by Ashley Hall
“Exactly.” Walter’s smile grew wider, but it wasn’t a kind smile, more a tight, controlled one. Man, was he rigid and formal and stiff. “I’m glad you understand that.”
I waited for him to say that I could get something to eat today since I didn’t know the rule, but he didn’t. Seriously? I was starving!
“Also, you’ll come straight home after school without exception,” he added. “Complete your homework and your chores immediately. After a month, if you do well with your grades and have a good attitude around the house, maybe you can do an extracurricular activity or two if you want.” He sounded like this was really big of him.
Really? What if I made friends? Couldn’t I hang with them? I didn’t always bother to make friends when I went to yet another school since I wouldn’t be there long, but I had a feeling I would want to be out of this house as much as possible. At all of those other houses, with all of the other families, not even once did I come close to being adopted. Never had a permanent place to live. Even here wouldn’t be forever.
Actually, that might turn out to be a good thing.
“Now, that’s just for the week,” he went on.
Did the guy ever shut up? Maybe he was in love with the sound of his voice. I could definitely believe that. I was already starting to think the guy loved himself more than he loved his wives.
“On weekends, you’ll be looking for part-time work.”
Okay, now I was starting to get really angry. Who the hell did he think he was? He couldn’t order me around like this, and I can’t help resenting him. What a dominating control-obsessed asshole. We only had to put up with each other for five months. Couldn’t we just ignore each other?
“It’s imperative that you have a resume before college,” Walter droned on. “You do plan on going to college, don’t you? Without a degree, well, your options will be rather limited. How have your grades been so far? Your mother never told me.”
Because she didn’t know. Never asked. I was certain she didn’t care. If she didn’t, why should he?
But he was waiting for an answer, and I saw no reason to lie. “Mostly Cs.”
The rest were Ds, but maybe if I didn’t elaborate on that point, he’d think, or at least hope, the others were Bs. Although I had a feeling he’d fill the blanks with Ds and Fs.
Walter winced and shook his head. “Maybe April can tutor you. She’s a bright girl. Got a good head on her shoulders.”
I bit my tongue to swallow back a retort. I didn’t need a tutor. A few teachers told me that I just needed to try, that I was smarter than my test grades showed. I knew it didn’t help that I didn’t do my homework, but I never saw the point of it, of studying. Most of the classes were pointless, and what good were tests? They weren’t true measures of determining how well you learned the material—only a gauge of how well you test. And besides, I didn’t need a degree for what I wanted, so all of this was moot for me.
“Now, did anyone tell you about the time for breakfast?” he asked, crossing his arms. His eyes bore through me.
I shook my head. Was he going to bend? I sure hoped so.
“Just this once, I’ll make an allowance for you. You can fix yourself something.”
Sweet. My stomach felt like a huge pit of emptiness that was dying to be filled.
But the man still wasn’t done. “Don’t forget your chores. There’s a chore chart in the kitchen for everyone. You’ve already been added to it. Now, is there anything you have questions about?”
I so wanted to give him lip, to throw his rules back in his face, to walk out. Only remembering April’s words—that Walter wasn’t so bad and that she’d help me—got me to think twice. I was too old for foster care. It was either here, in Walter’s house, or the streets. The idea of roughing it, of not being able to even possibly have my own life, to live on my terms without being homeless and completely broke, was not one I wanted to entertain.
I cleared my throat. “Nope.”
“Very well. You’re in agreement, then? With the rules and chores and part-time job?” Walter leveled me a cool stare, one that would rattle the dead.
It pained me, but I nodded. For now, I was in agreement, but if he kept getting in my face…well, all bets would be off.
He nodded back, walked over to the bookcase, and removed a book. How quickly he could ignore me, pretend I didn’t exist.
I already hated the guy. Guessed that kind of made him into a father figure after all, at least for me. I hated my father too.
***
Since I ate a later breakfast than everyone, I ate a later lunch too, which turned out to be great because I ate both meals in peace. No sideway glances, no annoying questions, just me and my stomach and my food.
Other than dinner when I was forced to be around people, I kept to myself. Finally, it was nighttime, but when I tried to sleep, I couldn’t. The bed was just too soft. After tossing and turning for a good two hours, I had enough. I wasn’t about to have another terrible night of sleep—I’d been exhausted all day today as it was—so I left my room, went downstairs, and lay out on the couch. Much better.
I was just dozing when someone approached. I didn’t bother to open my eyes, just continued resting. Maybe he or she would leave. But there weren’t any more footsteps. The person was staring at me. I never could sleep when someone was staring at me. Too many kids in foster homes had done that to me. Half the times, they ended up trying to torture me. Not that they succeeded once I hit puberty.
Who could it be? It better not be Walter. Or Jacqueline. The boys wouldn’t bother me, would they? Actually, they probably would. They were troublemakers all right.
Curiosity was getting the better of me, so I cracked both eyes open.
“You’re sleeping on the couch?” April asked in a whisper, her blue eyes wide.
“Isn’t that what it looks like?” I closed my eyes and yawned.
“But why? You have a bed upstairs. Your bed has to be more comfortable.” She sounded truly baffled.
I opened my eyes and saw her frown. “It’s not a big deal. Why does it bother you?” I wasn’t used to having someone give a damn about me, and it felt strange.
“I just don’t understand. You can’t prefer a couch to a bed. Do you?” Her frown grew, and a cute “V” formed between her eyebrows.
“I’m just used to sleeping on couches. I’ll get used to the bed eventually. Don’t worry about it.” I closed my eyes again. It was a little early for me to be going to bed, but I didn’t feel like staying awake considering the risk it meant. I did not want to be cornered for another talk with Walter, and I definitely didn’t want to talk to Jacqueline either. Whenever she saw me, she tried to pry into my life, as if a few minutes here and there would make up for the countless minutes she hadn’t been there for me before. If she had truly wanted to have a relationship with me, she should’ve come long ago, before life hardened me.
“You’re a little frustrating, aren’t you?” she asked.
“Not really.” I opened my eyes again and sat up. Obviously she wasn’t going to let me go to sleep anytime soon. Didn’t see why she cared.
April sat down beside me on the couch, close but not close enough that we were touching. She stared at me. “Do you have everything you need?”
“For what?”
“For school tomorrow. The last day of winter break was today. I’m pretty sure your mom filled out all of yours forms, so you should be good to go, but do you need pens and a school bag and all of that?”
I smirked. I’d bet anything she was a straight A student. “I don’t need pens.”
“You already have some? Good.” She smiled wide. She looked so much like her mother. Couldn’t see a hint of Walter in her features. Which was a good thing.
I snorted. “I didn’t say that.”
She frowned again. “I can give you some—”
“I don’t need any.” I waved her concern away.
“Why not?” Her frown deepened.
“Not planning on taking any notes.” I shrugged. My handwriting wasn’t legible anyhow. Even I couldn’t read it sometimes.
“No wonder Dad thinks I should tutor you,” she murmured, glancing away.
I winced. Of course he mentioned that to her already. “Whatever.”
“Don’t you care about your grades?” She sounded scandalized.
Hon, if that was enough to scandalize you, that’s a shame. And, boy, could I really open your eyes if I wanted to.
But I wouldn’t. Couldn’t. Shouldn’t. Not with her. Not with April, my step-sister.
“Not really. Don’t give a crap about my grades.” I yawned, hoping she would get the hint.
“Why not?” She crossed her arms, side-eyeing me. For whatever reason, she was aggravated with me. Why? Because I didn’t like my bed? Because I didn’t share her love for school? Because I wasn’t opening up to her?
“Let me guess,” I said. “You never get anything less than perfect grades. You’re straight-laced, and you never do anything wrong—”
“You don’t have to insult me,” she said stiffly, shifting away from me slightly.
“I’m not.” Interesting that she took what her father would deem positives as slights. Or maybe she was just reacting to my tone. “I’m just making an observation. Am I wrong?”
She stood. “I was just trying to see if you needed help getting ready for school. You said you don’t so…” April bit her lower lip then turned and walked away.
Her retreating backside was mesmerizing. She was wearing a skirt that hugged her ass, and her hips were swaying. Was she playing me? Did she always walk like that, or was she trying to be sexy? Not trying. Succeeding.
In case she decided to come back and yell at me, I upped and left, made a beeline for my room, and got into the too-comfortable bed. I was still unhappy about being here, about Walter, about Jacqueline, about the whole sister wives thing, about school, the rules, chores…all of it. Living here for five months was going to be torture.
But April kept invaded my thoughts. She’d looked so cute when she got angry with me. I bet she made all the guys at school wild about her, what with the good girl vibe she had going on. She’d be the kind of girl to obey orders. If a guy told her to kiss him, she would. If a guy told her to suck him, she just might do that too. From the way Walter was raising her, she listened to males.
And if I told her to suck me, would she? I could just imagine her biting her lips, her big eyes opening wide, her shaking her head. A little prompting, and maybe she’d lick those lips, wink, and nod her pretty little head. She’d open her mouth and…
My hand was down my pants. My cock was so hard. It would be so easy, all too easy, to masturbate to this fantasy, to give into my desire for her. But I didn’t know what to think about her. Sure, she was hot, but she was fine living in this household. She didn’t know anything different, so polygamy was natural to her. I was torn between liking her and not liking her. Who wanted a girl who would talk down to you? No girl was hot enough to make insults worth putting up with.
Although maybe I was being too hard on her. I hadn’t been in a good mood all day, and I wasn’t giving Jacqueline and Walter the grief I wanted to. April deserved better than being my punching bag. If I gave her a chance, would she be my first friend here?
At least she was a step-sister. It made having this boner for her not quite so awkward. Still, I didn’t masturbate to the fantasy of her perfect lips wrapping around my cock.
But I did dream of her sucking me hard and long until I came into her mouth.
And when I woke up, I realized I’d come in my sleep. A wet dream. Because of April.
Crazy.
Chapter Four
April
Before school started, I gathered all of the papers from Wesley’s mom for him. On top was his schedule. We had a lot of classes together. Good. Maybe I could help to settle him in some. He had a tough life, I could tell, and maybe he needed a friend.
None of my other guy friends were nearly as hot as he was though.
Where did that thought come from?
***
All morning long, I kept an eye out for Wesley. All morning long, I didn’t see him. He didn’t go to one class. I’d driven us to school in the morning, and I could’ve sworn he followed me inside the building, but he was obviously skipping. Why did I feel so disappointed? It was stupid of me. It was his life, his choice. If he didn’t want to prioritize his schooling, that was on him. I couldn’t make his choices for him. His life and his future too. Why would he throw it all away? I didn’t know him well enough to even hazard a guess.
The bell rang, and I made my way out of the class to the hallway. My throat was so dry I decided to get a quick drink from the water fountain. It tasted so cool and refreshing.
And someone bumped into my backside, lingering a little too long against me for it to be an accident.
I straightened and turned around. Wesley stood there, smiling widely.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” he said, his hand on my shoulder, rubbing it. He was way too close to me, and there was a tightness in my belly that was very pleasant. Wesley winked, and the pleasing feeling shot down to between my legs.
Oh no. He was turning me on. I mean, yeah, he was hot, and feeling his body against mine had been amazing, but this could not be happening. How could this be happening? Not here. Not now. Not ever.
Even worse, some of the other students were looking our way. Did they know he was my new step-brother? Adam wasn’t around, was he? My long-time crush who had finally just learned I was alive.
Panicking, I shoved Wesley away and stomped all the way to my next class, not once looking back. How could he do that to me? Show up out of the blue and press himself against me like that? I was mortified that we’d been seen, horrified Adam would find out, upset that Wesley affected me like he had. Who did he think he was? And just why had he done that in the first place?
This class, history, we had together, and Wesley actually showed up. I shot him a glower. He had started toward the empty seat beside me but then changed directions and sat on the other side of the room. Good. I didn’t want to help him anymore. Forget tutoring. Forget helping him adjust to our house. He could settle himself in by himself. Or not. I didn’t care either way.
Throughout the class, I kept glancing over even though I didn’t want to. Only one time did our gazes meet, and he gave me a smile. Not like the one in the hallway. That one had screamed sex appeal. This one was friendlier. Maybe even apologetic. Maybe he was sorry for going so far. Yes. A mistake. He knew it, and he was ashamed. That I could accept. That I could forgive.
Next class was math. Again, we had it together. He walked in behind me, a respectable distance away. “Can I…” he started then trailed off.
“If you behave yourself,” I whispered as I took my seat.
“I can do that.” He slid into the seat next to me.
There were a few minutes before class started, and Wesley had already started up a conversation with the guy in front of him, one of the most popular kids in the entire high school. They were laughing and joking around. A few other kids joined in their conversation. Wesley was popular already.
That didn’t surprise me. From what I could overhear, when he wanted to be, Wesley could be charming. And personable. And witty. And he definitely had good looks. He had two things going for him—mysterious new guy and that bad boy vibe that drew all girls’ attentions.
At lunch, he, thankfully, didn’t sit with my friends and me, but that didn’t mean my friends didn’t notice him, unfortunately.
“The new guy is so hot,” Tawna gushed, her hand holding up her chin. “Anyone know his name?”
“Wesley,” I mumbled. I took another bite of my sandwich. I really didn’t want to talk about him, with my friends or anyone else.
“Wesley? Oh, I can just picture myself whispering his name in his ear.” Laura was practically swooning. She fell in love with a new guy every wee
k, and each time, she was certain he was the one, that they were destined to be together. We all humored her each and every time and were there for her when her heart would break when they were over.
But in this case, I wouldn’t think it that funny.
“Wesley?” Misty frowned at me. “Isn’t that the name of your step-brother?”
I nodded, making a point out of not looking Wes’s way. He was sitting with a bunch of the cool kids. One day, and he was already a part of the in-crowd. I wondered if that always happened to him, if he was this popular at all the other schools he’d gone to. “Yeah. That’s him.”