Page 4 of Jealous Stepbrother

Oh my God.

Recognition flickers in his eyes, too, and his smile freezes. He searches my face, his gaze on my mouth a few seconds too long, before raising one thick, bushy eyebrow.

“We are all gathered here today…”

He swings his gaze back to the front, but the air has changed between us. It’s thicker, the tension palpable, and we’re both intensely aware of the other’s presence. Too aware, in fact.

Throughout the ceremony, I sit stiffly, my spine straight, and wring my fingers. My breath stutters every now and then, especially when I dart my eyes to the massive, veiny hands resting on his lap. The same hands that caressed me and pulled out sounds from me I didn’t know I was capable of making. The hands that grabbed me, gripped me, and wrapped around my neck.

For God’s sake, I shouldn’t be having these thoughts right now!

“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

The moment the cheers begin, I rush to the door. The reception is at the only five-star hotel in the city, and I can clear my head as I drive there.

Who is that guy? Does Dad know him? Is he related to Dad’s new wife?

These questions keep swirling in my head even as I arrive in the hotel ballroom and stand to the side, looking as out of place as a snowflake in a desert. Dad’s instruction was for me to attend his wedding, not talk to people, so I’ll stay here until it’s time to leave. Thank you very much.

Dad is across the room, an arm wrapped around his new wife, his smile broad.

I sip champagne and pretend to be busy on my phone when I feel a presence behind me, a shadow looming in my periphery.

“How many times are you going to check your calendar and calculator? Maybe try not to be too obvious and scroll through your gallery instead.” The voice belongs to him, of course, and I don’t miss the mocking tone.

My pulse quickens as I stand straighter and turn to face him. “I’m sorry. Do you need something?”

He stands there with a smirk, all six-plus feet, broad shoulders, sharp jawline, brown eyes, and high cheekbones. He’s like the very definition of someone winning the gene lottery. Even the messy black, slightly curly hair looks perfect.

His suit is rumpled, and that’s when I feel a certain kinship with him. Like me, he didn’t bother pretending this was the event of the century. Like he was here because he was forced to.

“You know, you were nicer to me the last time.” He shoves his hands into his pockets and tilts his head to the side.

“I’m asking you again. Do you need something?”

“I never got your name.”

I’m about to open my mouth to say something sarcastic because being anywhere near my father always turns me into the worst version of myself. I don’t get the chance, though, as a heavy hand lands on my shoulder. “Oh, good. You two have met.”

Dad and his wife, Raya, beam at us as though cameras are everywhere and they’re shooting a reality TV show. It’s as fake as the mop of someone else’s hair on his head.

Raya knows everyone is watching as she lays a hand on my cheek, which I try not to pull away from. “Hi, Caroline. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.” She moves to the other guy’s side and squeezes his arm. “I see you’ve met my son, Callum. He’s your new stepbrother.”

If she told me the champagne was poisoned, she wouldn’t have gotten a better reaction from me. Tendrils of cold wrap around me, and I feel like I’ve just been submerged in ice water. A heavy weight settles on my stomach, and my skin tingles with discomfort.

No. No way. This isn’t happening. It’s a prank. Any minute now, she’ll tell me she’s joking. That everything is one big fat joke.

My knees buckle, and I feel dizzy.

Dad pulls Raya to him and nods. “This is great. We’re one big happy family here. Just as it should be.” They turn toward the other guests, but in his usual fashion, Dad says in a low voice meant only for my ears, “You better behave yourself, Caroline. Don’t do anything to embarrass me.”

“Wow, he seems like a fun guy at parties,” Callum says, his eyes trailing our parents.

“Yeah, I mean, if he didn’t insult me or threaten me, I’d think some alien took over his body.”

“That bad, huh? Ah well. I’ve always been Mom’s biggest disappointment, so I might as well live up to the reputation.” He raises his drink to me and tosses it back, finishing it in two gulps.

“Oh-kay, nice meeting you or whatever.”

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