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38 || I want to hate you
CALUM
Cathy must have seen those pictures. If the email didn’t solidify her hurt, the picture did. I rub a finger over my brow and redirect my attention to the box on the floor. A different kind of fear wraps around me as I count up to fifteen bubble gums.The pieces of the puzzle fit into place, and a groan tunnels out of my lips. I broke her heart, but she was still hoping until Yani.
These were her good luck charms.
The first time I had to meet Scott, Cathy gave me a gum because she believed it was a good luck charm. Her mum would give her one before she sang. And now, she kept one each time we performed. There had to be more than twenty. We didn’t have up to twenty shows within that period. Or, was it for Sam, Lucas, and I? She was wishing us luck?
My heart clenches. The sound of the water running shuts off and I hurriedly shove the items back to the shelf. My eyes dart to the bathroom, waiting for it to open. It do
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To Tempt My Stepbrother 39 || Stop smiling
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To Tempt My Stepbrother 40 || Since when?
It’s not Calum’s fault. But I’m still upset. I don’t know if I’m allowed to be upset after hearing his side of the story, but it’s what I feel. Like the man said, I have this pent up resentment and anger to expel, and it won’t just disappear into thin air because he told me he lost his memory. That fact is only enough to ease the anger momentarily but it always comes back. I’m hurt and don’t forgive him. I can’t. Not so soon, anyway.I fold the last batch of Amelia’s things into the box on her bed. The action draws tears to my eyes, but I guess it’s a good thing I still know how to cry. Exiting the room, I shut the door with my foot. The sound catches Calum’s attention. It doesn’t matter what I say, he’s still here. He went to his hotel for a change of clothes. And now, he is back. I may have been a bit harsh with my words. Scratch that, I was very harsh.Dad thinks it a goo
To Tempt My Stepbrother 41 || Not fair
A kiss to my cheek, another to my lip, and my eyes fly open. Calum stares down at me, his emotions on display. I manage a smile. My thoughts centre on him, my heart does a flip, and a colony of ants erupts in my belly.“We will need to go to the pharmacist,” I say, ducking his lips before he claims mine. “Oh.” Worry dips into his eyes, and he slides his fingers into my hair. “Are you okay?” I nod. My cheeks heat up. “You came inside me,” I whisper. “I don’t want another Macey.” Not anytime soon.Calum laughs. “Okay.” I try to sneak out of the bed but he hugs me from behind. “We didn’t get a chance to talk yet, superstar.” “Talk about what?” Throwing my head back, I look out the window. Calum’s arm settles on my belly. “What are we talking about?” “Us?” Calum says. He sits straighter, folding his legs under him. He must have changed into a pair of shorts while I slept. I pull the cover with me to hide my nakedness. My back hits the headboard and shivers race down my spine. Calum ad
To Tempt My Stepbrother 42 || A venting machine
CALUMSomeone is tapping me. I blink sleepily until my blurred vision clears. Cathy grins. I like that she’s smiling. Without thinking, I reach for her cheeks but she ducks in time.“Did you just get here?” she asks.“Get here? I never left, Cathy.” Except to clear my head downstairs. My reply brings another smile to her lips. “Are you done?” “Yeah.” Jumping to my feet, I offer her my hand. “Ready to go?” She laces our fingers. “Yeah.” “You did good,” I remind her.“You don’t know that for sure,” she says. But her steps are more relaxed as we begin the descent down the stairs. I catch her stares a few times and bump my hip into hers. “I love you,” I whisper.Cathy hears me but doesn’t reply. What if she wasn’t lying about moving on, that she’s not in love with me anymore, and I’m a means to an end. A venting machine. Sex was an outlet for her in the past. I don’t mind being that outlet but I want everything. The sex. The cuddles. The kisses. The love. The light bulb moments.“Ar
To Tempt My Stepbrother 43 || Just life
Ebun thinks I should sort out my emotions, heal right before getting into any romantic entanglement. She didn’t mention Calum, she doesn’t know him but she knows I have a baby daddy who wants to be involved in my life. It was a suggestion, an opinion, not a fact. That’s one of her favourite lines. I think she says that so she can’t get in trouble with her clients. I like her until she starts with the deep, thought-provoking questions.I place a gown on the bed and step back to picture myself in it. I have another session with her later in the day. Calum volunteered to drive me. He lives here now. Jason stops by more often for Calum to practise with his guitar. That vision of the two men bonding over music is one Amelia would have loved to see. But it’s okay. She’s in her world, she is watching all of us. And it’s not my fault. It’s not her fault she’s not here. It’s just life. A tear rolls down the corner of my eyes and I wipe it off. Ebun thinks crying is good. I think sex is better
To Tempt My Stepbrother 44 || What if I fall forever?
CALUMThe boys are on their way to London. I stare at the phone, trying to process the phone call that just happened. The door to Mace’s room opens. Cathy’s head pokes in. I’m not sure how to tell her. The boys will be staying over at Caleb’s place. I’ll have to move or go there often to practise. They have done their part, I’ll need to step up.“Hey.” She steps in and shuts the door with her feet. Laughing, she waves. “Hey again.”“Hey,” I reply. “Mace?”“Asleep.”We glance outside the window. It’s dark. I rub a hand over my eyes. A short check in trip has turned into a near-permanent stay. I don’t regret it.Cathy covers the distance but keeps a foot of space between us. “Um, are you okay?” “I am. You?”She nods. “Bored.”“Do you w
To Tempt My Stepbrother 45 || Fuck off
CALUMA ringtone jerks me awake. I blink slowly, the weight crushing my body stopping me from rolling over to the other side freely. Peering down at the figure curled against my body, everything rolls into my mind. Cathy is here. I kiss her cheek but she only stirs, tilting her head in the process as if to give more of herself to me for a proper kiss. My hand slides under her boob and I trace a circle around her taut, pink nipple. Her body has changed. If I thought she was sexy two years ago, then I was ignorant. She’s sexier now. More feminine. I detangle myself from Cathy before my dick takes over. Speaking of dicks, the fine man stands at attention, the tip leaking with precum. My eyes drop to Cathy’s pert butt, and blood flows to my cock. She never has to make an effort to seduce me, her existence is a drug. I put on the first item of clothing I find, which thankfully, is my shorts.Cathy’s phone’s screen lights up but before it rings, I hit the volume button. Pete is calling. S
To Tempt My Stepbrother 46 || If you say so
I don’t know what I’m doing with Calum, not anymore. Declaring my love for him was not in the plan. But acting like he doesn’t own my heart has grown impossible. I love him.A knock on the door alerts me of Calum’s presence. I drop my phone inside the drawer and pretend to be asleep. There was enough time to put on clothes but I stayed in bed. The mattress sinks under Calum’s weight. His lips touch my forehead and my eyes fly open. Speechless, I smile at him.“Hey,” he whispers. I have been awake for a while, watching him and Mace through my phone. “I was checking in with Mace. I fed and bathed him,” he says like a happy child.“Yeah? I haven’t been checking in on him as much,” I admit.Calum has taken over since his arrival. The way he pays attention to Mace always makes my heart sing. It feels like I had so much weight on my shoulders and as soon as we had an agreement,
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