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60 || I want Calum
It hurts. My head hurts.
I peel an eye open and shut it immediately at the intensity of light that floods my vision. Seconds later, I try again.
There’s someone on the seat beside my bed. Someone that’s not Calum.
Where’s my baby?
Dad rouses. He rubs the back of his hand over his eyes and stretches. I glare at him. I hate him. He shakes off my stare and tries to touch my forehead. I swat his hand. The walls are white. The place smells of bleach and antiseptic. I must be in the hospital.
“Why am I here?” I ask. My hand lifts to my head, and I feel the bandage wrapped around my skull. My memory comes up blank. “What happened? Where’s Cal?”
“You fell and hit your head,” he says. Dad crosses his arms on my bed. He’s careful not to touch me, so I don’t scream. “Are you okay?”
Okay? Is this a joke? I tilt my head to look him squ
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To Tempt My Stepbrother 62 || Gone
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To Tempt My Stepbrother 63 || You are here
My eyes flutter open. Two things are evident. One, I’m not in Dad’s arms. I’m on my bed. Two, I’m not alone. Is Calum here? He came for me? I blink rapidly, my vision clears, and the person on my bed smiles.“You came. You are here,” I tell her. Amelia is not Calum but she’s a welcome face. She nods, her hand reaches up to cup my cheek. I move in so we are almost touching. “You didn’t have to come, Amelia Greene”“I had to. It’s what he would have wanted. And you didn’t sound so good the last time.”Because I didn’t feel good. I tug her pillow towards me to share it with her. She stretches the corners of my lips till they move into a smile. Her brown eyes sparkle and I can’t help the laugh that escapes me.“Dad let you in?” I ask. Her reply is a small smile. “You guys are always setting me up.”“Because we
To Tempt My Stepbrother 64 || It’s really over
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To Tempt My Stepbrother 1 || Loving can hurt
It doesn’t get easier but you get better at pretending. So much so that when Calum and his bandmates appear on TV, I don’t even flinch or bat an eyelid. Amelia settles down by my left. I feel her eyes on me right before the show starts. She’s worried. She has always been the mother hen but now that Mace is almost here, she’s paranoid.Amelia grabs the remote from the coffee table, dragging it closer so I can place my feet on the table. I send her a smile. She gets me.“Are you sure you want to watch this?” she asks.I don’t want to but his voice works magic for Mace and I love my comfort. I place the bowl of popcorn on my belly and she steals from it. We stare ahead at the TV glued to the white wall of our office. I can’t hear their voices yet because the sound is on mute.“Not really. You know how his voice calms Mace. I don’t have much of a choice here.”A s
To Tempt My Stepbrother 2 || Nothing is the same anymore
CALUMI slam the door to the dressing room close. Mum walks in seconds after, an apology already on the tip of her lips. Where’s the idiot, Scott? That fool, Jerry, was only supposed to ask the questions on the list.We were supposed to announce the date of our new tour. But the prick kept coming at me like we had unsettled beef. I run a hand through my hair and my fingers brush the mass of ink almost stretching to the nape of my neck. He was right about a scar but how did he know? No one outside the band should know.My chest sags as I drop into the stool in front of the mirror and stare at the man the people love. I press two fingers under my eyes, then lower them to stretch my lips into a fake smile. I’ve done it long enough for the fans to think my smiles and laughter are real.I’m not as happy or content as someone who has had nothing but back to back success in a short term should be. Something is not right and I don’t kn
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