Page 13 of Bought For Us

What the hell was that?

Remembering Cora’s still in the car, I rush out of the house. I find her still sleeping and sigh as I get back into the car.

The whole way home, my mind races, a million thoughts running through my head.

It’s not as easy as Tyler said it was. Yes, Cora is my stepsister, the choice should seem obvious. But it’s not. I want them both.

I don’t think I could choose one over the other.

“Zack?” Cora murmurs as I carry her up to her room.

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry,” she says, blinking up at me.

“Sorry for what?”

“For upsetting you.” Her lower lip quivers and I want to suck it between my lips and tell her everything is fine.

“You didn’t upset me,” I tell her as we get into her room. I place her on the edge of the bed. She’s more awake than Kimmy, but I’m not surprised. Even with Cora not needing as much to drink to get drunk, Kimmy drank enough for the both of them. I crouch down in front of her, placing my hands on her thighs.

She sucks in a breath, her pupils widening as she looks down at my hands. My cock jerks. Fucking traitor.

I ignore it and ask her, “How are you feeling?”

“Better.” She blushes, eyes slowly rising to meet mine.

“I’m glad.” I give her a soft smile and stand, kissing her on the forehead as I do. “I’ll be right back.”

Grabbing a glass of water from her bathroom and something for the hangover I know she’s going to have tomorrow, I bring them back into her room. I pause when I find her undressing.

My eyes trail over her creamy skin as she shimmies out of the dress, letting it fall to the ground.

I bite the inside of my cheek, holding back a groan as I take in her perky ass. When she reaches behind her back and unhooks her bra, tossing me a knowing look over her shoulder, I almost toss what’s in my hands and throw her on the bed.

She doesn’t care that I’m watching, continuing to get dressed into night clothes before getting under the covers.

It takes a few deep breaths and a mental argument with myself before I can move again.

“Get some sleep, Cora,” I tell her, placing the glass and pills on the nightstand.

I make it halfway across the room when she calls my name. “Zack.”

“Yeah?” I stop, but don’t turn around, afraid I might crack if I see her face right now.

“I want to tell you something, but please don’t say anything back right now, okay?”

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath and will my heart to slow down.

“Okay,” my voice cracks. I should keep walking, leave because whatever she’s about to say, I just know is going to change everything and I’m afraid it’s not going to be for the better.

“I’ve spent hours coming up with different ways to tell you this, a million different speeches but none of them seemed right. Maybe there is no right way to say this because what I feel isn’t right,” her voice trembles as my heart thunders in my chest. “So, I’m going to just say it, get it out there.” She pauses for a moment. “I know I’m your stepsister, and I know this is wrong. But, I... I wanted you to know that. I like you. A lot. More than a best friend. More than a brother. I don’t expect you to feel the same way, but I had to tell you. It’s been eating at me for the past year and I don’t know what to do.” She’s crying now and it fucking shatters me. I can’t turn around, I can’t go over there and comfort her. Because if I do, I’ll crack and there’s no coming back from that.

“Zack?” I’ve never heard my name sound so small, so broken. My fists clench and I’m about to say fuck it all when her dad steps into the doorway.

He looks at me, then over to Cora. “Is everything okay?”

“Everything's fine.” I manage to get out through clenched teeth. He gives me a look before his attention is on Cora.

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