Page 38 of Drown in You

For a twisted stepbrother entirely too possessive of his stepsister, he’s also thoughtful and sweet. Those may be the worst things about him.

“My biggest regret is being the reason he left. One of my biggest regrets, anyway.”

Luke’s jaw clenches. “He didn’t leave because of you.”

“Why else would he have basically disappeared from my life? I was too loud, talked too much, couldn’t sit still. He and my mom never fought about anything. Then they got a divorce, and he was never around. So I pretty much know he left because of me.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

For the first time since sliding into Luke’s car, I glare at him. His attention is fixed on the road, leaving me to admire his profile. The hard, square jawline, the full lips, the dark blond hair curling in wisps around his ears. For a moment, I remind myself that I can’t be attracted to my stepbrother. “How is it ridiculous?”

Luke’s brows bend into a deeper frown and he slows when we approach the intersection near campus. “You weren’t too wild or too loud or too much. That’s called being a kid. And kids don’t cause divorces—adults do. Your dad taking off and not being around for ten years isn’t your fault. That’s on him.”

His words warm a cold part of my chest that even the heat blasting from the vents can’t reach. They’re oddly reminiscent of what Ten said to me when I confided in him about the divorce and the lack of a relationship with my dad. It’s not your fault. If he’s not around, then he doesn’t deserve you.

Since my parents’ split, I’ve lived with the gnawing guilt that I’m the one who drove him away. That if not for me, Mom wouldn’t be left crying on the couch most nights. She wouldn’t be hopping from man to man, trying to find the love she once shared with my father.

Luke wasn’t there. Ten wasn’t there. Neither of them knows the whole situation. But every part of me longs to believe them.

When Luke coasts through the intersection, passing the road that leads to Diamond University, I elbow him. “Hey! You missed our turn.”

“We’re not going back to Diamond,” he says simply.

My heart skips. “Where are we going?”

“I told you. I’m taking you home.”

“What? Back to Wakefield?” My voice goes up an octave. Is this his way of punishing me for daring to flirt with Knox? He’s going to threaten to send me packing? Back home to face Marcus and his henchmen?

“No, back to our home, Sienna.” His molten gaze melts me. “We need to check on the house and Bud.”

“Bud? Who’s Bud?”

“My dog. Our dog,” he corrects with a smile.

My mind is whirling. “You have a dog? Who the hell has been feeding him and taking him outside this whole time?”

Luke shrugs. “Neighbors. The housekeeper. He’s had plenty of care and attention, trust me.”

“So why do we need to go back?”

“Because I told the housekeeper we’d be there. Give her a day off.”

My nails bite into my palms. “Okay. Why do I have to be there? Can’t you just go alone?”

Spending a night with Luke in his house without our parents is the worst possible idea. There will be no one around to distract us. No classes or practices to rush off to. No friends or roommates to barge in.

Just me and my stepbrother. Alone.

His wolfish grin brings a lump to my throat. “Because we’re family now, sis.”

Chapter 12

Luke

Sienna gapes as I lead her into the house until Bud barks and runs up to us, tail wagging so hard his whole ass shakes.

“You are so cute!” She drops to her knees, giggling while Bud licks her face as she pets him.

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