Page 47 of Cruel Steps

I can’t wait to be reunited with you, Princess.

“I don’t get it.” Holden threw his hands up and dropped back onto the couch with a sigh.

“Right? At first, I thought she was playing me and had a boyfriend this whole time. But it didn’t make sense. Why destroy them if she wanted to see this person? Outwardly, she’d been angry, but, fuck, in her eyes, she was scared. And she’d kept saying… she.” He braced his elbows on his knees and hung his head between his legs, running his hands through his hair. His breathing was labored, his muscles tight. I felt for my friend, but this was something he had to acknowledge for himself.

Holden was loyal to a fault, and he’d already been struggling with his attraction to Mer with the whole step-sibling situation. Hope’s lies had compounded the complicated mess of emotions.

“I know it’s hard to hear, but I don’t think Mer was the bully.”

“Why would Hope lie to me?” He looked up, his eyes glassy.

I shrugged. I had no idea. “That’s something you’ll have to ask her.”

He scoffed. “Hell, no. I need evidence before I confront my sister. I’m not going to call her a liar unless I have something.”

“It’s gonna blow up in your face.” He scowled, so I let it go. There were other things to discuss. “We both like the same girl.”

“Past. I liked her. Not anymore.”

“Again, I call bullshit.”

“Why do you care? It’s not like it matters.”

“You know why.” I lifted my brow, and he fell back onto the couch, throwing his arms over his head.

Holden’s restlessness correlated with his emotions. Tonight was the most I’d ever seen him move during a ten-minute conversation since I’d met him. “You honestly think that can work?” he asked, lifting his elbow and staring at me from beneath it.

I shrugged, settling back against the cushion. “You’re the only one I’d be willing to try something like this with. I don’t plan to stop pursuing her. She might be mad at me, but she won’t be able to ignore me forever.”

“Why her?”

“So many things.” I smiled. “We’ve been talking for almost a month, and I’ve gotten to really know her. I’m not letting my romantic heart run away this time.”

“You sure about that?” he teased.

I pushed his shoulder, and we laughed, the last of the tension draining away. “I’m the first to admit my history isn’t stellar, but I’m working on it. I want things to be different with Mer. I’m being my true self, and not the type of boyfriend I assume she wants.” It was a hard truth to admit about yourself when you realized your need to be wanted made you change your personality depending on who you were with.

“I’m happy for you then, Colt. I’m sorry I haven’t been the most supportive.”

“I forgive you. Does that mean you’re on board?”

Holden’s smile dropped, and he turned away from me. “It’s not in the cards for me. There’s too much between us.”

I still didn’t buy it, but there was only so much I could challenge him to face in one night. Leaning back, I grinned. “Suit yourself. I’ll have the ‘best pussy’ you ever had all to myself.”

“Fucker.” He punched my arm, but smiled.

I picked up the controller and threw it in his lap. “Enough deep shit for now. Let’s fight it out.”

Holden sat up and I turned on the game system. We spent the next hour fighting each other and relieving the stress between us. Holden hugged me when he left, promising to figure out if Hope was behind it.

Lying in bed hours later, I grabbed my phone and sent Mer a new text. I didn’t expect her to respond, but I’d keep sending them, regardless.

Colter: A lot of shit happened today, and I feel like I only know half of it.

Colter: I’m sorry it seemed like I was mad at you. I wasn’t.

Colter: I hate that you’re dealing with this. But you don’t have to be alone.

---