Chapter 2
This is ridiculous.Why in the world do we need a family dinner?
I look over myself, my long raven hair with subtle pink highlights combed straight. My black skater dress accentuates the girls up top while managing to make me look somewhat presentable for this fake ass family dinner.
With my makeup done lightly because let’s face it, it will melt the minute I step outside, I make my way out of my room. When I reach the top of the stairs, I hear laughter and voices.
For a moment, I start to worry that maybe I’m in the wrong house, but I remember that no, this was the guest house. Maybe my stepbrother’s down there. I can get the awkwardness over and done with.
As I make my way down, I come right into the living area of the house. Those voices suddenly stop as they all turn to look at me. Two extremely hot guys stand at the pool table while four girls sit on the stools at the kitchen island.
And did I mention the guys were hot?
Because holy shit.
They are both sex on a fucking stick.
And my vagina takes notice.
Black eyes pierce through me as I peer at one of the guys leaning against the pool table. His black tank top with a skull on it pulls tight on his body, accentuating every single muscle this guy has. His exposed skin is completely covered in tattoos.
His hair is black as night, cut very high and tight. His ripped jeans show off his muscular legs. I’m pretty sure this man lives in the gym.
Or was just born a god.
Or maybe I slipped in fell in the shower, and this is heaven. I blink a couple times and try to get myself to focus on anything but the giant human in front of me.
But of course, if that man was night, the guy standing next to him is day. His red hair is short on the sides but long on top. He runs a hand through it as pieces fall to the side. His eyes are gold, literally gold-colored eyes. His pale face is covered by a red beard that may have me clenching my thighs.
His grey T-shirt leaves nothing to the imagination, and as he slightly turns, the dark blue jeans he has on show me how nice of an ass that man carries around.
“Who the fuck are you?” a harpy screeches from the island. She’s a typical hot girl. Long caramel hair, her makeup perfectly applied to her face. Her body is perfectly thin, and she looks like a model.
Before I can even answer, the broody one with the tats responds as he looks me up and down, “This here is probably Xayden’s new sister.”
“Yeah, hi. I’m Rory,” I rasp out. My throat’s dry, and I feel incredibly awkward.
Everyone’s eyes are on me like I’m going to perform a magic trick for them. Would have been nice to know I was going to be expecting visitors.
“Wow, that’s sad. You’re the ugly stepsister. Do you have pet mice, too?” A blond girl sitting next to the brunette one laughs. And of course, that one is just as beautiful too. All of the girls are.
I am the complete opposite of everyone in this room. My chest is a set of double D’s. My thighs are thick, I have a set of hips, and even my stomach is what some would call fluffy. I wear a size eighteen, not a zero.
Trying not to react to them, I still my facial features. It took me a long time to find my footing again after my father died. I retreated into myself. I didn’t go out with friends; I stayed in and read. I stopped playing sports because he wasn’t there anymore to come watch me. I stopped being who I was with my father in my life, simply because he wasn’t anymore.
Over the last couple years, I found myself again. I had friends that stood by me, who helped me through the pain. I started dating guys and coming back out of my shell. I got my spunk back.
“No, what’s sad is that the only movie your little brain can reference is Cinderella,” I huff. “Also, Cinderella had the mice, not the stepsisters. But I wouldn’t expect you to remember that. I’m sure your head is filled with so much air from all the dicks you’ve sucked that it keeps important facts out.”
Without a look back, I storm out the doors and head toward the main house. I can hear laughter from the guys echoing behind me. So glad I’m already making friends.
My fists are clenched at my sides as I march my way up to the driveway. Remember how I said this was going to be a good couple of weeks? I completely take that back if I have to deal with those people. I am so tempted to go get a fucking hotel for the next two weeks.
By the time I get into the house, I find my mom sitting on the couch reading a book and Aaron in the kitchen finishing up whatever he is cooking.
And then my eyes see him.
Fuck me into next week.
My eyes widen at the sight of who I can only guess is my stepbrother. And holy shit, he is fucking hotter than sin. Now I understand the hot friends and skinny model girlfriends. They are the beautiful people.
The goddamn beautiful people.
He turns toward me, and all I can do is stare. His blue eyes pierce right through me as the corner of his mouth tips up slightly for a moment before he steels his face.
His dirty blond hair is slicked back, and his black button-up shirt hugs all of him in the right places. And let’s not talk about the jeans he’s wearing with his cowboy boots.
Holy fuck. I think I love Texas.
He pushes away from the counter and saunters over to me. “You must be my new sister.” He holds out his hand. Ever so slowly, I reach out and shake it. The minute his hand covers mine, I feel this jolt of electricity from the touch. “Xayden. And you’re Aurora?”
“R-Rory,” I croak out. My mouth feels like the Sahara Desert.
“Rory,” He repeats back. “Were you going to let go of my hand? I kinda need it.”
Like a bolt of lightning struck me, I rip my hand out of his and jump back. “Sorry,” I whisper.
He hooks his thumbs in his pockets and purses his lips as he continues to stare at me. It’s beginning to make me extremely uncomfortable.
And apparently no one else here seems to notice.
Mainly because the newlywed couple are on the couch smooching and being all in love.
Gag.
I clear my throat. “It’s … um … nice to finally meet you. Your dad spoke a lot about you when he came out to Vegas.” Aaron really didn’t. I just feel like being polite. “And I’m really happy to see our parents together.”
He immediately takes a step back from me. His eyes darken at my words, and I can see the moment his wall goes up.
And I think I just fucked up.
Without another word, he turns and heads back over to the island counter. He picks up his beer, and I watch him toss it back, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he does. As he drinks, I notice that he has tattoos peeking out from his sleeve.
I didn’t think I found guys with tattoos attractive, but I’m reevaluating my life choices.
“You look nice, sweetie,” my mother says to me from the couch, stealing my attention away from my stepbrother. “Did you get settled in?”
My eyes flick to Xayden and then back to my mother. I watch Aaron get up and head out to the grill. “Uh, yeah. Was able to shower, obviously. I mean, not much to unpack since it’s just a suitcase.”
“Well, I’m glad you were.” She pushes up from the couch and heads over toward Xayden. “Your friends were really nice, Xayden. Do you think that maybe you all can show Rory around when you get to campus?”
“Mom, I don’t need a babysitter. I’ll be fine.” I narrow my eyes at her.
Her expression softens. “Rory, sweetie, it’s a new college. I’m sure it would be nice to know someone on campus.”
“I’d love to,” Xayden cuts in as he stares at me. A wicked gleam in his eye tells me something is very off with that statement.
“Dinner’s ready!” Aaron calls out as he places the steaks on the table. “June, will you please grab the potato salad and bread from the kitchen?”
My mom steps away from me, but I am still rooted in place by Xayden’s stare. His blue eyes are boring through me with what feels like an intense hatred.
I move quickly toward the table before locating a chair to sit in. Aaron takes a seat to my left, and I look up to see him give me a small smile.
“What do you want to drink, Rory?” my mom calls out to me.
I swallow. “Water is fine, please.”
A shadow comes up next to me, and the smell of cedar and sandalwood attacks my nose. “You’re in my seat.”
“O-Oh, sorry.” I start to get up, but I’m stopped by Aaron.
“Don’t be silly, Xay. There are no assigned seats. Just sit there.” He points to the seat across from me. With a quiet grunt, Xayden pushes off the chair and walks around the table to the other chair. His eyes never leave me as he sits.
Looking down at the plate, I try to ignore the feeling of his eyes on me. I have no idea what I said, but I apparently pissed him off.
“So, Rory, are you excited about starting the architecture program at Groveton?” Aaron asks me.
“Um, yeah. Thanks again for helping me with school. You really didn’t have to.”
He waves me off. “Nonsense. It’s the least I could do. You deserve not to have to worry about that stuff.”
“Well, it wasn’t necessary, but I appreciate it.” I smile and nod to Aaron. Looking up, I see Xayden hasn’t taken his eyes off me yet. But he looks even more pissed off than before.
Did he not know his dad was paying for my school?
“How’re things with the fraternity, son?”
Xayden breaks his stare and turns to face his dad.
“Good. We have a couple of fundraisers lined up for some charities out here over the next few months. Should be a good year.”
Well, that explains the groupies and the hot friends. Of course they are part of a fraternity. It’s like a hot guy calling to be part of a frat. And of course, you need the hot girls to hang all over you and fuck when your dick needs to get wet.
“Xayden, your dad tells me you got accepted into Stanford after you graduate to study law. Congratulations.” My mom smiles at him as she sips her wine.
“Yes, ma’am.” Xayden doesn’t say anything more. He just goes back to staring at me.
We are all silent for a moment before Aaron clears his throat. “Well, dig in.” He gestures toward the food in front of us.
It all smells delicious. The steak looks so good, but there is not a hungry bone in my body anymore.
I’m so uncomfortable with this whole dynamic. I feel so out of place, and I wish I would have fought my mom more to stay back in Las Vegas. She doesn’t need me out here. I feel like I’m just intruding on their time.
I’m a burden.
I watch as Xayden stabs his fork in a steak and throws it on his plate. Then he grabs the potato salad and scoops a huge glob of it onto his dish.
“Honey, did you want to grab some food?” My mom frowns at me, noticing my lack of appetite.
I chuckle nervously. “I, um, I’m not that hungry. I think I’m a little jet lagged from the flight, honestly.”
“Here, just eat a little of the potato salad and have a piece of bread.” She puts food on my dish like I’m three. I can feel my face heat up with embarrassment.
I need to take the focus off of me.
“So, Aaron, I never really asked, what type of law do you practice?” I look over at my stepfather.
“I’m a criminal prosecutor. I put the bad guys away.” He smiles at me. “Hoping my son follows in my footsteps.”
“Dad, I told you, there’s more money in defending them than prosecuting them.” Xayden laughs and holy hell, that laugh is sexy.
I shouldn’t be thinking these things about my stepbrother. My vagina shouldn’t be clenching at the sound of his voice.
Fuck, why did my mom have to go and remarry?
“Why architecture, Rory?” Aaron asks me, and my stomach sinks. My lips lock up, and I can feel the air being sucked out of the room. Did my mother not tell him why? Why architecture is so important to me?
Tears start to well up, and I don’t know if I can even talk about this. Because I knew from such a young age I wanted to do what my dad had always wished he went to school for. I wanted to make him proud that I carried out his dream.
When other kids were coloring in their coloring books, I was off to the side of the picture, drawing homes and plans.
“Oh, Aaron, I have told you this before. Thomas always dreamed of becoming an architect, but … well, things happened, and he had to take a different path in life. Rory and her dad would go look at houses and buildings together?—”
“Mom. Please, stop.” My voice wavers.
“Shit, sorry. I-I didn’t mean to upset you, sweetie.” My mom looks at me with a pitiful frown.
She doesn’t understand that while she can move on in life and love someone else, I can’t. There will never be another father for me. I can’t just move on and find a new dad.
Clearing my throat and holding back tears, I look at Aaron. “It’s just in my blood. I guess much like law is for Xayden. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m feeling a bit tired, and I think I need to get some more sleep.”
Pushing my chair out, it scrapes against the tile floor.
I grab the bottle of water my mother gave me and head out of the house, walking toward the lake. Once I am farther out, I let the tears fall. I steer myself away from the guest house and to the boat house on the water.
Walking toward the end of the dock, I sit down and look out at the beautiful colors the sunset is painting the sky with. The yellows and oranges run across the sky in an idyllic scene, giving me a bit of peace.
Even after all these years, it’s been hard to still try and move past the loss of my dad. Talking about him or why I chose architecture just sets off the hurt and pain I try to keep buried.
I have to hold back a sob as I remember the day we buried him.
Even after that day, on his birthday, or the holidays, I would have my mom take me to visit his grave. I would talk to him, tell him how much I missed him. How he left my heart shattered into pieces, and even though it wasn’t his fault, I was robbed of his love.
I even left new snow globes next to his headstone. I would get the same one and add it to my collection.
And now I can’t even do that, being in a different state and all.
My mom does deserve love. She truly does. For so long I was her focus, and I get that she had been lonely since he died. She never dated, never took time for herself.
But to move me with her? I do resent her for that. Still, I also want to make her happy. And she seems happy with Aaron. He’s not a bad guy, and he really does care for her.
While his son is a moody asshole, Aaron makes her smile, and he looks at her like he is completely in love with her. So I have to be okay with everything. Being in a sweaty sauna of a state and going to a school I never really wanted to go to.
She sacrificed for me, so I guess this is me sacrificing for her.