Thick: A Stepbrother Romance

by L. M. Roberts

  “We look so beautiful,” she exhaled on a breath.

  I smiled. “Henry is a very lucky man, mom. I can’t wait to see his reaction to you in your gown.”

  “Well then, we better not keep him waiting.” She giggled excitedly.

  When we walked out of the salon, there was a limo waiting. Our mouths hung open when we found that it was for us. A gift from Mr. Titan. We sat in the back and sipped champagne on the way to the church, arriving with just enough time to get into our gowns. My mother started fidgeting when we came out of the bridal room, making our way to the doors that would lead her to her love.

  I saw Brad approach and his eyes never left mine as he came to a stop in front of me. “You ladies look absolutely lovely. My father is a very lucky man, Meredith.” He said in his best sucking up voice. It took all my restraint not to roll my eyes at him.

  We got into our spots just as the music started playing. I wanted to stay pissed at him, but the moment I touched his arm I found the opposite happening. I wanted to touch more of him. I hated that my body betrayed me the way it did. He noticed what he was doing to me and a small smile graced his lips.

  He leaned toward me, whispering. “Your body still wants me, even though you’re trying to fight it.”

  “What was that today at the café, Brad?”

  “I’ll tell you, ok. We really need to talk. There is something that I need to tell you,” he replied cryptically.

  I nodded just as the doors opened. Leading me down the aisle, he rubbed the hand that was wrapped around his arm. I found that it soothed the raging emotions inside me. I felt a little better when we got up to the altar. He may be a bastard, but at least he was going to explain everything to me this time. I just hoped I liked what he said.

  The traditional wedding march began playing and I looked straight at Henry. When my mom began walking up the aisle, Henry’s face broke out into a huge grin showing all his straight white teeth. His reaction was the reaction I’d been hoping for. That one smile told me everything about him. That he would keep the vows he was saying to my mother today, and that they would live the rest of their lives, blissfully happy.

  About halfway through the ceremony, I spotted Cherish sitting in the back of the church. I made eye contact with Brad, narrowing them. He looked at me, cocking his head as if he didn’t know why I was looking at him with such anger. I looked to the pew and then back to him. He seemed to get the hint and looked a second later, his eyes not portraying surprise. He glanced back at me, barely making eye contact before focusing on our parents.

  I was beyond mad. Not because she could be here for Brad, but because she had the gall to show up to my mother’s wedding. If I knew that I wouldn’t get into trouble I’d commit murder. Just jump over the pew, and beat the ever living hell out of that bitch. But that was something that I couldn’t do. I didn’t want to ruin my mother’s big day, so I had to be a good girl and behave.

  Chapter Twenty

  The ceremony ran smooth as silk. I was thankful for that. After getting a few glasses of champagne my temper had calmed itself quite a bit. I was extra giggly, but other than that I was good. I sipped from my third flute, watching my mother and Henry dance for the first time. I’d never seen her smile so bright in all my life. Her eyes were glassy from unshed tears as was Henry’s. I hoped one day I had what they shared. My life would then be complete.

  Alex sat in the chair next to me watching my mother and Henry dance. She looked gorgeous in her sheath dress, her long auburn hair piled on top of her head. She wasn’t one to dress up, but she had really out done herself this time.

  “Your mom looks so happy,” Alex breathed.

  I sighed, a smile spreading on my face. “I know, I’ve never seen her like this before.”

  “Marriage looks good on her.”

  We both set watching as my mother danced with her new husband. Now was supposed to be the time that Brad and I was supposed to tell them about us. However, since the ceremony I hadn’t seen him. He was like a ghost, people said that he was here, of course no one had saw him recently. Somewhere in the back of my mind I just knew he was with Cherish.

  She’d come here for a reason, but that reason I didn’t know. Mom knew how much I despised the woman, so I knew she wasn’t the cause of inviting her. Henry’s contact were the ones that were invited, and his secretary had been the one to send out the invites. So figuring his secretary could have made a mistake, I chucked it up to an accident.

  “I saw Cherish in the pews at the church,” Alex inserted, turning in her chair to face me.

  I grimaced. “Yeah I know. I have no idea who in the hell would invite her though. She’s not part of the family.”

  “Well it could be a mistake,” she stated.

  “I’d say your right. No need to worry.”

  About that time the song ended. Henry said something into my mom’s ear, she smiled and nodded her head. Henry kissed the back of my mother’s hand and made his way toward me. I smiled as he stepped closer. It was the traditional father daughter dance. Since my mother was getting my grandfather on the floor, Henry was stepping in for my dead beat father.

  He kneeled in front of me, taking my hands in his. “I may not be your father, but I see you as a daughter. Have for a very long time. I would be honored to share this dance with you.”

  I choked up, not being able to say a word. The only thing I could do is nod. He took my hand with his and led me out to the dancefloor, spinning me before tucking me into his arms. I cackled with laughter, holding onto him. We danced for a few minutes in silence, just soaking in the soft melody of the music.

  Then I had diarrhea of the mouth. “Who invited Cherish?”

  He grimaced. “I never took her off my contact list. It was my fault she’s here. Please don’t be mad. Your mother has told me your intent dislike for the woman, in honest, I don’t blame you at all. But I do appreciate you being the bigger person.”

  A tired sigh left my lips. “Trust me, you have no idea how hard it’s been for me. That witch taunted me all through school. I understand why Brad married her, but staying with her, I don’t get.”

  “Yeah, there is a lot you do not know, Claire. I just received some news before the wedding, but I feel Brad should be the one to tell you.” His face spoke volumes. He was not pleased in the least little bit.

  “What news?” I asked, cocking my head to the side.

  “Brad should be the one to tell you. Whenever we are done here, go find him. If he doesn’t tell you, tell me. I will make him tell you.” He explained, giving me a light kiss on the cheek.

  Just as the song ended, I leaned up whispering in his ear. “I couldn’t have asked for a better father. You are not a Stepfather to me, you are my dad.” Then I kissed his cheek, leaned back to see a lone tear escape his eye.

  He cleared his throat, seemingly to get his emotions under control. “Thank you sweetie, and you are my little girl.”

  My mother came to cut in, giving me a hug. I kissed her check and then walked back to Alex at the table. A ball of emotions I was. I finally had a dad. Even though I saw him as a father figure my whole life, he was now by law my dad. I couldn’t be happier, but at the same time a little scared. I didn’t know how he would take mine and Brad’s news. I hope they took it great. I don’t think I could take it if it were any other way.

  Alex saw the look on my face as I got closer to the table. She stood motioning for me to follow her, I did. We walked out into the hall way of the hotel, finding a quiet, dark corner so no one would be able to over hear us. She was about to say something when a shadow out of the corner of my eye caught my attention. I glanced thinking that it could be nothing, but the sight I saw, enraged me.

  “Is that Cherish and Brad?” I whispered, glancing back at Alex.

  She turned, looking to see what I was. “Where?”

  I pulled her into the corner a little more, and pointed in their direction. “There.”

  She followed where I was
pointing, her eyes getting as big as saucers. She nodded her head, and turned back to look at me. “Sure does look like it.”

  Dammit to hell. What the fuck was he playing at?

  I stood there in the shadows of the corner watching them interact with each other. Her eyes I saw were a bit tear stained, and his face was nothing but a blank mask. To anyone it would look like they were a couple having an argument. But I knew something was up. He would not deliberately do something like this to me. Especially our parents wedding where we were supposed to tell our said parents about us.

  I couldn’t look away from the spectacle in front of me. It was like a bad car wreck, and I was the rubbernecker. She would say something to him, then he would argue about it. I have no idea why he put himself through this time and time again. He was divorced from her now, he didn’t have to put up with this. He was his own person.

  “What do you think their talking about?” I whispered to Alex.

  She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know, but it doesn’t look too good.”

  When Cherish touched his arm, a saddened look on her face, I about lost it. My vision began clouding with a red haze. That fucking whore! My anger was coming to a boiling point fast. The only thing I wanted to do was punch her in the throat. The only thing stopping me was what Henry had said to me. He was one of the most important people in my life, and I was not about to ruin his special day by brawling in the hotel hallway.

  But damn I wanted to.

  I watched Brad take Cherish into a hug, rubbing slow circles on her back for comfort. My mouth hung open in shock. Maybe I was seeing it wrong. Maybe he was just offering her his comfort. I sure hoped to God that was the only thing he was offering her. I closed my eyes when the sight became too much.

  Alex took me in her arms just as I saw Brad do for Cherish, and I wept. My heart absolutely broke from seeing him take another woman into his arms. I was supposed to be the only woman he ever did that with, at least now I was supposed to be. With my sobs wreaking havoc on my body, I glanced over at Brad and Cherish.

  My heart broke a little more. He brought his hands up to Cherish’s face, and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. I openly sobbed into Alex’s shoulder. It seemed I was the one he fooled. That he planned to get back together with Cherish this whole time. It was more than likely the reason he didn’t answer his phone last night. He’d been with her.

  “Honey, you can’t keep going through this. You need to find out what’s going on. Maybe it isn’t what it looks like,” Alex explained, continuing to rub circles on my back.

  I shook my head. “I don’t need him to explain. I should have never fell for his games again. Can we go to the bathroom so I can freshen up? Then we can go back to the reception and try to get me through this in one piece.”

  She took my shoulders in her hand, making our way to the bathroom. We stepped inside and the women that were currently occupying, left without being told to. I knew my face was probably wrecked from crying, but I couldn’t help it. I just saw the love of my life, kissing another woman. That would wreck anyone’s day no matter who they were.

  “We can leave for New York sooner. You know, if that’s what you want to do,” Alex whispered, probably feeling anything louder would break me again.

  She wouldn’t be far off to think that. I was barely holding onto what little control I had. Anything at this point in time would set me off. I cannot be labeled as the girl that cried at the reception. The wedding, possibly. But not the reception. Everyone would think that I was crying because my mother got married, when in fact it was the opposite. I was happy for her. The thing that had me crying was the bastard son of Henry.

  “I think I like the sound of that.” I said, my throat beginning to get tight from the pain I was enduring.

  We were coming out of the bathroom when I noticed Brad leaning against the wall next to the door. Alex gave me a worried look, but I waved her away. Telling her that this needed to be done and then we would get the hell out of dodge. Turning to face him, I crossed my arms. The action somewhat of a guard against him. I was sure he took in my defensive stance, due to the way his eyebrow arched in curiosity.

  “Ready to tell our parents about us?” He asked, running his fingers through his hair. That was what he always did when something was frustrating him, or he was lying.

  A frustrated sigh left me. “No, I’m not ready to tell them; because there is nothing we need to confess.”

  A look of confusion flashed in his eyes as he pushed away from the wall, coming to stand in front of me. “There isn’t? I was pretty sure there was.”

  “Pretty sure us ended the moment you kissed Cherish,” I scoffed, taking off in the opposite direction.

  He grabbed my elbow halting my escape. “Claire, whatever you saw I assure you that you took it out of context. Cherish was told me something, and I acted on instinct. It was an honest kiss that I assure you was a complete mistake when I caught myself…Wait, how did you know that?” He looked down at me, curiosity lighting his eyes.

  I jerked my arm from his hold, narrowing my eyes. “Unless you call being in the middle of the hall, private. I doubt many people missed your lovers embrace. Plus, I was in said hallway when you put both hands on her face,” I took his face between my hands. “Like this, and leaned in for a kiss. No one would see that kiss as being a mistake, or unplanned.”

  Dropping my hands, I turned around and walked back into the reception area. I needed to think of a good excuse to leave before the reception was over. My mother was sure to ask me why I was running off so soon. Being that my office wasn’t opened on a Sunday, it needed to be one hell of an excuse. My job would only one of two reasons my mother would allow me to go without explaining myself.

  Entering the room, I peered through the crowd until I saw Alex. Making my way over to her, I pulled her to the side. Alex would be able to tell me how to get out of this without being caught, or give me some advice. I made sure that my mother and Henry were nowhere around before I started explaining it to her.

  I took a calming breathing before I began. “He said that it was a mistake. That she told him something that just caught him off guard or some shit, and he reacted on instinct. But that it had been a mistake. He still wants to tell mother and Henry about it.”

  “What do you want to do?” She asked, searching in my eyes. When she found what she was looking for she simply nodded.

  “I want to leave and go back to New York, right now.” I answered honestly.

  “Then you will get just that.”

  Before walking away to get the car, she told me that I needed to tell my mother that something was wrong with Brett. That someone in his family died and he really needed me. She said that I had to act worried so that she would believe it and not ask me any questions. I felt like shit for lying to my mom for the umpteenth time. However, there was no way that I was going to tell her the truth.

  I was actually a little grateful that Brad did what he did. That showed me that I didn’t need to completely turn my life upside down, because we would never have made it in the first place. I knew that thought should have triggered some sort of emotion, but it didn’t. Whereas just hours earlier the thought of never being with Brad ripped my heart in two. Maybe there was so many times someone can break you before you can’t be put back together again.

  I saw my mom off in the distance, laughing at something someone said. I really hated the idea of returning to New York when my mother and I finally bonded so well. While she was visiting me over the last decade I could tell that something was just holding her back. I didn’t know what that something was until I showed up back down here. I realized the first day the reason she kept herself guarded. It was because I hadn’t been home in all these years. I couldn’t her tell that I was not going to be returning. I just couldn’t. So I opted to lie to my mother yet again.

  Walking through the crowd, I mustered as much panic as I could. When she turned to greet me, her pause told me that she read s
omething was very wrong.

  “Claire, what is it?” She asked, clenching my hands with her.

  “I have to return home, now.” I replied, panic evident in my tone.

  She pressed her hand to her chest, frowning. “Oh…why, is something wrong?”

  I nodded my head. Yeah, but it’s not what you think. “Brett needs me. Someone in his family passed away,” at this Henry walked up settling a hand on my mom’s waist. “He isn’t taking it so good and he needs me there with him.”

  Henry kissed my mother’s head as she began tearing up. “Ok honey. I completely understand. But please call me every hour until you get home. I want to make sure that you are safe.”

  I stepped up to hug my mother, Henry backed away. I looked at him, tears filling my eyes. He simply nodded, and began looking around for something. “Mom I promise I will call you every hour on the hour until I get home. I’m sorry I gotta leave in such a hurry, but he needs me. I want to wish you and Henry the best honeymoon ever.”

  When she finally let me go, I stepped back to see tears running down her cheeks. “Honey, I believe you. Just make sure you say goodbye to Brad before you go. He’ll hate it that he missed you otherwise. It’s been amazing to see you two come together and enjoy each other’s company. You all are perfect step-siblings.”

  I kissed her cheek before setting off to find Brad. Even if I hated it, I was going to honor my mother’s wish. If she wanted me to say goodbye to Brad, then that’s what I was going to do. After all this was going to be the last time that I laid eyes on him, at least for a while. I was searching through the crowd when I saw him standing next to Cherish. Grunting my disapproval, I made my way toward them.

  They were looking out the window, deep in conversation. What had me stopping was the word ‘baby.’ Did I just hear that right? Did she really just say something about a baby? They’d been divorced for years. There would be no way that she was pregnant with his child. She had to be lying. She just had to be.