Page 64 of The Step Dare

“Nice. Bet it’s cool that your parents are getting married.”

I doubt she would be saying that if she knew we’re sleeping with each other. Or that I’m standing here jealous. This situation is messing with my head.

Luckily, no more laughing comes from the booth next door, and a little while later, we’re walking out of the store together. “Asshole Tailor wants to fuck you.”

Taylor laughs. “What? No way. Wait. You’re serious? He’s queer?”

“You haven’t gotten the homing beacon installed yet?” I tease. Clearly, it’s not something every queer person immediately recognizes in another.

He rolls his eyes. “Second timejealoushas come up in one day. That’s so cute.”

“Like you weren’t jealous at the party last month.”

“I’m not denying it.”

We should maybe talk about what that means, but luckily, he doesn’t press me to open up and share my feelings right now. It would be hard to share something I don’t yet understand. “Good. I’m not either. Oh hey, you know what? I heard there’s a new arcade over here. We should go.”

“Are you taking me out, Bren?”

“I mean, I figured you would pay, but I’m willing to negotiate.”

He reaches out and laces our fingers together. It surprises me for a moment, and Taylor tugs me closer, giving me another of those sweet kisses I never saw the draw of before him. “The arcade sounds fun, and no worries, I get the jealousy. Like I said, I felt the same about you. That must be normal for best friends who are future stepbros and having sex with each other.”

I laugh.

Yeah. Normal. I sure as hell hope so.

We detangle our hands and get into the car. Taylor looks up the new arcade, then drives there. This is actually perfect. We haven’t done something like this together in a long time.

“You know I’ll kick your ass at everything we play, right?” Taylor teases.

“Yes. I’m used to it by now.”

“You want me to let you win?”

I gasp. “Hell no.”

“Good. Because I wouldn’t anyway.”

We get to the arcade and find a parking spot. It’s loud inside from all the games and people.

“Race you!” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, we start running toward one of the machines for coins like we’re twelve years old.

Taylor gets there before me, and I pretend to be annoyed, but of course I’m not. We get a prepaid game card, then head straight for the games. We play old-school fighting games, newer shooter games, and the zombie game Taylor loves. He beats me at everything, like we knew he would, but I hold my own pretty well.

Eventually we end up at the air-hockey table. “Your winning streak is about to end,” I say gleefully. If there’s one thing I always win at, it’s air hockey.

“Maybe.” He shrugs. “I can’t win everything.”

I laugh. “You asshole.” Then wrap my arm around him and kiss him, before we each go to our end of the table. Taylor puts the coins in, and the puck pops out on my side. “Well, lookie here,” I tease.

“You’re gonna need all the good luck you can find.”

“That’s what you think.” I set the puck down, up-nod him and say, “I wanted to sneak into the room with you and Asshole Tailor and blow you.”

“What?” he asks just as I shoot the puck, and it goes right into his goal.

“You fucking cheater.”

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