Chapter nine

It’s been a few days since I came to Vigo Falls and I still can’t quite get over the fact that Dimples, my amazing one-night stand, is Booker.

My step brother.

I mean, how small does the world have to be? The one guy in the bar that night I should absolutely not have slept with, happens to be related to me by marriage.

It’s definitely lottery winning odds.

And I can’t deny I want more. I want more time with him. I want to learn more about him. I want him inside me. I want him to hold me and wake up in his arms.

Want, want, want.

I can’t risk it, though.

I have a real shot at a family here and I don’t want to lose that. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.

Booker says that he wants me and I’m it for him, but it was just one night. He can’t know that. Where does it leave me if it all goes wrong? Traveling around like a loner on my bike again and only seeing Max on holidays.

Great, now I’m feeling all negative. I need to not think about Booker. Just for a little while.

Breakfast it is. One of the first thing I learnt was that the food here is always amazing. It’s your standard breakfast; bacon, eggs, French toast, pancakes, cinnamon rolls, but they are all made to perfection.

The dining room looks nearly empty this morning. There are a few partners and a couple of kids, everyone gives me a smile or a wave as I head to the table laden with food. I fix myself a plate, a cup of coffee, and head to an empty table I'm mentally making myself a to do list for an indie author’s website I’m working on next week, when the seat opposite me is filled by Toni.

We haven’t really spoken yet. She always kind of looks at me like she’s got a secret and I should ask her what it is. I’m annoyed at myself that I really wanna know. Whatever. I think I’m still harboring some misplaced jealousy. Booker explained that he wasn’t flirting with her and I know he’s gay, anyway. She’s a lesbian, and he’s not even mine, so absolutely should not bother me. Except it one hundred percent did.

I am such a dickhead.

“So, Nicky,” she says, stealing a piece of bacon. “How long are you planning on letting Booker follow you around like a little puppy dog before you accept the inevitable and wife that man up? ”

With the snort, I just snorted, I’m really glad I didn’t take a sip of my coffee, because it would be sprayed all over my breakfast.

“Oh, it’s so great to see that my brother’s pain amuses you,” Reed says, not even looking at me as they sit down next to Toni.

Reed really doesn’t like me.

This hasn’t been the first barb he’s thrown my way. More like the twentieth. I just keep telling myself that he is a fifteen and I am an adult.

“So, how long are you going to play with his feelings?”

Just. A. Kid.

“Reed, don’t be a twerp.” Toni tells him, earning her an eye roll. “Is church happening right now?”

“Yeah. Dad and me are going to hangout when it’s done. He said it would be just us, no guests.”

The insult would be subtle if he weren’t looking directly at me.

I pick up my phone so they can’t see that their comment got to me. Obviously he’s feeling some kind of way about my existence, which I can understand, but I hate that he’s trying to hurt me. Unless he’s saying what they are all feeling? Kenny and Stella seem happy to have me here. Maybe they were only being polite about me staying. I’ve been here four days and seen them twice. That has to be a normal amount, right?

My message tone going off pulls me from my musings.

Bron: Can you text Max please? He’s worrying about you, but doesn’t want to get in the way.

Bron: Maybe don’t tell him I interfered? I don’t want to sleep on the floor.

Me: Wouldn’t you just go and sleep in your own apartment?

Bron: We are sleeping in my apartment. We broke his bed and the new one won’t be delivered until next week.

Me: You are adorable.

Me: I’ll call him in five.

I scarf down the last of my breakfast and mumble a quick goodbye to Toni and Reed, before putting my dirty dishes in the dishwasher and heading out. I decide to video call Max in the family room. It’s where the kids hang out and where movie night happens. Sinking into one of the plush couches is heaven. I feel like I’m surrounded by comfort.

Max answers the phone on the first ring.

“Nicky! How are you doing? You look good. Are they being nice to you? What’s happening?” Max looks like he hasn’t long woken up. He and Bron are both on screen and naked from the waist up. At least there are no white crusty substances on their bodies this time.

“I’m good. The clubhouse is great. Most of the people are really nice. It’s all great.”

Max’s eyebrows furrow. “What do you mean, most of the people are nice? Who is being mean to you?”

“Reed isn’t my biggest fan.”

“Is he your half brother or your stepbrother?”

“My half brother.” I realise that I haven’t spoken to Max other than a quick text telling him I was here and safe. “The night before I met my dad, I went to a bar in the town over and hooked up with a guy-”

Max gasps, interrupting me. “Don’t tell me you slept with one of the bikers?”

“Well, it’s a little more…controversial than that.”

Max and Bron just stare back at me expectantly.

“I slept with Booker, my stepbrother.”

They blink at me perfectly in sync. Weirdo’s.

“That’s the reason Reed is being unwelcoming. You’re his brother and you slept with his other brother.”

“Pretty much.” I don’t have the energy to go into my other theories.

“Is it awkward with your stepbrother?” Bron asks, looking like this is the juiciest tea ever. “Can I tell Tyler?”

“Go for it,” I say, rolling my eyes. “It’s not that awkward. It’s more confusing.”

“Why? Is he being mean to you?” Max looks like he’s about to get up and fight someone on my behalf.

“He’s not being mean. He-he wants a repeat.” They gasp again. Seriously, is Lakehaven that tame that my stepbrother wanting to have sex with me is shocking? “He actually wants more than that. He wants to date.”

“Wow,” is all Bron says.

“Do you want to date him?” Max asks gently.

“I don’t know who that would work with our parents being married.”

“That isn’t a no.”

“Can we do stepbrother role play?” says Bron suddenly. Max’s hand flies to his throat as if he is literally clutching pearls.

“Oooooh, am I going to get a live sex show?” I can’t help but tease. There is zero desire from any of us to watch the other have any kind of sexy times, but it is funny as fuck to wind them up. “I wanna see some hockey butts.”

I see a movement at the corner of my eye and turn to see a thunderous looking Booker.

“What the fuck are you doing?”

Even angry, I want to let this man do anything to me.