Series: Peach State Stepbros Series by Riley Hart
Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79283 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79283 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“I wish there were magic words I could say,” I add. “Something that would take away the sting of what’s happening, and what happened to your mom.”
“I wish I could do that with your shit too. It’d be nice if we could just have a quick chat about all the dark shit in our minds and that could clear it all up, but things aren’t ever that easy, right?”
I nod. “Right.”
His cheeks puff before he exhales slowly. Then he shakes it off. “Let’s restart the movie. And I’ll cuddle the shit out of you to make me feel better. Come on, assume the position.”
“Oh, do we cuddle now?” I ask.
“Shut up and be a good big spoon.”
I laugh as we adjust. I slide down, resting my head on the pillow as he pushes his body against me. I hook my arm around him, tucking my hand under the hem of his shirt as his ass pushes close against my crotch.
“Let’s see how long it takes me to get you hard like this,” he teases.
I glide my hand across his abs. “You get me hard,” I say, “and I swear, I’m gonna tickle the fuck out of you.”
Being besties, we’ve had our share of tickle fights, and as I get close to where I know he’s sensitive on his abdomen, he grabs my hand. “Uh-uh.” He glances over his shoulder. “Don’t forget I know where you’re sensitive too, and I’ll go right for under your arms.”
I grunt. “Guess you win this time.”
“Second win of the night,” he says.
“First win!”
“Uh-uh, you agreed to the first. And working on my third now.” He jiggles his ass against my crotch, making me laugh, even as I find it’s working pretty fast.
I can’t help noting that even though the threat of a tickle is gone, he keeps his hand on mine, relaxing his hold. I grip gently to remind myself that, despite everything that happened in the past, I’m safe here with him.
I grab the remote and restart the movie, and as the credits start rolling, I keep waiting for him to let go of my hand.
He doesn’t, though.
And I don’t want to let go of his either.
14
Brenner
So…apparently, cuddling is something we do now. Not every day, but over the last week, since our first cuddle session, we’ve done it two other times. I don’t know why it’s suddenly a thing, but six months ago, I never expected blowing Taylor to be a thing either, and it was for a while.
I can’t pinpoint what made our talk the other night feel so different. It’s not like we haven’t spent years sharing secrets and real parts of ourselves, but now it feels like…more? Maybe it’s because of our parents getting married, and the emotions I felt after dinner with my dad combined with Taylor opening up to me, but…yeah. Cuddling. And just…more. For someone who talks as much as I do, I’ve never claimed to be the best with words.
I’m at work, and the Feral Fox Café is full of people from around campus. Caffeine and college go hand in hand. I had one of my longer days of school today, and I’m tired as fuck, but again, that’s what the coffee is for.
I’m making a twenty-ounce mocha with an extra shot, feeling a little jittery and bouncing on my toes, when the bell over the door jingles. I look up to greet the customer and see it’s Mila. “There’s my girl,” I tease her.
“Are you guys dating?” Stephanie, one of my coworkers, asks. “I’ve never heard you call someone my girl before, and she’s been here often over the last month.”
“Ew. Boy cooties,” Mila jokes as she approaches the counter. “I’m a lesbian. He’s just my bestie.”
Stephanie chuckles. “I was going to be shocked. I didn’t know Brenner dated.”
I mock gasp. “I date!”
“You hook up. You don’t date.”
I snicker. “Oh yeah. Good point.” Except I don’t even hook up anymore. No, I sit at home and cuddle with my stepbro. “I’ll make your drink,” I tell Mila while Stephanie meets her at the counter to pay. Mila always gets the same thing.
“You get a break soon?” Mila asks as I hand her the latte.
“Yeah, in like ten minutes.”
Stephanie looks around and says, “It’s slowed down. You can go ahead.”
“Thanks.” I make myself a drink and then meet Mila at her table. She got lucky and was able to grab one in the back corner. “Miss me?” I ask her.
“I had sex last night,” she blurts, and I chuckle.
“Ooh. Nice. Who is she?”
“This girl I met on an app. It was supposed to be a hookup, but she ended up spending the night, and we like…talked and stuff. At first I was worried the talking would give me a case of hives, but she’s cool.”
Man, I love her. We’re more alike than we have any right to be. “Aww. Do you have a crush? What’s her name?”