Page 24 of Drown in You

I jump, gaze darting to Luke as I step out of his grasp. “What are you doing?”

His grin is wolfish. “We have the whole house to ourselves now.”

My mouth falls open. He can’t be serious. Our parents are literally still in sight, we just found out we’re step-siblings, and he’s implying we should go back to his house to fuck?

Maybe this is his demented sense of humor. This is what happens when you hook up with a guy you barely know while buzzed. You think he’s this Greek god in bed, playing your body like you’re a piano and he’s a maestro, but when you wake up sober the next day and he opens his mouth, you realize what a giant fucking mistake that was.

Except I can’t get that version of Luke Valentine out of my head. The version where he was the mystery man in my hotel room, not my new stepbrother. I’m still fantasizing about that version of him, still playing out last night in my head, even if I shouldn’t be.

For that hour, he was kind of the man of my dreams. He definitely was.

But then the universe tossed a bucket of ice water on me and woke me the fuck up.

“Did you miss that whole conversation last night where we found out we’re related now?” I wave to our parents as they disappear to the security gate.

My stomach twists. Aside from the strangers flittering past, I’m now completely alone with Luke.

He rolls his eyes, and I hate that every move he makes is sexy. No, he’s not sexy. He’s not. “We weren’t raised together.”

Oh my god. Seriously? That’s where he draws the line? I turn on my heel and head for the exit, ready to get to Diamond University, move my stuff into the dorm, and stay as far away from my stepbrother as I can get. “It’s still wrong.”

“Barely.” He’s right beside me, his stride casual while I’m beelining for the exit. “A date then. I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”

The moronic part of my brain softens at his proposition. But I shake it off.

It unnerves me how easily he can keep up with me. Like if I tried to run from him, he’d catch me in a heartbeat. “Even if it wasn’t wrong, I’m not doing anything to risk being sent back to Wakefield.”

That makes the cocky grin slip from his face. “Why? I thought you said you were safe now.”

I’m not sure how much our parents have told him. Clearly, if he’s asking, he must not know much, and I don’t really feel like rehashing it. I’d rather not think about it at all, actually. The bruises on my body are reminders enough. “Let’s just move my stuff into my dorm and then you don’t have to worry about me anymore.”

He’ll be busy with his own classes and schedule, and we can avoid each other. Pretend last night never happened. That we didn’t make the worst, best mistake of our lives.

Once we’re out of the airport and under the bright January sun, Luke tugs me to a stop, the hard edges of his face still unfairly beautiful in the stark light of day. “I’ll always worry about you.”

The intensity in his gaze makes my heart stutter. “Why? You barely even know me.”

“Because I’m your big brother now.”

In the car, my tight muscles relax slightly when Luke keeps his giant, veiny hands to himself. One rests on the stick shift the entire ride, mere inches from my thigh. Luckily, winter weather means I’m layered up in jeans, a sweater, and a thick coat. No exposed skin to tempt him.

Not that he should be tempted by his stepsister. We agreed to a one-night stand. Don’t most college guys get bored with a girl after fucking her? Especially gorgeous guys like him who are used to getting any girl they want. Maybe he’s flirting just to mess with me.

I text Mom to distract my mind from my stepbrother’s suffocating presence. She has a ten a.m. shift today, and who knows if she remembered to set her alarm.

Sienna

Are you up?

Dropped Dad and his wife off at the airport. Heading to campus now.

Even though my father’s new relationship is beyond my control, guilt gnaws at me for mentioning his new wife to Mom. A painful reminder that not only did he leave her—he found someone else. And she’s still alone.

While I wait, I type out a text to Ten.

Sienna

My life is officially a shitstorm.

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