Chapter 24
He let out a breath, rubbing the back of his neck. Cassey was his daughter, she was still in highschool and by far the smartest teenager I’d ever seen. She’d won multiple science awards and shit. “Yeah, She loved it. We touted a couple of schools, imet some faculty… it was really cool. I know she’s got another year, but man, I’m already starting to miss her,”
I smiled, nudging his arm. “Don’t worry, you’ve still got ine.”
I expected him to roll his eyes, throw out some joke about me being more trouble than his kids combined. But instead, he just nodded, his expression serious. “That’s right.”
Something warm settled in my chest,
Then my phone buzzed again, I glanced down. Adam’s name flashed across the screen. Slilt. I swallowed, flipping my phone over before anyone could see.
A sharp gasp made me look up.
Three pairs of eyes were on me.
Addy’s, wide with disbelief. Xander’s, named in suspicion. And Zig’s–just plain confused. Addy was the first to speak. “Layla… was that the Adam I think
“Nope,” I said immediately, reaching for my drink. “Different Adam.”
Xander let out a dry laugh. “Bullshit.”
I took a sip, keeping my expression neutral. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.
Addy filled me in. Is it the asshole from the tattoo shop?” he pressed
I sucked my teeth. “You really need to let that go.”
“So that’s a yes.”
Zig finally raised a band, looking between us. “I feel like I’m being left out of something, and I don’t like it.”
Addy ignored him, leaning closer to me. “Layla. Tell me you’re not actually messing around with your stepbrother.”
1 nearly choked on my mimosa “Jesus, Addy, say it louder, why don’t you?
“Oh, I will,” she said, lifting a brow. “If you don’t start talking”
Xander whistled low. “Man, you really need to rethink your life choices sweetheart.”
“It’s not like that!“|| snapped.
“Oh?” He folded his arms. “Do explain.” I opened my mouth, then shut it.
Damn it.
Addy and Xander looked way too smug, and Zig was still sitting there, eyes darting between us like he was waiting for someone to actually explain. And just like that, I’d completely lost control of the situation. Because now, the three of them were talking amongst themselves, about me. And there was not a damın thing I could do to stop them.
I watched as Addy turned to Zig, gesturing with her mimosa like she was about to explain quantum physics. “Okay, so here’s the deal, Adam is Layla’s stepbrother.”
Zig blinked. “Stepbrother.”
Well, not officially yet, but he will be soon,” she confirmed.
Xunder anorted. “And he’s a complete dickhead.”
Addy sighed, shaking her head. “I knew something was up with you,” she said, pinning me with a look. Then her eyes narrowed, pieces clicking into place. “Wait a minute. It was him at the club, wasn’t it? The one you left with?”
1/2
Chapter 24
I stilled.
Her voice dropped, but not enough. “He broke Ryan’s arm!”
Xander muttered a horrified. “Where are your standards?” then shook his head and tsked dramatically.
“Oh, for the love of-” 1 exhaled sharply. “It’s not what you guys think. You’re jumping in weird conclusions.”
Xander leaned back, all casual arrogance. “So you haven’t fucked him?”
“Absolutely not!” I put my whole body into the denial, eyes wide with mock horror.
Addy arched a brow. “Then you haven’t made out at all either? No kissing, no… exploring?”
I scoffed, rolling my eyes as I grabbed my drink, lifting it to my lips. Innocence personified. I thought I might actually get away with it. But it did nothing to convince them. Xander and Addy turned to each other and, in eerie unison, declared, “They’re definitely fucking around.”
I choked on my
y mimosa. “Excuse me?”
“What?” Xander shrugged. “It’s just an observation.”
I set my glass down with a sharp clink. “What makes you think you can just sit here and discuss my private affairs like that?”
He gasped. “Affairs?” He pointed a finger at me, eyes alight with amusement. “It’s true then!”
“Oh my God.” I threw my head back, groaning. Rubbing my temples as Xander and Addy continued dissecting my life like I wasn’t right here. Just as I was about to tell them to mind their damn business, Addy leaned in, her smirk pure mischief.
“Oh, babe,” she sighed dramatically, shaking her head like she actually pitied me. “You’re totally a victim of Stepbro Syndrome.”
1 choked on my drink. “What?”
“You know, hot, broody, off–limits stepbrother? The tension, the forbidden attraction? It’s practically a diagnosis.”
1 narrowed my eyes at her. “That is not a thing.”
“Oh, it’s a thing” She nodded sagely. “Google it.”
Xander snorted. “She doesn’t need to. She’s living it.“.
Layla”
The sound of my name made me pause. Zig. I turned to him. He hadn’t said anything in a while. Hadn’t added his two cents to their ridiculous commentary.
He was just watching me. And when my eyes met his, I felt my stomach drop. Because buried beneath the confusion, the mild concern… was
concern… was something
Disappointment.
A sharp, cutting kind that made me feel small. And for the first time since this entire conversation had started, I actually wanted to cower. He hadn’t looked at me like that in years, since I was a troubled and angry seventeen year old who gave absolutely zero fucks. Back when I used to say and do whatever cante to mind without thinking about the consequences. I’d thought I was past that stage to some degree, but clearly I’d been wrong.
