Out of Line: A Bad Boy Stepbrother Romance

by Juliana Conners

  What did they expect? What could I expect?

  “This all came from Christian?” I ask her, remembering how eager Christian was to talk with her at the party. I’d thought he liked her, but apparently he just couldn’t wait to spread the latest gossip.

  “Yeah,” she says. “He knows some people at Huningdale and even Wesley’s high school back in Piedmont. So although the information seemed kind of credited, it also came from someone who…”

  “…is a total douchebag and weirdo,” I finish for her, knowing how Taylor hates to be mean about people.

  “Exactly. Chelsea, after thinking it through I decided to just hold off on any judgment.” Taylor nods her head, as if convincing herself. “We don’t know enough and the source is shaky at best. So maybe just keep it in the back of your mind so as not to get hurt. But Wesley does seem to really like you. And he didn’t even pressure you for sex. That has to say something.”

  “True,” I agree. “If he’s just in it for sex then he would have moved on to a more willing participant by now.”

  Not that I’m unwilling, I think, despite my best intentions.

  I know what she means about trying not to get hurt, and I don’t want to. What started out as just a fling has become a lot more to me. And now that my emotions are this involved, I’m definitely more at risk for getting hurt, so I need to be careful. But it’s hard for my head to get its message across to my heart all the time.

  “So now you might understand my initial reservations a little bit more. I know I came across a little heavy handed but I’ve decided to ease up,” Taylor declares. “For now, anyway.”

  “Thanks,” I tell her. “Now if only my dad could do the same.”

  “Yeah.” She lets out a low whistle. “That’s a big problem.”

  “I’ve decided I need to talk to Wesley about it,” I tell her.

  “Oh whatever,” she laughs. “You probably just want another excuse to see him again.”

  “Probably!” I join in with her laughter. “But seriously. I don’t want my dad messing this up for me, like he’s scared away all the other guys in the past.”

  “Hopefully he’ll see this one’s different,” Taylor agrees. “I know he does want you to be happy. But it might take a while. He might just see Wesley as some cocky player, both on the field and off…”

  …And maybe he is.

  I finish her sentence for her in my head, although she doesn’t finish it out loud.

  Maybe while I’m talking to him about what we should do about the situation with my dad, I’ll also ask him about these past allegations that Taylor has just passed on. There has to be some plausible explanation.

  I look across the field at Wesley’s toned, athletic, tattooed body and I know that I should probably heed common sense and run away as quickly as possible. But I also know I’ll do whatever it takes to be with him. I just hope he feels the same way about me.

  Chapter 19 – Chelsea

  While the guys are still running laps, I slip into their locker room and tape a folded-up note on the front of Wesley’s locker, which asks him to meet me at the pool. I don’t sign it, just in case my dad sees it. Then I head to the pool at the college’s gym, and read a book on the bleachers.

  I like to come to this pool whenever I can. Although I’ve never been much of a swimmer, I find it comforting to watch the agile bodies of the athletes as they swim their laps. They look orderly and controlled, always finding their way back to the same spot in the pool in which they’d started. I even like to listen to the graceful splashes they make in the water while I read.

  I’m beginning to think that Wesley won’t show up. Maybe someone else got to my note and ripped it off as a cruel joke, or maybe he’s really just not as into me as I’d thought.

  Maybe my dad saw the note, and he and Wesley are fighting right now. At first these worried thoughts pass through my mind as I anxiously scan every person who walks in, but I know none of them.

  Then I become immersed in my book, and nearly forget where I am or why.

  Tonight I can write the saddest lines.

  To think that I do not have her. To feel that I have lost her…

  Suddenly, I feel a hand on my shoulder that causes me to nearly jump off the bleacher.

  “Sorry, sorry,” Wesley says, running a hand through his wind-blown hair. “Your dad had the entire offensive team run so many laps…”

  “No problem,” I tell him, although I think it’s cute that he’s so worried about being late for a meeting I’d just spontaneously arranged without much advance notice at all. “Sorry I got so scared. I was just lost in this book and forgot where I was. But no worries about being late. I know how my dad can be. In fact, that’s precisely the reason I needed to talk to you.”

  “Oh yeah?” he asks, raising his eyebrows with interest. “You think he might be getting suspicious about us?”

  “I don’t think so.” I shrug. “But you never know. He’s so strict with me that I thought we might talk about our game plan…”

  I pause, not used to opening up and being so vulnerable. I don’t actually have a game plan, but I’m hoping that Wesley will jump in with some ideas.

  “I thought that note you left for me was hot,” he says, leaning in close to whisper in my ear.

  “Oh yeah?”

  I’m surprised by the seemingly sudden change of subject. But if he thinks that something I did was hot, I’m willing to hear about it.

  “Yeah,” he says, kissing my cheek and then nuzzling my neck with his nose. “The forbidden coach’s daughter is leaving me secret notes. Right out in the open. I love it.”

  “Oh.”

  I pull away a little bit. This topic of conversation wasn’t exactly what I’d had in mind.

  He leans back into me, as if oblivious as to my confusion. “And I love how you thought up the pool as our secret meeting place.”

  I stare at him blankly.

  “It’s funny,” he continues. “Swimmers and football players and cheerleaders are all athletes, but our paths rarely ever cross. It’s very unlikely that anyone would recognize us here. Good thinking.”

  I nod, although that’s not why I had chosen the pool as our meeting place. I know, though, that my reasons for liking to come here don’t make a lot of sense, and it’s nothing I feel like explaining to him now.

  Maybe part of me wanted to share one of my favorite spots with him, and I feel silly about that now.

  “Don’t worry,” he says, taking my hand in his own.

  He clearly misinterprets my disappointment as worry. As he squeezes my hand though, seeming concerned, I relax a little bit, and squeeze it back.

  “I know I was scared shitless of your dad at the lake house, but I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Okay.”

  I nod. I wasn’t really thinking he was going anywhere, but it had felt to me like we were getting closer to being together for real. There’s no way I’m going to tell him that now, though. I’d sound ridiculous.

  “I don’t mind staying your dirty little secret,” he says, squeezing my hand again, but I don’t reciprocate this time. “I don’t want any more trouble during training and I’d like to keep seeing you of course. And I’m starting to think it’s pretty hot.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Yeah. A forbidden relationship. Off limits affair with the coach’s daughter. Both of us purposefully going totally out of bounds, but not getting caught.”

  He smiles, and I do my best to smile back. But all I feel is confusion. He said “relationship,” but he also said “affair” and made it sound as if what we’re doing is something dirty and wrong.

  I wasn’t exactly thinking we should approach my dad together and let him know we like each other, but I thought maybe we should at least start thinking about a direction for the future. I’d thought maybe we could go public after the football season is over, although it sure would be fun to hang out as a couple before and after home games and while traveling at
away games.

  I guess we’re not going to be able to do that now. And maybe not ever, from how Wesley’s making it sound.

  I’m definitely not going to ask him about the other cheerleaders back at his old school that he supposedly jilted and mistreated. Since we’re not even officially dating, it’s not any of my business.

  Chapter 20 – Chelsea

  “So, what are you reading?” Wesley asks me, nudging my leg with his and cocking his head at the book that is open in my lap.

  I’d thought our unsuccessful conversation was over, but apparently Wesley wants to hang out awhile.

  “Oh, just a… book,” I say, realizing how stupid my answer sounds.

  But I don’t want to get into why exactly I’m reading Pablo Neruda’s poetry right now, or why I always re-read it so many times.

  “I’m not a big reader,” he says, and I’m not sure whether to be happy or upset that he changed the subject.

  “What do you like to do?” I ask him, trying to turn the conversation around, into something more pleasant and casual.

  “Just more active stuff, I guess,” he says, with a shrug. “I’m not one to sit in one place for long, and reading kind of requires that.”

  “I see,” I tell him.

  “Why?” he asks. “Are you trying to figure out where I should take you on a secret date?”

  “Ha!” I laugh, but I blush at the same time. “Where you should take me? Maybe I should take you on a secret date!”

  “Fine,” he says. “But it had best be to some place really cool.”

  “Well, have you been out and about town much?” I ask him, excited about us going on a date, even though I’m still not happy about how our conversation has turned out. “I know you just moved here.”

  “Not really,” he says. “Practice and games have taken up most of my time.”

  “Now that you’ve learned to fish in the country, I think it’s time you see more of our fine city, then,” I tell him.

  He raises his my eyebrows in interest. “Oh really. Is that a challenge?”

  “More like an invitation,” I tell him. “Have you been to the amusement park?”

  It’s one of my favorite places in the world, but I don’t tell him that. I decide to take it slow, tame my emotions a little and not let them hang so far out on my sleeve. If he just wants an adventurous time, I know how to show him that.

  “I have not,” he says.

  He looks a bit hesitant.

  “I know it’s nothing like the big chain amusement parks in other cities,” I tell him, apologetically. “It’s rather rinky dinky and old. But it’s still fun.”

  “Well then,” he says. “Challenge accepted. Or invitation accepted. Or… whatever.”

  He still seems a bit reluctant, as if he’s trying to talk himself into it. I wonder if his feelings for me have already faded. Or if they had never really been as strong as I’d thought they were in the first place.

  But then he stands up suddenly, as if having convinced himself.

  “How about now?” he asks, looking like he’s ready to leave immediately.

  I feel the sudden urge to play it cool. If I’m just his dirty little secret that he has to hide away from my dad the coach, I shouldn’t always be so available to him. It’s almost as if I hear Taylor’s voice in my head, giving me that advice that Wesley calls “motherly.”

  Don’t be so eager, the voice says. Play harder to get. Make him do the chasing.

  “I have a lot of studying to catch up on,” I tell him, shrugging slightly. “I didn’t get anything done all weekend, thanks to a certain someone.”

  Just the memory of his hands on my skin is enough to make me blush, so I hurry to continue the current topic of conversation.

  “And the park opened hours ago anyway. We wouldn’t have a lot of time there if we went now. If we’re going to go to an amusement park, we’d best get an early start.”

  “True,” he says, as if unfazed. “I should study the playbook tonight anyway, because your dad claims I don’t know how things are traditionally done, and that I’m not allowed to switch things up or try anything new until I master the basics.”

  I give a half-hearted laugh, but my dad is the last thing I want to talk about. All he does is ruin things for me when it comes to relationships and Wesley is turning out to be no exception.

  “Well good luck with that,” I tell him, standing up to walk back to campus.

  He gets up to follow me, and then he says, “Since an early start is required for amusement parks, how about Sunday morning? It’ll give us both time to rest up after the big game Friday night.”

  I do my best not to smile. My plan had worked. Now he is chasing me.

  I’m not sure whether I’m supposed to say yes or no now. But I decide to ignore the advice of the voice in my head, and make sure we have something lined up. Otherwise I’d just die of anticipation not knowing when I get to see him again.

  “Sure,” I tell him, too fast, too eagerly.

  I want to kick myself for putting myself out there this far, but I’m not able to reign myself back in for some reason.

  “I’ll see you Sunday morning then.”

  “I’m not sure what you’ll tell your dad you’re doing,” Wesley says.

  I realize he’s still afraid of getting caught. Well, at least that’s not as bad as the alternative: not wanting to go with me at all.

  “You let me figure that part out,” I tell him. “I know how to handle my dad.”

  “Okay, I’ll meet you at the stadium,” he says, as if knowing it’s a bad idea to pick me up, like regular guys can do for regular girls when they take them on a date.

  “Be ready to experience the most fun amusement park ever,” I tell him as we leave the pool area.

  “And you be ready to be an amazing tour guide on this super duper secret date you’re taking me on,” he says.

  I can’t say I like the “secret” part, but I definitely like the “date” part. And even the dorky way he says “super duper” turns me on, for some strange reason.

  For someone who comes off as such a bad boy, he certainly has his soft spots.

  As I sit in classes all day long, I wonder how I’ll be able to hold myself together until this weekend arrives. I’m proud of myself for making him wait until Sunday to see me again, but I’m not sure that waiting until then will be an easy task.

  Chapter 21 – Chelsea

  After I get home from class, I eat dinner alone in the dining room. I’d been hoping my dad might want to eat dinner too, as we sometimes do together, but so far he’s kept himself cooped up in his room.

  I’m lonely though, and could use some conversation. I also want to let him know that I have plans on Sunday, since he’d mentioned perhaps taking me on a fishing trip. My birthday is coming up soon, and he likes to do father/ daughter weekends to celebrate.

  I’m not sure what to tell him about who my plans are with, since I don’t like to lie to him. But I’m also not about to ruin what I have going with Wesley. Even if we just meet up in secret for some fun on the side, I’m still excited about being with him.

  And Taylor’s right that my dad hides things from me, too. So I decide to say I’m going to the amusement park, which is true, but leave out who I’m going with. He’ll probably just assume it’s Taylor, since we often went together in the past.

  I approach his bedroom door and knock on it.

  “Umm, come in,” he says, and it isn’t until I’ve opened his door that I realize he sounds embarrassed and in a hurry.

  He’s turning around and shoving something into his pocket. And it really looks like a little blue box. The kind that engagement rings come in.

  “Dad?” I ask, feeling half guilty for barging in on him and half mad at him for clearly not wanting me to know something.

  And I suppose that 100% of me feels scared about whatever is in that box.

  “Hi Sweetie,” he says, taking his hands out of his pocket as if eve
rything is completely normal. “What’s up?”

  “Dad, what are you doing?”

  I didn’t want to ask him, but I can’t help it. I feel like a little kid again. My lower lip is even trembling.

  Stop it, I will myself.

  “Chelsea,” he says, as he sits down on the bed. “You may want to sit down. I have something to tell you.”

  Oh my god.

  This is it. He’s going to tell me that Taylor’s mom is going to be my new step-mom…

  I brace myself.

  “I’m fine standing here, Dad.”

  Just get it over with. Just tell me this crazy thing I never thought would happen. And especially not like this.

  “Well, okay. If you’re sure. I know this is going to sound pretty surreal…”

  “Dad, just tell me.”

  I ball up my fists and scratch at my palms, a nervous habit leftover from when I was younger.

  “Okay. Well.” He chuckles, awkwardly. “Taylor’s mom and I… Miss Hudson…”

  “Sherry?” I ask, nonchalantly.

  Don’t call her Miss Hudson. It makes her sound like an old librarian rather than Taylor’s mom, whom I’ve known ever since I can remember.

  “Yes. Of course. Sherry. We’ve been… seeing each other.”

  I let out a huge sigh of relief.

  “Oh. I know that, Dad.”

  “Really?”

  He leans back a bit on the bed, as if relieved himself.

  “Yes. Obviously. I know a lot more than you think I know.”

  Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I want to ask him. Taylor’s mom told her. She tells her everything. Unlike you.

  But I don’t say anything. I’m just glad it isn’t worse. Apparently he just got her a gift. I remind myself that it’s not unheard of for a guy to give a woman he’s seeing some jewelry.

  “You’re smarter than I give you credit for,” my dad says, laughing nervously again.

  “I mean, I was kind of surprised when Taylor and I first figured it out,” I admit. “But it’s a rather small city with a small selection of…”

  I pause, not knowing how to say it.