Page 12 of My Favorite Girl

I follow Dan’s instructions, lying in the sand. He scoots right beside me, making nervous flickers of energy come to life in my chest as he lies back, slipping a hand beneath my shoulders. My breath hitches at the sudden closeness between us as Dan draws me into his chest. The way he’s holding me is so innocent yet… it doesn’t feel innocent at all.

We’ve touched before, with brief hugs or when I’m giving piano lessons and correcting his hands, but never has he held me like this. I don’t know much about guys, but thishasto be more than friendship.

“You see that star there?” Dan points, his words a deep murmur against my temple.

I’m too consumed by his scent and the warmth of being in his arms to pay attention to the stars, and nod on autopilot.My eyelids fall shut and my breathing gradually slows in time with Dan’s. The waves continue rolling onto the shore, the white noise lulling me into a deep relaxation.

“Are you tired?” he whispers, breaking the silence.

“Yes, but I don’t want to leave. I could sleep just like this.”

“Then sleep.” Dan pulls me closer and strokes my hair as I drift to sleep. The last thing I remember is a kiss on my forehead and Dan murmuring, “I think you’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen, Ally.”

Chapter 5

Dan

Three months later, Saturday, September 1

Sharing a bed with my… She’s not my stepsister yet

My father raises his champagne glass at the end of his speech. “To Amabella, our children, and this beautiful family union we’re about to form.”

A sea of hands lifts their glasses. Here we are, the end of summer, back in the city to celebrate my father and Amabella’s engagement, right before my junior year of high school starts. The penthouse is filled with their closest friends and family. Thousands of dollars have been thrown into this party, with the finest catering and decorations. The press is even here, with journalists and photographers reporting on the hottest new couple in New York City.

The media says Amabella Hastings has turned bachelor Josh Blackwood into a changed man, leaving his hotel empire behind, the two of them now delving into their passion for philanthropy. She’s left her seating hostess job. Together, Dad and Amabella have founded a nonprofit called Forever Families.

The organization’s mission is to support and strengthen families in need with whatever help they require—domestic violence counseling, adoption, medical treatment, the list goes on. It’s an admirable venture, yet it pisses me off that my father is suddenly all about supporting other families when he’s been the most absent father my entire life.

What pisses me off more is that the Blackwoods are now the public face of Forever Families. We’re meant to be showcasing how strong and united our blended family is. It’s the biggest fucking joke I’ve ever heard. I’m expected to act like the perfect son and role model citizen, when I was never consulted about any of this. On top of all that, I spend most of my time with the biggest hard-on for Ally. Real great family we’ve got here.

“Let’s get a family photo,” a journalist calls out.

Biting down my distaste, I step up to Dad and Amabella, where Killian already has his arm around Amabella’s shoulders, the two of them laughing over something. Tyler stands alongside them with his girlfriend Harper, and Felix is saying something quiet to Dad. Ally joins last of all with a timid smile on her face, hating the public spotlight. She tacks onto the opposite side of the group from me, hiding herself behind Felix.

“Baby sis, you belong right in the middle.” Felix jabs her ribs. She jerks away from him, squealing and laughing, but he hooks an arm around her shoulders and pulls her in close. She caves and hugs Felix around the waist, smiling at the cameras and truly looking happy.

My brothers have all taken a strong liking toward Ally, in an innocent, brotherly way, as I should have. They like Amabella, too. The two girls are pretty much the only reason any of us can tolerate being around my father. None of us have a good relationship with him, but mine is the most damaged. I feel his judgment more than my brothers do, and I know it’s because of my mother’s death.

The marriage proposal happened in The Hamptons, and when we returned to the city a week ago, Amabella and Ally moved into the penthouse with us. It’s both the best and worst thing that’s ever happened to me.

Now, I have Ally with me constantly, sleeping in the bedroom next to mine. She’s already transformed the room into her own little sanctuary. I spend most of my time in there with her, watching her play the piano, taking piano lessons from her, laughing, talking. My God, she can talk, and about the most random shit. She’s not shy at all around me anymore and I love it.

Dad had quiet words with me and Killian, about how we now have two women living with us and need to act respectable by not bringing girls home. I wouldn’t want Ally to see me with another girl anyway. Now, I go to the girl’s home whenever I… need to get Ally out of my system.

It’s wrong. I shouldn’t think about Ally when I’m with another girl, but I do. She’sallI can think about. On the days I don’t have sex, I jerk off to the thought of Ally, how innocent she is and how I want to be the one to corrupt her.

As soon as our family photo has been taken, I make my escape out to the balcony with a glass of whiskey everyone assumes is cola, wanting to avoid any journalists. I rest my forearms on the railing, gazing out at the surrounding buildings all lit up in the night. Guests are mingling, but thankfully none of them seek me out.

“Thank you, son.” My shoulders clench at the sound of my father’s voice behind me. I don’t look his way as he joins me at the railing. “I want you to know how much I appreciate your acceptance of Amabella and Ally into this family, and how you’ve befriended Ally. I really hope we can all be a strong family together.”

For fuck’s sake. He’s been absent my entire life, andnowhe wants to be a family? I intend to treat Amabella as family. But my dad can get fucked.

I sip my drink, turning away from my father and dismissing him with my back.

“What car do you have your eye on?”

I glance over my shoulder at him. “What are you talking about?”

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