by Rye Hart
Bad Seed
A Brother’s Best Friend Romance
CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
EPILOGUE
EXCLUSIVE: ACCIDENTAL DADDY
BEAUTIFUL DISASTER
THE BETTER BROTHER
FORBIDDEN TOUCH
RYE HART SNEAK PEEKS
COPYRIGHT © 2018
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As a thank you, I’ve included an exclusive full-length, never before released romance: Accidental Daddy, as a bonus after the main story. Enjoy!!
CHAPTER 1
THERESA
ELEVEN YEARS AGO
“Theresa, the guy’s bad news”.
“He’s not a bad guy, Jane. He just had a rough home life. That’s why my parents took him in,” I said.
“Fine, but I still can’t believe you’re fantasizing about your brother’s best friend.”
“I’d rather talk about your love interest. Did you actually kiss him?” I asked.
“Who?” Jane asked.
“Do I have to specify?”
“Come on,” Jane said as she giggled. “Who are you talking about?”
“You know. Chance. The captain of the football team? You can’t tell me you didn’t kiss him after the game last night.”
“Maybe,” Jane said with a grin.
“You little tease! I knew it! And you’re giving me a hard time about my innocent crush on Grant. You’re sucking face with the school quarterback. Why can’t this be my miracle moment?” I asked.
“Are you saying Chance kissing me is a miracle?” she asked, her face turning a slight shade of red.
“Jane, that’s not what I’m saying.”
“That’s what it sounds like you’re saying.”
“Look, I don’t want to argue, okay? I want to know how it was,” I grinned.
Jane’s face perked back up. “It was awesome. His lips were all warm, and he had just put on Chapstick so they were nice and soft. And his tongue…”
“He used tongue?” I asked. “Have you ever done that before?”
“Not until him, but he didn’t need to know that. Confidence is key, Theresa. Project confidence and he will think you know what you’re doing,” she said.
“You’re so lucky, Jane. I haven’t kissed anyone yet.”
“And if you stop daydreaming about your brother’s best friend, maybe you’ll see that Ike has the hots for you.”
“Ew. Ike?” I asked.
“Yeah. Don’t you see him staring at you every day in science class? Even I can see it, Theresa.”
“But Ike is—Ike,” I said.
“Sure, he doesn’t wear a leather jacket, but he’s smart like you. And if you look past his baggy shirts, he’s got some muscles going on under there.”
“No, he doesn’t. Ike wears glasses and reads books.”
“Like you,” she said.
“But I don’t want someone like me. I want—”
“Grant?” she asked.
“Yeah. I want Grant. Even though I know, I can’t have him.”
“You do know that’s weird,” Jane said.
“Yeah, I know it’s weird. But it doesn’t stop me from thinking about it.”
“Trust me, I know,” she said. “You talk about it every time I come over.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I just want you to get your first kiss so we can talk and compare and do all of that fun stuff. But maybe you should be looking at someone who already likes you instead of someone who you can’t have.”
“Like Ike,” I said grimacing.
“Exactly,” she said with a smile. “He’s really not a bad guy. And he’s head over heels for you. I can see it. He’s always making googly eyes at you and watching you walk down the hallway. He’s got it bad. You could easily have your first kiss with him.”
“Yeah, I guess,” I said. “But—”
“But what, Theresa?”
“Do you think there’s a chance Grant might like me back?”
“Would it matter?” she asked.
“I think it would. I mean, it doesn’t make sense for me to have a crush on someone that doesn't like me back. But if he likes me, maybe it could be a one-time thing. Like with you and Chance.”
“Chance and I are not a one-time thing.”
“What?” I asked. “Did he ask you out?”
“Yes, he did. I’m going on my first date!”
I threw my arms around my best friend as we jumped up and down. I was so excited for her. She had been crushing on Chance Fuller for an entire year, and she was getting to go on a date with him.
But a part of me was jealous that she was getting her dream guy.
I wanted my dream guy, too.
“When? Where is he taking you? Do you know what you’re wearing?” I asked. “Please tell me I can help you pick out your outfit.”
“Of course, you can. Who else would?” Jane asked. “We’re going out this Saturday night if my parents let me.”
“Oh, my gosh, what if they don’t let you?” I asked
“I’ll sneak out,” she said, shrugging.
“Jane! You can’t do that.”
“Why not? You can kiss the guy your parents let move in, but I can’t sneak out of the house to go on my first date? I might even let him touch my boob.”
“Wait, over the shirt or under?” I asked.
“Under,” she grinned.
“You wouldn’t! Jane, that’s like an open invitation to have sex.”
“Yeah. And?”
I gawked at my best friend as she strutted around my room.
“I couldn't think of anyone better to lose my virginity to. And it would be perfect. My first kiss, my first date, and my first time? In the same week? It would be perfect!”
“Jane, you can’t have sex with Chance.”
“And why not?” she asked. “Because you can’t have sex with Grant?”
I felt my cheeks flushing hot as Jane sat down on the bed next to me.
“If it makes you feel better, I do think Grant likes you,” she said.
“Wait, you do?” I asked. “How? Why? Did he say something?”
“No, not really. He does ask me sometimes how you’re doing.”
“He does? Why would he ask you?”
“I don’t know. It’s kind of weird, but sometimes I catch him staring at you.”
“What? Why didn’t you tell me? This is massive.”
“It’s just some looks. Not nearly the same kind of looks Ike gives you,” she said.
“But Grant isn’t like Ike. He doesn’t wear is heart on his sleeve. Grant’s mysterious. And quiet. And wild.”
I felt a smile trickle across my cheeks as I sighed.
“You’ve got it bad for him,” Jane said.
“I do. You’re not pu
lling my leg on this, are you?”
“I’m not. But I’m worried about you getting your heart broken. You know your parents won’t ever allow it.”
“So? You’re about to sneak out of the house and go on your first date. Why couldn't I hide something like this from my parents?”
“For one, you both live here,” she said.
“We could work around that, you know. Staying behind sick on family movie nights. Staying up late and talking downstairs. Sitting on the porch. Riding around together in the car.”
“Wow. You’ve really thought this through.”
“I have,” I said with a grin.
“Hollis would have a fit,” she said.
“We could double-date. You know, if things don’t work out with Chance.”
I watched Jane’s cheeks tint with red as she shook her head.
“Oh, come on, Jane. I know you think my brother is hot.”
“I don’t have a crush on your brother,” she said. “And even if I did, he’s off-limits.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because he’s your brother, Theresa!”
“I’d let you date him! Even though the idea of you guys kissing is awful.”
I gagged playfully, and Jane pushed my shoulder.
“You’re so gross.”
“It’s why you love me,” I said with a grin. “Hollis is a pain in the butt, but I know you like him. You look at him with those googly eyes and blush every time he smiles at you. It’s textbook.”
I always enjoyed those innocent parleys with my best friend. Little did I know that night would change my life forever. Jane and I sat on my bed, giggling about kissing boys and planning who we would lose our virginity to.
I wouldn’t find out until later that my mother was listening in on the conversation.
She’d been standing right there in the doorway of her own bedroom as Jane, and I giggled during our sleepover. Jane and I spent the night listening to music and watching movies and eating junk she bought at the gas station before passing out on my bed.
And when I woke up, my mother was knocking on the door.
“Jane, I’m ready to take you home whenever you’re up,” my mother said.
“Okay, Mrs. Peterson,” she said.
“Five more minutes, Mom,” I said.
“Don’t take too much time. I have some errands to run soon.”
I sighed and rolled my eyes as Jane, and I fumbled out of bed. She pulled her clothes on as I shoved all the empty candy wrappers into the trash can. I looked at my best friend as she ran her fingers through her tangled hair and I envied her. I envied how thin her body was and how every single piece of clothing she wore seemed to fit her perfectly. I was a little on the thicker side, with boobs that hadn’t quite grown along with the rest of me. My hair was wild and curly, and my glasses were thick. Jane’s hair was straight and shiny, and her vision was perfect. She’d been my best friend since we’d been little kids, and I had it in my head that because we were so close, we would turn out the same.
But Jane was pretty in a way I didn’t think I’d ever be, so there was no reason to think Grant would ever like me.
Even though I wanted him to.
“Theresa?” Jane asked.
“Yep?”
“Your Dad sounds angry. Can you hear him out there?” she asked.
I furrowed my brow as I started walking down the hallway. She was right. Dad was arguing with someone. I immediately assumed Hollis had gotten caught sneaking back into the house. He was always doing stupid stuff like that; sneaking out with friends and joyriding into all hours of the morning. But my father wasn’t arguing with Hollis.
He was arguing with Grant.
“Daddy?” I asked. “What’s going on?”
“You stay out of this,” he said.
“Don’t talk to her like that. Nothing’s going on, I swear,” Grant said.
“What’s he talking about?” I asked. “What’s going on?”
“Laura, get her out of here,” my father said.
“Come on, honey. Let’s get Jane home,” my mother said.
“No. Wait a second. What’s going on? Why is Dad upset with Grant?” I asked.
“Did you touch her?” my father asked.
“No, Mr. Peterson. I swear. I would never touch her,” Grant said.
“You’d better be telling me the truth.”
“Daddy! Stop! What are you talking about?”
“Theresa, we should really leave,” Jane said.
My mother was tugging me, and Jane was pushing me out the door. I wanted to get to Grant, to defend him against my father. Why was he so angry and asking him if he’d touched me? I felt panic rising in my chest as my mother, and my best friend pushed me toward the car.
“Stop yelling at him!” I exclaimed. “Mom, what’s going on?”
“We need to get Jane home,” she said.
I wrenched away from them and stuck my finger in my mother’s face.
“Tell me right now why Daddy’s yelling at Grant,” I said.
My mother sighed as the front door opened. I whipped around and heard my father’s boisterous voice as Grant stormed out of the house. My father was pointing and yelling, his face red with anger. Grant’s eyes raised to mine, filled with confusion and questions. I reached out toward him, but he stumbled away from me, trying to get far away quickly.
Tears welled in my eyes as I watched him walk off, and I heard something land in the yard. My father, with anger in his eyes and a hissing sound in his voice, was tossing Grant’s things onto the front lawn.
“Daddy! What are you doing?” I asked.
“Come on, sweetheart. Jane needs to get home,” my mother said.
“Not until someone answers me!”
“Theresa, we don’t owe you any explanation. We’re your parents. Now get in the car,” my mother said.
“No.”
“Get in,” she said, her voice taking on a frustrated tone.
“Come on, Theresa. Get in,” Jane practically begged, obviously wanting to get far away from whatever the hell was happening.
“You will do as your mother asks,” my father commanded.
I whipped around and saw him standing behind me. I looked beyond him and saw Grant picking up his things from the lawn. He was shoving them into a trash bag before he slung it over his shoulder. His eyes rose to mine, and I could see the fear and uncertainty on his face. He stood tall and rolled his shoulders back, his eyes locking with mine one last time.
Then he turned on his heels and walked down the road carrying his only possessions with him.
“I hate you,” I said, seething.
“I don’t know what that boy did to you, but you will not speak to your mother, and I like this,” my father said.
“He didn’t do anything to me!” I exclaimed.
“Get in the car!” my father roared.
“No!”
Tears were pouring down my cheeks as I ran away from my parents. I wanted to run after Grant, but I knew that would simply make them angrier. I ran up the opposite end of the road, hoping to wrap around and catch Grant as he was leaving the neighborhood. I didn’t know where he was going or why any of this had happened, but I wanted to catch him.
I didn’t know what in the hell my father was talking about.
I huffed and puffed as I made my way around the neighborhood. Tears were streaming down my neck as my eyes darted around for him. I walked through the woods, wondering if maybe he took a shortcut. I knew that he and my brother had some sort of treehouse or abandoned barn in the woods they would always go to when things became too much. Maybe he was there, biding his time until my parents would let him come back.
They wouldn’t really kick him out.
Not after what his own parents had done to him.
But the longer I walked, the more my heart sank to my toes. When I made my way back home, my mother rushed out to get me. My father was glaring at me and tears were still falling
from my eyes.
I didn’t care what they thought any longer.
My heart was breaking.
My mother sat me down at the kitchen table, and I stared off through the window. I was angry with my father. I hated him, in fact. My mother set some water in front of me, but I shoved it away. I didn’t want water. Or food. Or air.
I wanted Grant.
Only Grant.
But he was gone, and there was nothing I could do about it.
CHAPTER 2
GRANT
“Hollis. Upstairs.”
“What?” Hollis asked.
“Get upstairs, honey,” Laura said.
“What’s going on?” Hollis asked.
“Do what your mother says,” Glen said.
I got up to walk out of the room, but Glen reached his hand out and placed it against my chest.
“You’ll stay here,” he said.
I looked over at Hollis. He furrowed his brow. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I knew it wasn’t good. Had they figured out we snuck out a couple of nights ago? It was just a stupid party. There wasn’t even any beer. The girl’s fucking parents had been upstairs the entire damn time. It was lame.
Just the type of party Laura and Glen would’ve wanted us at.
“Now I’m going to ask you a question, and I expect you to answer it,” Glen said.
“Yes, sir.”
“Are you leading Theresa on?” Glen asked.
“Wait, what?” I asked, genuinely confused.
“Have you touched our daughter?” Laura asked.
I balked at the woman before I started to laugh.
“You can’t be serious. Theresa?” I asked.
“Yes!” Glen bellowed. “Theresa! My daughter!”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Calm down.”
“Don’t you tell me to calm down, boy. You tell me right now, have you touched our daughter in any way? Have you laid your hands on her?”
“No, Mr. Glen. I would never do that to her. Or to you,” I said.
“You’re lying to me.”
“No, sir. I’m not. I haven’t ever touched Theresa.”
“Do you believe him?” Glen asked as he looked back at his wife.
I looked over at her and saw the hesitation in her eyes. What was going on? Had something happened? I mean, I knew I stole glances at her every now and again.
Thersa was a special girl. A great personality and a killer smile, despite all her awkward teenage-ness. But after what they had done for me? Taking me in after my parents kicked me out.