Good Stepbrother (Love #2) (5 page)

Chapter Six

It was my birthday. I, Brielle Harper, was sixteen and beautiful. I was on top of the world. I did feel a slight twinge of guilt because Carter had worked on his car for months, and now he had to share it with me. But I didn’t dare show my feelings. Instead I crowed, “I’m going to get to drive my baby brother to school!”

The crowd around me cheered and I grinned widely, surveying the dusky yard for him. He leaned against the side of the house, nursing a soda. Anger turned his full lips down and I decided that since it was my birthday I’d mess with him some more. He was beside his best friend, the fat leprechaun, Kirby. I’d mess with him too.

Tottering over on my sky high heels, I cooed, “Hi, baby brother.”

“I’m not your brother,” he growled and I grinned wider.

“Thanks for the car.”

“It wasn’t my fucking idea.” He rolled his eyes.

“You mean you don’t want to be alone with me in a car?” I teased.

“I don’t want to be around you at all, period. I hate you.”

Ow. Shit, Carter. That one hurt. Do you really hate me?
“You don’t hate me, Carter. You love me. You and I both know it. Hi, Kirbikins!” I waggled my fingers and backed away, a huge grin on my lips. “I’m going for a ride with the girls!” I squealed and all of my friends screamed in excitement. I was the only one with a car. We loaded up and my mother peered in the window.

“Buckle up, Bri. Home by midnight. You need sleep.”

“I know, Mom!” I rolled my eyes and started the car. Loud pop music poured from the speakers as we peeled out of the driveway. I had so much fun. We sang, waved our arms out the window and had a blast. I didn’t even use E that night. I was genuinely happy.

“Carter seemed so mad about the car,” Britney piped up suddenly.

And just like that all the wind knocked out of my balloon of happiness. “Yeah he did.”

“Do you ever think about being nice to him?” she continued. “He’s really cute and…”

I slammed on the brakes and shut off the radio. Pointing my finger in her face, I hissed, “Leave him alone.”

“What! I just said he was cute!” she babbled.

“He’s mine. Do you understand?”

“He’s your stepbrother,” Jennifer sniffed. “That’s gross.”

“It’s not like that. But you two cannot date him. Period. Understood?”

“We get it,” Britney sighed. “Whatever.”

I dropped them off at their houses and drove around Marysville aimlessly for an hour before curfew. Five minutes to midnight, I pulled up into the drive and cut the engine. I needed to talk to Carter. A tiny part of me felt guilty and I didn’t like it. Hurrying out of the car, I opened the front door quietly and tiptoed up the stairs. Knocking gently on his door, I peeked inside before he could answer me. “Can we talk?”

“Could we not?” he snapped.

Stepping into his room anyway, I closed his door and whispered, “It’s my birthday.”

“So what? Do you want a cookie?”

“You’re being mean.” I pouted.

“You took my car.”

I shook my head. “I didn’t take your car. Dad just let me own half of it.”

He glared at me. “Don’t call him Dad.”

“Why not?” Padding across the floor, I sat down on the edge of his bed. “Does it bother you?”

“You know it does.”

“Where’s my present?”

“I didn’t get you one.”

“Oh.”
Damn, that’s harsh.

“Why would I get someone I hate a birthday present?”

I’m so sorry you hate me.
“Do you really hate me, Carter?”

“Sometimes. Most of the time.” He shrugged.

“But not all of the time?” I asked hopefully.

“When you’re not a psycho raging bitch, you’re all right, I guess.”

I decided to abruptly change the subject. “I can’t believe they’re getting married next week,” I sighed softly. “I miss my dad.” I immediately regretted showing emotion as he leaned closer, pity reflected in his eyes.

“You do?”

“We don’t talk much anymore. Not that we really talked before he screwed his secretary.”

“Him leaving your mom really messed you up, didn’t it?” he asked.

I stiffened and moved away from him. “I’m not messed up.”
I am, I really am, and you see it. You see every bit of it and I hate that you see it. I can’t fix it. I don’t know how. I’m scared.
I wanted to say all of that, but I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. Ever.

“Of course not.” He rolled his eyes. He knew me too well.

“You don’t know anything about me,” I whispered fiercely. “Nothing. So don’t pretend you do.”

“Sure,” he nodded.

Switching gears again, I ran my hand through my hair. “When they leave for their honeymoon, I’m planning on us having a real party.”

“Whoa, Dad explicitly said no parties.”

“Come on, Carter, we’re only kids once. Let’s throw a great party. You can’t say no. I’m already telling people.”

“God dammit,” he groaned.

“It will be fun! You could use some fun.” Sliding off the bed, I stretched. “Well I’m off to bed. If you’re good, I’ll give you a ride in the car tomorrow.”

“Go to hell!” he yelled as I closed his door with a giggle. My smile fell as I went to my bedroom and closed the door. I should’ve been happy. I was sixteen, I had a car, and I was the most popular girl in my class. I had it all, but I was miserable. My father hated me. Carter hated me. My mother had no clue how to reach me or love me. She was getting remarried and trying to be happy. I was alone, floating in a sea of debris, being pulled one way then another. I needed someone to love me. If even for a little while.

***

My mother was marrying Charlie. Their wedding would happen in the backyard among our friends and barbeque. It was so tacky and white bread-like. I really wasn’t enthused. However, I was pleased that I was able to pick out a new dress. The cornflower blue strapless number looked pretty on me. I looked like a sweet teenage girl. Shame I really wasn’t.

Carter left his room and slammed the door. I wanted to talk with him about us walking down the aisle. I didn’t want things to be weird for us. “Carter, wait!” I called, and he didn’t turn as he hustled down the stairs. “Carter!” I called again, running after him.

“What!” he snapped, turning on the bottom step.

I couldn’t stop my downward sprint and I bumped into him and we fell to the floor. His arms instinctively came around me and his face was buried in my chest.

“Ow,” he mumbled, “My head hurts.”

“Let me up, Carter,” I hissed, struggling slightly.
When did he get so damn strong, and why do I like being in his arms so much?

“Hmm?” he murmured.

Finally, I pulled away from him and frowned as I straightened my bodice. “You did that on purpose!”

“No, I didn’t expect you to be racing down the stairs after me.” He sat up slowly, rubbing his head. “Shit, it hurts.”

He’d gone pale and tiny beads of sweat popped up on his brow. “Are you okay?” I knelt beside him and touched his cheek. “You fell pretty hard.”

“But I made sure you were okay,” he garbled.

My heart thumped painfully.
Dammit, Carter…
“You always have.” I stood and offered my hand. “Come on, baby brother, let’s get some peas on your head.”

He took my hand and I hauled him to standing before pushing him into the kitchen. He slumped into a kitchen chair and winced as I slapped a cold bag of peas on the back of his head. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered, and I pursed my lips.

“Get it together, Carter.”

“No, I mean it.”

“And I mean you need to get it together. You can’t do this.”

“Sure I can. You’re beautiful, Brielle, I don’t care what anyone else says,” he slurred.

“Christ, maybe you should go to the hospital…” I probed the back of his head and he groaned and buried his head into my boobs again.

Backing up slightly, I shook his shoulder. “Don’t go to sleep, do you hear me?”

His eyes opened a fraction of an inch and a ghost of a smile touched his lips. “Sleep sounds good,” he whispered, snaking his arms around my waist and pulling me closer. “C’mere and lay with me. You’re so beautiful, Brielle…”

“Carter, you have to wake up. You can’t go to sleep! Mooooom!” I yelled, panic kicking in. I knew you couldn’t go to sleep after hitting your head.

Mom came running in and her eyebrows shot up to her hairline. “What the hell is going on here?”

“He fell down the stairs and I brought him to the kitchen to put some ice on his head, and he’s trying to sleep. I think he really is hurt.”

“Shit,” she groaned, running to the back door. “Charlie!” she shrieked. “Carter’s hurt.”

Charlie darted inside and his eyes widened as he saw Carter’s face buried in my boobs. “Um, well, alright then. What happened?”

I reiterated the story. “He fell down the stairs, I brought him in here to put ice on his head and he fell asleep.”

“Let’s get him to the ER.” Charlie stepped closer and managed to get Carter’s arms from around my waist. I moved out of the way while he cradled him in his arms and hurried out to his truck. “Keep an eye on my meat, Lisa, I’ll call you!”

Mom sighed and closed the door behind him. “Want to help your old mom get ready for her wedding day?” she asked hopefully.

Nodding, I smiled. “I’d like that.”

She seemed surprised as she led the way upstairs.
Have I really been that much of a bitch?

***

“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.” I wanted to cry as they kissed. I’d never have something like that. Mom and Charlie really loved each other. They were happy. I should’ve been thrilled for them. But all I could think about was how the boy I loved desperately was my stepbrother, and it was wrong to want him in the way I did.

He disappeared from the white lawn chair he’d been inhabiting and I saw his light go on in his room. The damn idiot had a concussion. I felt bad because I’d been the one to fall on him, but he never said anything to me or blamed me.

I tried to enjoy the party, the food was nice and it was great to see everyone, but I just wanted to be alone. Stepping away from the party, I pulled my phone from my pocket. “Peter?” I sighed. “Feel like getting together tonight?”

“Sure, baby,” he murmured in my ear. “Where am I meeting you?”

“Wicker Lane. I can’t stay out long but I need some kegs and some pills. Can you help me?”

“Always, beautiful. See you in half an hour.”

Staying in the shadows of the bushes, I slipped around the party and inside the house, where I grabbed my car keys. Kicking off my fancy sandals, I pulled on sneakers and darted out the front door to my car. Starting the engine, I backed out of the drive and took off before anyone could catch me.

Rolling the windows down on the car, I let the muggy air pour in around me. Within minutes, I was pulling up to our little secluded spot on Wicker Lane. Cops often used the small cubby to hide in for speeding tickets, but tonight only Peter’s car was there. I could make him out by the glowing ember of his cigarette while he inhaled.

“Hey, babe,” he called as I killed the engine.

“Hey,” I sighed. “So did you get what I wanted?”

“Two kegs and quite a few of your favorite little pills. Now what have you got for me?”

“Anything you want…”

“Great. I’ve got a couple of guys I’d like you to meet. Jamie? Kellan? Meet Brielle. She’s great.”

Two hulking guys came to my side and I gulped. “Hi, guys.”

“Let’s go have some fun.” Peter chuckled and my stomach filled with dread.

“Sure.”

I was in too deep and I didn’t know how to get out. Kind of like quicksand. It all seemed completely harmless at first, but it wasn’t. The more I struggled, the deeper I fell. Eventually, it consumed me and I was swept away in the tide. I drowned.

I won’t go into details about that night, but the next morning I took a scalding shower before waking up Carter. Mom and Charlie were long gone when I got home at four in the morning. It was just the two of us.

Slicking my hair back into a ponytail, I tiptoed into his room. God, he looked so cute sprawled out on the twin-sized bed. He was almost too tall for it and one of his legs hung out from under his blue sheet. I tickled the bottom of his foot with my fingernails. He kicked at me and I giggled. “Wakey wakey!”

He rolled over and groaned, “What?”

My eyes widened at his junk. “Whoa, you have serious morning wood,” I snickered, pointing at his protruding pajama bottoms.

“Why are you in here?” he grumbled, grabbing a pillow and shoving it over his dick.

“We need to get ready for the party,” I sighed.

“I am not going to your party. I’ll stay here in my room, thanks.”