Stepbrother Forever: A Stepbrother Romance (4 page)

“Sure.”

We only
need to take a few steps to get from his room to mine. The living room is tiny,
now that we made half of it into my bedroom. I guess we won’t be doing much
entertaining in here.

Ryan
whistles as he walks through the doorway. “Damn. Looks pretty sweet, Eve,” he
says sarcastically and then sits on the bare mattress. I take a seat next to
him.

“It’s
not much, but it will be one day,” I tell him with a smile. “This is only the
beginning.”

“I hope
so,” Ryan says, staring into space. “Part of me would love to make it big, one
day, but I’m not so sure that’s what I really want. I like the life I have
now—it’s fun and low-key. Sometimes I think being in the spotlight would change
me—change any of us.”

“I
don’t know,” I reply. “We are who we are. I don’t see us changing.”

We sit
in silence for a moment, contemplating what fame would be like. Then the
intercom buzzes again, snapping us out of our daydream.

“That’s
probably dad,” Ryan says with a sigh. “I hope he gets used to us living here
together.”

“He
will,” I say, getting up to answer the intercom.

Ryan
meets my stepfather downstairs to help him bring up the door. I go down also to
help unload the rest of my boxes from the truck. He is double parked and we are
rushing to get everything out and up to the apartment before someone comes by
and gives him a ticket. The streets are getting busier now that the sun is
setting. Saturday nights around here are always crowded.

We get
the last of my things from the truck and my stepfather announces he is going to
leave instead of trying to park again. I think he’s had enough of me and Ryan I
for today, anyway. He looks at us tentatively before saying goodbye.

“Thanks
for the help,” Ryan says and shakes Dad’s hand.

“You’re
welcome. Make sure you keep your stepsister safe,” Dad replies, and then turns
to me.

“Love
you, Eve,” he says, wrapping his arms around me. “Be careful. And make sure
that door goes up tonight. This part of town… You never know. Another door is
just more protection against intruders.”

“Really?”
I reply with a smirk. “Get home safe, and please don’t worry about me so much.
I’m a big girl, and you taught me well.” I kiss his cheek. He’s been so good to
me over the last few years since he married my mother. It made me shiver inside
to think that he wasn’t going to be around anymore. After spending so many
years without a real father, he’d made me feel so comfortable and loved. I
could only hope that would continue into the future.

I watch
him go with a little tear in my eye.

Both
Ryan and I had taken off from work tonight, so we plan on finishing our
unpacking and getting some sleep. I find myself a little nervous now, that Dad
is gone and it’s just the two of us, but I’m sure it’s just the jitters since
this is the first time I’ll be sleeping here. Ryan and I walk back upstairs to
enjoy our first night in our new apartment.

Chapter 5

It doesn’t take me and
Ryan long to settle in. After our first couple of weeks learning about our new
place and getting our bearings, things just kind of flow. We have already
established somewhat of a routine and feel very comfortable around each other.
Between work, classes, workshops, and occasional auditions, we don’t spend a
whole lot of time together, but it’s a great way to share this small space.

We meet
most of our neighbors in passing—either on the stairway, or at the mailbox.
Everyone seems very nice, and there is a variety of people living here in the
building. One of the elderly men on the first floor is often standing outside
his door, probably because it’s the most entertainment he gets, these days. He
loves to talk to whoever is in the foyer, and even told me a story about a wild
weekend he had when he was my age. He stares at me like he’s reliving the
memory each time we run into each other. Other than that, everyone else keeps
to themselves, but are friendly enough.

My
mother comes in to help me after we moved, in just like she said she would. We
spend the day together and she helps me organize my things and buy a dresser.
She also stayed to make dinner, which was great, since neither Ryan nor I have
cooked at all since we moved here. Ryan knew immediately when he came home that
my mom had been there, just from the smell of her cooking.

She
came in again a few days later. This time, Ryan was there and the three of us
had lunch. It was nice. I don’t think she’s completely comfortable with the two
of us living together, but she doesn’t let it create any tension. Mom will keep
her feelings to herself, or just share them with me. She’s a very down-to-earth
kind of person. I don’t believe she would ever get into it with Ryan unless
there was a real reason to. We tell her about what’s been going on, and about a
class a bunch of us will be taking together, which we are all excited about.

Each of
our friends comes by at some point to check out the new place, and every time,
there is something new added or hanging up. We ventured up to the roof a couple
of times, even though it is starting to get very cold out. Hopefully, when it
gets cooler, we can have some get-togethers up there. There’s been some talk of
a holiday party, but I don’t know where we will put everyone, so we’ll see what
happens with that.

When
Ryan and I are home at the same time, we usually hang out together. We’ll watch
a movie, grab some food, or go out for a drink. Ryan will come in and hang out
while I’m bartending on occasion, which he’s done in the past, but it’s nice
that he can walk me home now. Sometimes just the two of us, and sometimes we
have a friend or two join. We are really enjoying our new home and being in the
heart of all the action. Our jobs are here, our friends, the studio, the
theaters—it’s all right here.

My
stepfather has finally settled more with the idea of me and Ryan living
together. I can’t say he’s happy about it, but I think he realizes nothing is
going on. I made a couple of trips back to have dinner with my parents, and
they see how happy I am. I know they miss having me home, but I’m sure they
don’t mind having the house all to themselves.

I’m working
tonight, and know it’s going to get very busy. It’s a Saturday, and we are
getting close to holiday season, which is our craziest time of year. Ryan is
rarely off on a weekend and mentions he may stop in with Tony, since he’s not
working. I’m glad he’s coming with a friend, because I don’t know if I will be
able to hang out while he is there. I quickly say goodbye while putting my coat
on over a skimpy bartending outfit.

“Damn,
girl. You looking for extra tips tonight? You might need your own bodyguard,
looking like that,” Ryan comments as I walk out the door.

“Fuck
off,” I say with a laugh.

“Seriously,
Eve. You look hot,” he replies.

“Whatever,”
I answer and leave before he can see me blushing.

I smile
to myself as I stride down the stairs. I know I look good, but it’s nice to
hear it once in a while from a man who’s
not
trying to get in my pants.

I exit
the building and pull my coat closed to protect myself from the cold. I quickly
walk the short distance to the bar and shake the cold off as I walk in. It’s
not crowded yet, but it’s still early. In an hour, we will be four or five
people deep at the bar. I put my things away and step behind the bar to settle
in for a long night.

As
predicted, we get busy pretty fast. People seem to pile in all at once. I
notice a group of girls that must be at a bachelorette party. They’re always
easy to spot, because they’re usually dressed like whores and drink from
penis-shaped straws. The dead giveaway is the girl with the “Bride to Be”
tiara. I know it’s all in good fun, but they immediately annoy me.

I’m
mixing and pouring nonstop for what I’m sure is over an hour before I notice
Ryan and Tony are here. They are patiently waiting for me to notice them and
get their drinks.

“Hey,
guys,” I greet them hastily. “What’s up? What can I get for you?”

“Just a
couple of beers,” Ryan replies.

“And
maybe one of those chicks,” Tony adds, pointing to the group with the
bachelorette.

“Yeah.
No problem. I’m sure there are a couple of them looking for a one-nighter to
mark the special occasion. Pretty sure you won't need my help there,” I sneer
as I get Ryan’s and Tony’s beers from the cooler.

“Come
on, Eve. Don’t get all jelly,” Tony jokes. “You’re way hotter than any of
them—especially in that outfit,” he adds, looking me up and down.

“Shut
up, Tony,” I answer in a friendly tone, handing them their drinks.

“Cut me
some slack. It’s hard picking up chicks when you’re hanging out with this guy,”
he replies, nodding at Ryan and paying for the round of drinks.

“Yeah,
he’s got you outclassed, doesn’t he,” I quip with a wink and go to help someone
else, but not before glancing back at Ryan.

Ryan
does look gorgeous tonight. His top is fitted in such a way that it’s not
tight, but you can clearly see the definition of his body underneath. When he
turns to find a place to stand, I get a glimpse of his backside, which is also
very appealing. Even living together, we have managed to stay out of each
other’s way when it comes to bathing and dressing. I don’t want things to get
weird—not that they would, but his body is very nice to look at and I don’t
want to stare.

I
continue serving an endless line of people. The music is pumping and the drinks
are flowing, which is great for me. I don’t like to think of it as whoring
myself out, but my tips are noticeably better when I show a little skin. With
the holidays coming, I don’t mind some extra cash in my pockets.

I take
a quick break to run to the ladies’ room. I see the bachelorette and her crew
in a tight circle on the dance floor. I also notice a couple of them standing
by the wall, talking to Tony and Ryan. A twinge of jealousy rushes through me,
but I let it pass. What is there to be envious of? I’m not looking to
hook-up—especially not with either of those guys.

When I
emerge from the ladies’ room, I glance over at them again. They look like
they’re getting closer. I hope these sluts aren’t coming back to my place
tonight, although if they are, I will have to deal with it—that’s part of the
deal with having a male roomie.

I get
back to my spot behind the bar and try not to think about them or the nagging
feeling I have. The crowd still hasn’t thinned out at all, and I am in full
swing behind the bar. Tony nudges his way to the front of the bar and across
from me. He signals that he needs a fresh round of beers. I reach into the
cooler, pop them open, and hand them across the bar.

“You
were right. These girls are DTF! That’s what I’m talking about!” Tony says,
slurring slightly. He gets very overconfident when he drinks.

“Have
fun,” I reply.

“Hope
you weren’t planning on sleeping tonight. The one Ryan’s gonna take home seems
like a screamer,” he says, laughing as he takes the beers and walks back to the
corner.

Shit. I
don’t want to do this tonight. Ryan hasn’t brought a girl home yet, so I’m not
sure what will happen, but I feel like it’s going to be strange. I don't care
who’s in his bedroom, but it’s our home. I guess I don’t have a say who he’s
with, but those girls got under my skin the minute they walked in here. This
should be interesting.

The
crowd begins to thin out about an hour later. The drink orders are slowing down
and people are stumbling their way out the door. I have a clear view of my
friends and their slutty sidekicks as I begin to clean up my end of the bar,
although I’m trying not to stare. Tony has his tongue down one of their throats
and his hands all over her ass. He might as well stick it up her skirt, at this
point. They are being far from discreet.

Ryan
has his back against the wall. The other girl is pressed up against him, almost
pinning him there. No doubt he’s enjoying it. I’ve seen him in action a couple
of times, and he always plays hard to get, and the girls eat it up. I can’t see
her hands, but I’m assuming they’re on his ass, unless she’s bold enough to be
holding his package in front of everyone. I wouldn’t be that surprised—I’ve
seen that and worse in my time as a bartender.

Ryan
glances over my way and our eyes meet for an instant. I quickly look away and
get back to wiping the bar top. I need to stop looking at him. What is he
doing, looking at me when he’s got some slut trying to dry hump him, anyway? I
don’t bother looking back over there again. I don’t want to see, and I
definitely don’t want him to see me looking.

I keep
cleaning and the crowd continues to diminish. The bachelorette’s group leaves,
but the two girls attached to Ryan and Tony are still here—great.

The
four of them make their way to the bar. I look up and smile.

“Can I
get you all something?” I ask kindly, though I feel very bitter.

“No.
We’re good,” Ryan replies.

“Yeah.
Real good,” Tony adds, smacking his girl on the ass. He’s such a pig. I take a
moment to be thankful he has his own place to go home to.

“Just a
heads up—I might have some company when you get home,” Ryan informs me.

“Cool.
I’ll be quiet,” I answer with a smile.

“Okay.
See you later then?” Ryan says hesitantly.

“Yup.
Have fun,” I reply and try to look busy again. They walk outside, and I’m
relieved I don’t have to watch anymore. Now I just have to figure out how to
sneak into my own home and quietly disappear.