The Step Dare (Peach State Stepbros #3)

Chapter 21

21

Taylor

A s my eyes flit open, Brenner’s curled up against my chest, his arm locked around my waist. I relax, enjoying his body heat, a sharp contrast to the apartment, which is cold as fuck.

There’ve been a lot of mornings when either I’ve woken up with Brenner on me, or I’ve been curled up against him. One of the perks of seeing each other.

It was nice spending the holidays with him. Not like we haven’t hung out over Christmas and New Year’s in the past, but this time it’s been as more than friends. Even though we had to be discreet around our parents, the little grazes and glances meant everything to me.

And that light shit he and Keith put together for us…damn, as if I needed a reason to like these guys more than I already do.

As I gaze down at Brenner clinging tight to me, his head is tilted just enough for me to get a glimpse of that pretty mug. I always knew he was attractive. I love my charming, playful Brenner, but there’s something vulnerable about him now, without the walls he puts up.

The walls I understand because I have mine too, even if they’re for different reasons.

He shifts before planting a kiss just under my pec.

I’m wondering if he’s even awake yet or if kissing me gently has become so instinctual, his body’s going through the motions.

Whatever it was, it sends a wave of goose bumps pricking across my flesh.

I embrace the sensation before he stirs and glances up at me. As if he didn’t look hot enough without the help of those hypnotic brown eyes.

He groans.

“Morning,” I say.

He shakes his head, clinging tighter. “Let’s stay in bed today.”

I chuckle. “We can’t. We’re helping Atlas today.”

Last week, our friend asked if we’d swing by with some of the guys from Alpha Theta Mu to help with the winter social he’s managing through a local nonprofit. Atlas does a lot of volunteer work, something he kept hidden from us, his best friends, for years. But after he and Troy got together, he became more open about this side of himself, even letting us know whenever he needs help.

“Oh,” Brenner says. “That today?”

“You know damn well it is. We talked about it before we went to bed.”

“Yeah, I’m just tired. Baby wore this ass out last night.”

“You topped last night.”

“Still exercises those glutes with all that thrusting, and I feel like I have to fuck ten times harder than you to make up for all that time you missed out on.”

My hole twitches at the thought of how we’ve made up for lost time the past few weeks.

“At least we have a little more time to cuddle,” he says, and it’s like he summoned my alarm because it goes off on the nightstand, and we share a groan.

No time for cuddles after all.

We drag our asses out of bed, eat some cereal, then get ready. When we arrive at the middle school where the event is being held, I see Atlas and the Alpha Theta Mu guys hanging out by the gymnasium. While we wait for someone to unlock the gym, Atlas recaps the event.

It’s a social through Activate Kindness, serving kids with special needs. As Atlas is explaining everything we need to get done before eleven, when the event starts, I can’t help thinking again about how in all the time we’ve known him, he hid this side of himself. Didn’t want anyone to see that big-ass fucking heart of his. Although, I always knew it was there.

I figure because of the Piece of Shit, I have this radar that picks up on who’s a real asshole and who isn’t, and the moment I met Atlas, despite all the walls he put up, I knew he was a good guy.

Once a custodian arrives and unlocks the door, we head inside, taking on responsibilities in groups. Lance, Ash, Marty, and I set up the DJ booth, while the others tackle decorations and the refreshment table.

“Technically, we shouldn’t have taken any of this equipment from the house,” Marty says as he pulls a speaker off a cart he brought.

“As the president of Alpha Theta Mu,” Lance says, “I order you to shut the hell up.”

“You’re a president, not a dictator,” Marty tells him.

“Ash, you think I could convince the other guys to exile him from the house?”

“Don’t even joke about that,” Marty says. “Last time you joked, you wound up president.”

“Yeah, so I wouldn’t fuck with me if I were you,” Lance teases, and Ash and I can’t help but laugh.

As Lance sets up his laptop on the table, he practically sings, “So how are the lovebirds?”

I’m waiting for Ash to respond when I notice all three are looking at me.

“Huh?”

Ash winces.

“How is that directed at me? You’re in a relationship too.”

“We see those lovebirds all the time,” Lance says.

“Too much,” Marty jokes.

“Can you stop calling us lovebirds?” I ask. “That’s weird.”

“Do you want him to use the B-word instead?” Ash raises a brow. “Are we there?”

The B-word.

Boyfriend.

Even though Ash didn’t say it, a warm sensation stirs in my chest.

I glance over to Brenner, who’s putting streamers up with Troy. As he catches my gaze, he makes an overdramatic move like he’s about to tumble off the ladder, making me laugh.

“What the fuck was that?” Lance asks, pulling my attention back to them.

“Um…nothing.”

“Is it time for the B-word?” Ash presses, seemingly serious this time.

“It’s not a curse word,” Lance tells him, then to me, “Are you guys boyfriends?”

I quickly shut it down. “No, no, no, no. And if I find out anyone is conspiring to do some kind of weird-ass boyfriendposal for us, I’m gonna lose my shit.”

Last year, Alpha Theta Mu had a whole event for Ash and Colin becoming boyfriends, including a party in the living room. Brenner and I were invited, and fun as it was, fuck if I’d ever want all that attention on us, even if we were getting together.

Ash laughs. “Don’t worry. We’ll wait until you’re actually boyfriends before we throw you a boyfriendposal.”

“Yeah,” Lance says, “that’s like Boyfriendposal 101 shit.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m adding that to the list of reasons why I’m glad I never joined a frat.”

“You’re a little late,” Lance says. “You and Brenner are basically Alpha Theta Mus by association.”

“Yeah,” Ash says. “We adopted you like Frat Cat.”

“I’m just giving you hell, man,” Lance assures me with a laugh. “I’ll reword it to get less shit: how is whatever-the-hell-you’re-doing-with-Brenner?”

“That’s great,” I say. “Not much to report. We’re the same guys we were before. We just do other stuff now.”

Wake up in each other’s arms most days.

Share gentle kisses before heading off to work or school.

Get more excited than ever before to see each other again.

The more I think about it…lots of boyfriend shit.

“I really miss a relationship,” Lance says as he starts connecting USB plugs into his laptop. “It’s nice having someone to wake up next to. Someone to watch a movie with at night. Someone to go on dates with. And I mean, morning BJs are always nice.”

“Yes, they are,” Ash and I say nearly at the same time before glancing at each other and smiling.

“No need to boast, assholes,” Marty says.

“If I’m being honest, Lance,” I say, “when you were originally coming with us on that cruise and were gonna stay in the same room as Brenner, I was a little worried you guys might be doing stuff like that. Kind of jealous, actually, since I know he thinks you’re hot.”

“Brenner was into me?” Lance asks.

“Oh my God,” Ash says. “How could anyone miss that?”

Lance shrugs. “Went over my head.”

“Straight guys,” Ash says, shaking his head.

Lance stares off, like he’s considering what that might mean, which seems strange for a straight guy. Makes me wonder if there might’ve been more of a chance of that happening than I’d considered.

And though I know there’s no threat there, that jealousy I felt before resurfaces. “Okay, Lance, no need to think about it now.”

“Oooh,” Marty says, “someone’s real defensive about their non-boyfriend.”

And something about putting non before boyfriend really grates on my nerves.

Feels like I’m broken.

I push through it, finish setting up the DJ stand with the guys before parents and kids start arriving. Lance starts up the music, and the rest of us help out with touching up the decorations.

Once we finish up, Atlas encourages us to engage in the party, get the ball rolling. Brenner was basically born to be a hype man for something like this, and he, Troy, and Atlas take the lead. Doesn’t take long for things to get going, and we’re able to let loose and have some fun too, alongside clusters of parents and kids dancing and enjoying the music together.

We’re maybe half an hour into the event when Atlas asks me if I can grab some extra utensils from his car. En route back to the gymnasium, I’m about to head inside when I hear—

“Come on, Sadie. Just give it a try.”

“No, Mom. I want to go home.”

I pass the door and step around the corner of the gym, where I find the arguing duo—a blonde girl about fourteen or fifteen in a tee with a graphic that looks like Charli XCX riding a unicorn, and next to the girl, a woman I assume is her mother. The girl is holding an iPad.

A part of me thinks I should stay out of this, that it’s none of my business. But another part encourages me to approach. “Hey, how’s it going?”

Sadie turns to me and points to her ear, suggesting she can’t hear me. But I just heard her talking to her mom.

She must see the confusion in my expression because she says, “I can’t hear you. I’m deaf. I use this…” She turns her iPad toward me. The words I just said are on the screen. Must be a speech-to-text app. “And I read lips, which isn’t easy, so enunciate and don’t talk too fast.”

“Oh, okay. That’s cool.”

“But we’re actually about to go.”

“Sorry,” her mom says. “She’s in a mood right now.” Her mom gets her attention, signing as she says, “Sadie, you came here to meet people.” Her mom turns to me, still signing. “We just moved here a few months ago, and she had to leave all her friends behind in New York. It’s been an adjustment. She’s been kind of lonely…”

“Mom, stop,” Sadie says. “I want to meet people my age. Those are all kids in there. Or this guy who works here.”

“Volunteering,” I say, “but fair enough.”

Again, I consider why I approached. It’s her life, but something keeps me in place.

“Well, there are older people here too,” I say. “I could be your friend.”

She’s glaring at the iPad before she directs it at me. “You’re a volunteer, so you have to say that.”

“Actually, because I’m a volunteer, I can just walk away or go home, or do anything else other than this, so I’m standing here because I want to.”

Her expression relaxes.

“I mean, me and my friends are older than a lot of the people in there,” I say, “but we’re all having a good time.”

“Yeah, I don’t just want to meet people. I want to date.”

“Well, some hot guy could be coming later—”

“Because you just assume I’m straight?”

“Oh, I—”

“I’m queer as hell. I’m a lesbian.”

“I’m sorry she’s being like this,” her mom says.

“It’s fine. I’m queer too. And, Sadie, I think you could have fun if you go in. I’m actually more of an introvert myself, and it’s not as easy for me to meet new people. But my best friend ever is outgoing and can chat up anybody, and he’s basically shown me that you can meet pretty cool people anywhere if you’re open to it.”

She looks at her iPad, frowns, and shows her mom the screen. Her mom smiles before signing to her, and they both burst into a laugh. I’m guessing the app made some error transcribing what I said.

Sadie studies my face for a few moments, then says, “You seem like a cool guy, but I’d rather spend the day at home.”

Yeah, maybe I shouldn’t have approached. I’m about to head back into the gym, when an idea springs to mind. “How about I make you a deal: you come in and have the best time you can with my friends and the guests, and if a girl around your age comes in, I’ll introduce you. You could at least make a new friend that way.”

She reads the text, her eyes narrowing. I’m sure she’s gonna refuse, but she says, “I’ll give it a try. But you gotta dance with me and Mom so we don’t look like losers on our own. And I’ll blame you if it sucks.”

She starts toward the gym, and I tell her mom, “Well, she’s definitely gonna be a handful for any girl she does date,” just as Sadie opens the door and turns to us.

“I saw that!” Sadie says. “And I told you I can lip-read too.”

“I know. I waited until you were looking to say it.”

She and her mom get a kick out of that as I lead them inside, noticing Brenner at the door, his eyes wide. Clearly, he heard at least part of our conversation.

Sadie leads her mom to the dance floor as Brenner walks alongside me. “I was coming to see if I could get a quick make-out session. Wasn’t expecting to see that side of Taylor.”

“Is this your boyfriend?” Sadie asks him.

Jesus Christ, what’s with the B-word today?

I’m waiting for Brenner to correct her, and when he doesn’t, I figure I should, but by then, Sadie’s already dancing with her mom.