by Piper Frost
"I think I fuckin' hate you, Brian," she snarls but buckles.
"Who's this Brian guy you hate?" I wink and slam her door, heading to my side before she can bolt from the cab. I slide in and she's glaring at me, still buckled. "Hi, nice to meet you." I shove my hand at hers. "I'm Brandt." She's been here for a few weeks and somehow I've made it my goal to make this girl a little less miserable. Don't ask me why.
With a huff she leans her head back and closes her eyes. "Why can't you just leave me alone?"
"Because I know you really don't want to be left alone, Jo." I rev the engine and we head out. "Plus, the farm gets kinda boring with no one else my age. I need a friend." I stick my bottom lip out and give her the most pitiful look I can muster without laughing. All I get is her signature snarl in return. "I can already tell we're gonna be besties.”
"Not only are you kidnapping me, you're also stealing your dad's truck. And here I thought you were a massive pussy. Turns out you're only a partial pussy." Her head pivots so she can look out the window.
"I'll have you know this is a shared work truck and he knows I’m taking it." I grip the steering wheel. "And I'm not a fuckin' pussy."
She snickers. "Touchy subject? Maybe 'cause you've never touched one." She can try to belittle me all she wants, but I'm not giving up.
"Go on thinkin' whatever you need to." I chuckle, turning down the dirt road toward the creek. "But please don't embarrass me around my friends tonight. You're kinda mean," I say, finally seeing the glow of the fire in the distance.
She groans. "I'm not mean, Brandt. I just want to be left alone! You disrespect me. I disrespect you."
"Yep. Best friends by the end of the night. I’m calling it now." I throw the truck in park and unlock the doors. "You can get out on your own, I'm guessing? There's coyotes in the woods 'round here. Don't try runnin' home." I hop out and slam my door, meeting her on her side of the truck. Not moving from the seat, she glares forward, still buckled. I swing open the door and cock an eyebrow at her. "There's beer." I coerce, reaching in to unbuckle her seatbelt.
"I'm a recovering addict, Brandt. Donna picked me up from rehab, you dumb shit. I don’t drink." She's still staring forward and I wince.
"Yeah. Forgot about that. Sorry." I rub the back of my neck and sigh. "So I'm just gonna go get plastered. I'll drive us home when I'm done." I make a move like I’m going to leave her be and when she thinks she's in the clear, I run back to the truck and snatch her out, throwing her over my shoulder. "Party time, Jo!" I yell over the fit she's currently throwing.
Locking the truck, I shove the keys in my pocket to ensure she doesn't get back in until it's time to go home.
"Okay, okay, just put me down, please."
When I allow her down, she slides down the front of my body to keep from falling to her ass. Parts of her body are touching parts of my body that shouldn't 'cause we're step siblings. More importantly 'cause my dad would whoop me into next Sunday.
"Just stay by me, okay? Some of these guys get rowdy." I glance down at her and watch as her gaze drifts out to the crowd I’ve been running with since elementary school. A sudden sense of protection comes over me. A type of protection I probably shouldn't be feeling because again, she's my step sister.
She flips the hood up on her hoodie and pushes her hands into her pocket, dipping her head. Her stance screams 'I don’t want to be here', but I think we’ll have a good time. That’s the goal anyway.
I expect a bonfire, fishing poles, shitty beer, cowboy boots and hats. There’s a fire, but it’s a car. A car is burning in the middle of a field. No fishing poles and shitty beer. That’s replaced with liquor and a variety of beer along with pot smoke. There are a couple kids in cowboy boots, but mostly everyone is wearing swimming trunks and bikinis. They’re all a bunch of normal kids. And when we make our way toward the burning car, people are high-fiving Brandt while staring at me.
“That your girl, Brandt?” someone calls out.
“Damn right.” His arm drapes over my shoulders and he pulls me closer.
When I try to push out of his grasp he kisses my cheek and I almost throw myself to the ground to get away from him.
“What the fuck?” I blurt, creeped out that my step brother has the way wrong idea.
“Chill out, Jo.” He laughs at me. “That’s Gary and he tries to fuck anything female. If he thinks you’re with me, he’ll leave you alone.”
“I’m not with you,” I assure and move farther away from him.
“Am I that bad? Bet I’m better looking than your city friends.”
I ignore him and try to erase the feeling of him against me from when he put me down earlier. My body has the feel of him still pressed into it and I hate it. It's just not right.
I sit and watch Brandt grab a beer and start the evening off chugging it with a couple guys nearby, then he walks over and sits next to me on the tree bench.
"You just gonna sit there and be bored all night? We could be partying right now with those guys," he says, nodding toward a group that's closer to the fire.
"Do what you have to do," I grumble. "Partying when you're a recovering addict isn't really a thing. Way to make my night suck." I give him a shitty grin and roll my eyes, but I don't really mean it. It's actually kinda fun watching these idiots.
"Yeah, I mean... You're right." He glances around at everyone drinking and nods. "I'm so sorry, Jo. Next time we'll do the movies or dinner or somethin'. Just me and you." He rests his hand on my knee and I shove it off immediately.
This guy needs to back the fuck up and only because my neglected sex drive is being confused by my...stupid step brother. “You’re my step brother!” I blurt and he immediately whoops, jumping in the air.
“So you admit it!” he roars excitedly and tugs me to hug him. "Awe look at us, one big happy family, Jo!"
“Do you do drugs?” I whisper, legitimately concerned something’s wrong with this kid.
“Sometimes.” He shrugs and laughs. “Got an issue with it? I won't push any on ya. I'll be good, promise," he says, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.
I drop my head and groan. "I really don't care what you do. If you just left me back at your parents' place, we could have just gone on with our separate lives."
“Hey, cutie.” A blonde in a tank and cut off shorts snakes over to him, having no care I’m under his arm and held -against my will- at his side.
“Cutie.” I scowl and get the bitch glare.
“Who’s this?”
“Kinlee, this is Jo. Jo, this is Kinlee.” He lets me go to pick up the blonde and spins in a circle while kissing her cheek making loud, annoying noises.
I can’t with this shit. This is either the start of a horror movie or a Hallmark movie and I’m not down for either.
“Cutie,” I mock her and tug his arm. Cutting the shit I blandly say, “I want to leave.”
“Relax, Jo."
Goldilocks turns to me and blurts, "I'll be right back," and runs off.
"Your friends are awesome," I exaggerate while watching the country belle gallop away in her cowboy boots and short shorts.
"I know you're making fun of them, but they're really good people." He nudges me. "They'll grow on ya."
"Know what would be awesome? If you left me alone and enjoyed your really good people yourself," I grumble.
When Suzy Homemaker skips back over and tries to hand me a beer, I take it, figuring what the hell. It'll be better than staying sober. Brandt grabs it, opens it, and drinks it in like three gulps.
I’m pissed and impressed; I just stare with my mouth agape until he says, “Thanks, babe. Jo doesn’t drink. She’s on medication and if she drinks, she’ll die.” He gives me an evil smirk and I gasp.
“Oh no!” Suzy gasps.
“But, she’s always trying. She doesn’t want to live with this anymore, but dammit, I ain’t gonna let her go.” His grin lands on me before he looks at Goldilocks again, serious as ever.
“I’m no
t on meds,” I blurt.
“See. I wish she could drink, but I don’t want her to die.” Brandt wraps his arm over my shoulder and Suzy gives me an apologetic smile like she feels sorry for me.
“That’s sad.” A compassionate squeeze hits my shoulder and I grimace at her touch. “I’ll catch up with you guys later,” she says when someone calls her name, then she skips away.
“She’s got the biggest mouth in the county. Try picking up a drink.” He grins and I groan.
“Fuck this shit.” I pull away and try to head back for his truck.
“I know I’m a dick, but my dad would whoop my ass if I brought you back drunk tonight,” he says, steering me back toward our original destination.
“I’m telling your dad you drank,” I cattily snip and he laughs.
“No you won’t. Plus you gotta drive tonight.” He shoves his keys into my jeans pocket and I scowl at him. "Don't leave me here. Donna would be pissed if she found out you left me here to be eaten by the coyotes. No family left behind!" he boasts, pumping his fist in the air.
I pause as I watch that handsome smile spread his lips. He's too good looking for his own good and probably knows it.
"We're not family." I try to get away from his close proximity.
“And praise God for that. But either way, your mom's my step mom and I can't break her heart and let her daughter go back to that old lifestyle. We're gonna get ya clean and taken care of, Jo." He pats my back.
“Shit, Brandt. You’re a walking sappy movie.” I huff and pull away from him for the umpteenth time.
“Girls like sappy.” He grins at me and I stare at him, getting a terrible idea. “Don’t look at me like that, Jo.” He looks away with a smile on his face and shake of his head.
“What?” I play coy and grab the bulge of his bicep, not mad about it.
“Back up a little there, Jo. You aren’t gonna sleep with me to piss your mom off.”
I officially hate this kid. He’s one step ahead of me and I thought he was going to be some southern doofus with a peanut brain. He's a smooth-talking, good-looking cowboy and I'm not used to these types of men. I'm also not used to this type of man being my fucking step brother. And he's absolutely right. The bad idea to piss Donna off did enter my head. But on the other hand, it wouldn't be a chore.
“Why are you so smart?” I ask and that cowboy laugh roars from him as he tugs me to his side again.
“Definitely wasn’t the public education, but my dad’s pretty smart. And even though you probably don’t think it, your mom is too. They taught me everything I know.”
“That’s sad.” I give him a shove because I’m sick of being under his arm. The fleeting thought of ways to piss Donna off is long gone. The kid’s my step brother and somehow, somewhere, sleeping with him is wrong. Honestly, I wouldn’t care, but it’d cause some issues for him at home and I’m not trying to make his life hell. Just Donna’s. “Stop latching on like you’re my boyfriend.”
“I’m latching on like I’ll stomp some ass if anyone fucks with you. You’re the new girl. You’re a little different. People are gonna fuck with you until they get used to you.”
“Holy shit. I cannot believe you just said that.”
“What?”
“I’m a little different.” I scowl up at him.
“You’re a goth girl in the country. Don’t take offense.”
“No one’s going to fuck with me or get used to me. I don’t even know how I let you drag me out here. Oh wait...physical force.” I slap my arm where I feel a bite and he starts to walk me across the field. “I’m really, seriously, dead serious, Brandt. I want to go back to the house.”
“I just want to introduce you to one person. My friend Bo. I think you’ll like him.”
“No. No, no, Brandt. This ain’t gonna be like one of those, I’m gonna hook up with your best friend things and we’re all gonna be tight and hunt together and shit.” I plant my feet and he stops walking then spins to face me, wearing that smile.
“Bo’s sister is the local dealer. He can hook you up with some shit as good as cannabis but don’t get you addicted. I think he can help you out with anything you might need without you becoming dependent again.” He shrugs and I roll my eyes at his naivety.
“Can he help me out with sleep? Because I really need to get to sleep.”
“Are you dead?” Once again, he wraps his arm over my shoulders.
“Almost.” I nod and he laughs until the rumble and roar of what sounds like several motorcycles halt his steps. His grip on my shoulder becomes tight. “Let’s go.” We begin a march toward his truck but I duck out of his arm.
“I want to meet Bo,” I lie, wanting to stick around for whatever’s approaching. Whatever it is has him pissed and I think I see worry on his rugged baby face.
“Jo.” He tries to grab my arm but I start to hustle toward the fire. “Dammit,” he blurts and is on my heels in a second. “Just stick by me and…and.” He glances around. “Chase,” he calls out, pulling me toward Chase. “What the hell they doing here, man?”
“Amber.” Chase randomly points toward the water and Brandt cusses, dropping his head.
“Who’s Amber?” I ask.
“I’m Chase.” His southern drawl makes me stare at him like he’s speaking a foreign language.
“Jo,” I finally respond and take his hand.
When he kisses my knuckles Brandt yanks my hand away from him. “She's not interested, man. Step back,” he grumbles but his eyes shoot toward the increasing noise of motorcycles.
When I look, there are anywhere from fifteen to twenty pulling into this field. People are flocking toward them while others move farther away. When I hear a siren behind me I whip around to see it’s actually a group of girls squealing and running toward the motorcycles.
“Can you fill me in?” I say when Brandt cusses again.
“Just stay away from them,” he grumbles.
“That’s not filling me in.” I almost trip when he yanks my arm and we head toward the water, farther away from the motorcycles.
“Where you from, Jo?” Chase asks.
“New York.”
“So you know what a gang is. That’s a gang.” He gestures toward the motorcycles and snorting laughter rolling from me makes Brandt scowl at me.
“I’m sorry.” I wipe at my eyes. “I’m sorry. I just pictured them rolling up on horses and doing a drive by.”
“Don’t be stupid, Jo,” Brandt snarls and he’s seriously pissed. “Just because we’re from the south doesn’t mean we’re not fucking people. There are dangerous people all over the world and those are some of the scummiest.” He points toward the motorcycles and it makes my gaze linger.
I’m used to scummy, bad guys if you will. Sounds like these are more the type of people I belong around.
“Do they have southern drawls too?” I try to bite back laughter while Brandt scowls at me and Chase stares, studying me. “I’m sorry. Sorry, Brandt.” I tug his sleeve.
I don’t know him well, but he’s a good kid and genuinely seems to want to be friends, or family...or whatever with me. I don’t want to piss him off.
It takes him a second, but his face softens and he puts his arm over my shoulders. “Just stay away from them.”
“That won’t be a problem. As soon as you get me back to the house, I probably won’t leave my room.”
“Why not?” Chase asks with interest.
“She thinks my dad and Donna are gonna let her sleep her life away. I keep trying to tell her it ain’t gonna happen.”
“Shit, Garrison’s motto is sleep when you’re dead.” Chase chuckles. “And Donna…” He takes a minute until a grin creeps his face.
“Take it easy.” Brandt shoves his head. “That’s her mom.”
“Oh, gross,” I groan, realizing he has a thing for Donna.
“That’s a good-looking woman.” Chase nods still with that grin.
Brandt pulls me away and I’m thrust into
a crowd of people. When someone tries to offer me a drink, Suzy Homemaker appears and saves the fucking day.
“She can’t drink!” The worry and gasp in her tone makes me groan. “She’s sick,” she whispers like she’s on a megaphone.
“Oh my god,” I grumble and Brandt laughs, patting me on the back. “I hate you,” I whisper, tugging my hood farther onto my head.
“Come on, Jo!” He yanks me to sit next to him, squeezing me against his side and I stare at his boots tucked into his jeans.
They’re having a great time while I’m wondering how comfortable those boots actually are. They look uncomfortable, especially for a man. Brandt’s massive feet look like he killed a whole herd for those boat boots. Suddenly the crowd gets quieter and I look up to see a few guys from the ‘motorcycle gang’ entering our circle. Brandt gets to his feet and I swear the kid just grew two inches taller. I look over three of the four guys and when my eyes land on the fourth I let out a quiet chuckle because the idiot is walking around the dark with his helmet on and the blacked-out faceplate still down. I know a tool when I see one.
Suddenly the three of them look at the one wearing the helmet and when he nods, one of the three steps forward and says, “Who’s the new guy.” He nods toward me.
Okay. I may not be feminine with curves, boobs, or anything else womanly about me, but I don’t look like a guy. At least I didn’t think I did. I stand up and of course offended, I shove my hood off and push my flat chest into this kid’s who has to be younger than me.
“I’m a chick,” I growl before being pulled back to stand next to Brandt. “What’s this Darth Vader shit?” I grumble looking at the guy wearing the helmet. There are a few chuckles, but mostly everyone stays quiet and people start to shuffle back.
“Jo, shut up,” Brandt stiffly says next to me.
“Fuck these guys, they called me a dude.” I try to step forward again because maybe causing some trouble might be fun tonight. Not only that, but maybe it’ll get Brandt to leave me alone and not want to do this bonding shit again.