Chapter 19
Court reminded Aaron again she was tired, and that he was sitting on her bed. Or Stephanie’s, depending on how that argument turns out. Though Court was sure Stephanie would win, she had spent too much time on couches already in her life that she didn’t want to spend another night on one.
Realizing he wasn’t going to stay awake longer than they were, a well past buzzed, Aaron gave up and stumbled down the hallway towards what she assumed was his bedroom. She had never spent very much time in the bedroom area of the house. This trip was going to be no different.
As he left, she kept her eye on Stephanie, who was curled into a chair, barely keeping her eyes open.
As the night had progressed, she had noticed that Stephanie didn’t drink as much as her brothers, or maybe didn’t drink beer like her brothers.
And the louder they became, the quieter she got. It was like a pendulum.
Since domestic beer wasn’t her favorite, she couldn’t blame the woman. Her usual mixed drinks were her go to, always had been. Even when beer was the available party beverage, Court hadn’t enjoyed it. Or she hadn’t grown to appreciate it since those years of bottom of the barrel options.
“Where are the blankets kept?” She asked the woman, who opened her eyes at the question.
“Blankets?” She must have fallen asleep for at least a few moments, because her voice was groggy. “Oh, yeah, blankets. Closet. I’ll get ‘em. Air mattress, too.”
“You can take the air mattress. This wouldn’t be the first couch I have slept on.
” Court offered as she watched her head for the hallway, the same as her brother had moments earlier, but his ass didn’t hold a candle to hers.
Not that she was looking at her butt. This was just a revenge thing to get back at her for the tripping and spilling and everything else they had planned.
Moments later, she was back with an armful of blankets and pillows, which she dropped on the chair she had recently vacated. Then turned back to get more.
While she was gone, Court picked out a blanket and a pillow and tossed them on the couch. It was new but didn’t look comfortable, and even if the couple had known at least one of their kids would sleep on it at least once, they could have boughten something for that purpose.
“I said I would take the couch, and I will,” Stephanie grumbled when she saw her making herself as comfortable as she could.
“You just don’t want to blow up that air mattress.” Court teased, looking at the thing as Stephanie pulled it from the bag it had been stuffed in.
“I hate the air mattress.”
“I thought it was new?”
“Just a replacement, actually. Maybe this one is an upgrade, except dad bought it and he's cheap.” Stephanie grumbled as she looked at all the pieces it came with in annoyance, then glanced up at her sheepishly, “Sorry, he was here, you didn’t get that.”
Adjusting the pillow under her head, she said, “No problem. He wasn’t really my dad, just a substitute for a while. When he found a real family, that stopped.”
Stephanie stopped moving around the bed parts long enough to look up at her in sympathy. “I don’t think he ever felt like that.”
Court just gave her a knowing look. If she had been important to him, he would have wanted to keep in touch with her.
This wouldn’t be the first time here since she was in high school.
Her mom had managed to find a way to get in touch with her after years.
And based on the fact that he had gone through her to get Court’s number, she was willing to hand it out.
Not that he’d talked to her since she got there, nor had he even singled her out. Even in the big group, he had been usually quiet, uninterested in who she had become, who she was today. After that uncomfortable welcome hug, Calvin had barely acknowledged she was there.
Stephanie had finally figured out the bed because the pump filled the room with enough noise to wake the entire place.
But nobody actually came out to check on what it was.
Court assumed that they all actually knew what it was without checking and didn’t want to be roped into helping. Leaving their sister to do everything.
Sitting on her butt on the floor, Stephanie said when the noise finally stopped. “I was thinking we could each take a turn on the air mattress and the couch. One night here and then one night on the couch.”
Court smirked. “That’s a proposition I’ve never heard before.”
Stephanie turned away from her and grabbed the sheets for her newly inflated bed. Which sadly looked far more comfortable than the couch she was on. Not that she was ever going to mention that. She was stubborn enough to suffer through a few nights on the couch before admitting she was wrong.
Checking her phone when a message came in, she shook her head. It could only be one person at one in the morning. Ellis was sound asleep at this hour, and she was sure that Rebel had gone out on the town. It was just how she was.
The text was from Rebel of a tall, gorgeous blonde cheek to cheek with Rebel, smiling into the camera. All the text said was, “Look who I'm going home with. Jealous.”
She wasn’t in the least, because the only person she was interested in was in the same room as her trying to get a fitted sheet on her bed. It wasn’t an easy task, and Court would offer to help if it weren’t so cute to watch the struggle.
Instead of responding, she tucked her phone away and went back to watching Stephanie make her bed not five feet from Courts.
There was no way she was jealous of Rebel tonight.
There was just something about her stepsister that fascinated her a little too much.
And right now, there was no place she’d rather be than with her.
“Why did Calvin invite me here this weekend? Why now, after all these years?”
Stephanie stopped what she was doing and sat on the floor. “I don’t know. Probably because of his cancer scare last month. He had a screening come up bad, but upon a second opinion, it was fine. But he was having a hard time before that happened. Thinking it was the end.”
“That makes sense, I guess. Probably had him remembering my dad and promising that he would take care of me.”
“He loves you.” Stephanie didn’t even sound convinced of that.
Court spread a blanket flat over the couch before climbing to the bed and regretted letting Stephanie take the more comfortable air mattress. Except she wanted Stephanie to be comfortable far more than she wanted to be. “No, he doesn’t.”
Turning off the light, Stephanie slipped into her bed. The distinct sounds of plastic and blankets adjusting filled the room. “Good night, Stephanie.”
Court knew it was the perfect time to tell her she was sorry. That she had been childish to leave her without a goodbye that morning. But she stayed quiet.
“Good night, Court.” Stephanie said into the dark room.
It was the first time someone had said her name correctly all night. It felt nice that it was Stephanie.
Lying in her bed as still as possible, she listened to Stephanie breathing. It didn’t take long before it evened out and she rolled on the loud mattress. Court longed to be beside her on it. It didn’t matter the comfort level when Stephanie was in her arms.
She just didn’t know how long she’d last without giving in to temptation with her. It was going to be the hardest part of the weekend. At least it was taking her mind off being around Calvin.