it to blow up so you don’t have to hide anymore.”
A part of me knows that’s true.
The other part really dreads seeing the look of horror on our parents’ faces.
“What do I do?” I ask, voice trembling. “I don’t want to lose him. I can’t.”
“You won’t,” she assures me, though I don’t believe her. “When you find true love, nothing will stop you from keeping it.”
Not even the destruction of your own family?
It think, for once, my best friend is wrong.
This is a disaster.
Eric
Things are fucked up.
Having our parents show up the other day was a wake-up call neither of us wanted. I can feel both of us trying to put distance between the other. It sucks ass.
Despite the strangeness during the days, we seem to end up naked and making love in the middle of every night. I come inside her and make whispered promises I have no business making. We love each other in those dark moments like it’s the realest, most normal thing on the planet.