Tease: A Stepbrother Romance (2 page)

Jagger’s eyes swept over the staircase before they landed on me. His eyes were an intense blue framed by long dark lashes. As our eyes met, the room spun a little.

“Hey,” he said.

He gave me a lopsided smile as he walked past me and up the stairs. I couldn’t stop myself from turning and watching him as he climbed the steps in his tight jeans.

“His approach was phenomenal, but just look at that departure,” Issy whispered. “I think I’ll be coming over a lot this summer.”

“Uh-huh, sure, no problem,” I mumbled. “I’m sure he’s still a prick though.”

I hate him. I hate him. But why does he have to be so fucking hot?

~ Two ~

Jagger

It had been five years since I had last been home. It didn’t matter how long Mom and I lived in Arizona, I would always think of San Diego as my home.

As the plane reached cruising altitude, I glanced over at my father in the seat next to me. His hair looked grayer than I remembered even though I had only seen him a month ago.

“You know you didn’t need to come out here early and fly with me,” I said.

“I had a meeting in Phoenix and thought it would be nice if we could spend a little time together before flying back. It was great having those extra couple of days with you, like old times. Once we get to San Diego, there’s going to be a lot going on with the wedding and before I know it, you’ll be heading to Great Lakes.”

“Please don’t start with that. I get enough of it from Mom.”

The flight attendant smiled as she walked up the short aisle with a tray of ice water and orange juice. This was my first time sitting in First Class, but all I could think about was my Mom and the day we left California.

Summer

Five Years Ago

Dad planned a going away picnic for the day Mom and I were moving to Arizona. Towards the end, his girlfriend Rachel showed up with her daughter Sierra, who went to school with us. As soon as they joined us, Dex elbowed me.

“Sierra’s here,” he said. “Let’s go razz her.”

“Nah, man, it’s my last day here. Let’s just hang out. Mom wants to leave soon anyway,” I said.

“You’re a pussy. Is that how you want to leave? With everyone thinking you’re a pussy? Besides, she loves the attention.”

Does she?
 

“Maybe I’ll do just one last thing for old time’s sake,” I said.

Sierra was away from the crowd, pouring herself a cup of cream soda. Her hair was loose and there was something about how the sun hit it that made it glow around her. She was the prettiest girl in school and I didn’t know why, but I loved teasing her. I left Dex and went over to where she was standing.

“Hey, Sierra,” I said.

“Oh. Umm, hi,” she said as her eyes darted around.

“You look pretty...” As the words came out of my mouth, Dex’s hand slapped me on the back. “Ugly. You look pretty ugly.”

As Dex cracked up, Sierra’s face crumpled for a moment before she clenched her jaw. Her face reddened and her eyes narrowed at me.

“You know what? I’m glad you’re leaving,” she said. “I hate you and I hope I never see you again.”

As she stormed away, I knew I had gone too far. Next to me, Dex laughed hysterically.

“Shut up,” I said as I punched him in the arm.

“What? It was funny,” he said.

I didn’t bother answering. What was the point? I was leaving anyway.

My mom waved at me from the car. The U-Haul was hitched to the back and I could tell she was anxious to go. As I looked around the soccer field at my dad and my friends one last time, my eyes kept returning to Sierra. I didn’t know what it was about her, but I liked riling her up. I thought she thought it was funny too, but now I wondered if I had it wrong all along.

“Let’s get going, Jagger,” Mom yelled.

I looked back one last time at Sierra. Her wild red curls waved in the breeze. Even though her back was towards me, I could tell she was still upset. It was better that I left her alone.

“Sorry to rush you, but I’m hoping to make it to Tucson before dark.”

“It’s okay. I said good-bye to everyone.”

“I know you’re not happy we’re leaving, but it’s too expensive here and I refuse to take any more money from your father.”

“Why? He’s offering it, and he’s rich.”

She let out a long breath before answering.

“That’s his money, not ours. You’re too young to understand this, but there are a lot of people who would take advantage of someone like your father. We’re not going to be those people.”

“But if he’s trying to help us–“

“No, Jagger, it doesn’t matter. I don’t want you ever taking money from him. It’s just you and me. We’ll figure things out together, without his help.”

Present Day

“You alright?” Dad asked.

“Yeah, just thinking.”

“Your mom’s not taking this well, is she?”

“It’s not you getting married, it’s me. She’s been like this since I told her I was enlisting instead of going to college.”

“I really wish you’d reconsider applying.”

“Nah, Dad. It’s too much money. The Navy will help pay for college, it’s no big deal.”

“It is a big deal, Jagger. There’s a lot going on in the world right now. I’m sure your mother is worried about that, I am too. I wished you had talked to me about this.”

“It wouldn’t matter. You know how Mom is. She doesn’t want me taking anything from you. She says it isn’t right.”

“You’re my son. I should be able to pay for your college.”

Dad sighed. He knew by now it was a losing battle. My mother was too stubborn. There were plenty of times growing up that I thought about how much easier life would have been if she let my father send us money, but I knew she had her reasons.

What I couldn't tell anyone was that Mom was the reason I enlisted. She was tired all the time and had been for years. I couldn’t remember the last time she didn’t work two jobs just to make ends meet. She wanted me to go to college, but I knew she would try to help me pay for it. I couldn’t let her do that. She had sacrificed enough for me.

“Just do me a favor,” he said. “Try not to mention the Navy until after the wedding. Rachel and Sierra are still pretty sensitive about what happened to Sierra’s dad.”

“Killed in combat, right?”

Dad nodded. I’d never forget the look on Sierra’s face that first day of third grade when she told me her dad was dead. My entire history with Sierra was one mistake after another. While I was there, living under the same roof as her, I would try my damnedest to leave her alone.

I put my earbuds in and turned up the volume of my music. Mom didn’t like that I was going to spend some time with Dad, but I did it for her. She needed time for herself, and she had to get used to my being away. It was better to do it now than when I couldn’t get back home if I needed to.

Of course I didn’t tell her that. I couldn’t. She’d argue with me about my leaving until the end of time. But I could see the exhaustion in her eyes. She needed to start putting herself first instead of me. Every choice she had made in the past eighteen years had only been for my benefit. It was time she thought about herself. She couldn’t do that with me around. She’d be better off without me.

After we landed, Dad and I got lunch before heading to his house. I had never been to this house before, but from what I knew about how his business had grown over the last few years and the expensive Mercedes Benz he was driving, I expected it to be large.
 

Dad waved to the guard, who nodded as he opened the large iron gates to the community. The large homes were set back with wide lawns between them and the curb. As we turned into the driveway, I looked up at the Tuscan-style home with its golden walls and tiled roof. A three-car garage was built into the side of the house, but Dad followed the driveway around a three-tiered fountain and parked in front of the house.

As he turned off the car, he put his hand on my shoulder. “I know you’ve never stayed with me before, but this is your home and I want you to feel comfortable here,” he said. “If there’s anything you need, just ask me or Rachel.”

“Thanks, Dad. Don’t worry about me. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

I hung back, looking over the wide doorway and stone embellishes as my father walked into the house. His voice echoed in the marble foyer.

“Jagger, if you want to bring your things to your room, make a right at the top of the stairs and it’s the first door on the right,” Phil said.

The house was more than I had imagined with its marble floors and fancy staircase that curved up to a balcony. What surprised me even more was seeing Sierra. She was just as pretty as I remembered, except now she had curves that I had to force myself to not stare at.

Beside her was another girl that I thought I remembered from school, but I couldn’t pull my attention away from Sierra.

“Hey,” I said.

I had to get away from her before I said or did anything stupid. I had caused her enough grief with my jokes and pranks. This house was big enough that I could stay away from her and if not, I could call up some old friends and go out.

I can avoid her for a month.

As I passed her on the steps, I couldn’t help but take another look at her and wonder what her pouty lips would taste like. Leaving Sierra alone was going to be harder than I thought.

~ Three ~

Sierra

Issy wasn’t joking when she said she was coming over more often. In the three days since Jagger had arrived, Issy had practically moved in. I wasn’t complaining, I loved having her around, but while I wanted to avoid Jagger entirely, all she wanted to do was see him. She was out of luck though because he was never around.

“When does your mom and Phil get back from Napa?” Issy asked.

“They’ll be back tomorrow. They only went for the weekend. I think they’re going to ship some special wine or something for the wedding.”

“That’s so cool they’re flying everyone to Hawaii for the wedding.”

“Yeah, I guess,” I said, shrugging. “I keep thinking about being stuck with that asshole for an entire week.”

“Speaking of, where is he?” Issy asked frustratedly as she dropped onto my bed.

“I don’t know. I hate him, remember?”

“Just drop it already, Sierra. You really need to give him a chance. I mean, look at him. How bad can he be?”

“He’s the guy who snapped my training bra in the middle of gym class. That’s how bad he can be.”

“We were kids then. Kids are stupid, you know that.”

“Gimme a break, Issy. Being hot doesn’t make him a nice guy.”

“It also doesn’t make him a bad one.”

The roar of an engine cracked the air. As I turned towards the window, Issy jumped up and ran to look out.

“I know that car! It’s Dex,” she said. “Maybe that’s where he’s been. Maybe he’s been catching up with his old friends.”

The roar of the engine got louder and without looking, I knew the car was in the driveway.

“Ooh, I was right,” she said. “It’s Dex’s BMW M4 and Jagger is with him. They’re getting out of the car.”

“Big deal,” I said as I rolled my eyes.

“Oh come on, you said so yourself that Dex turned out to be a nice guy. And you have to admit that he has a cool car.”

It was bad enough Jagger was staying with us, the last thing I wanted was to talk about him. Unfortunately, it seemed like all Issy had on her mind. If I was lucky, I could change the conversation and maybe Jagger and Dex would disappear like Jagger had been doing every night since he got here.

“Whatever. You know I don’t give a shit about that kind of stuff. Who buys an eighteen year old a car like that anyway?” I said.

“I heard his parents didn’t want him going away to school. They offered him the car if he stayed and went to UC San Diego.”