Page 71 of The Step Dare

Have I met someone? Years ago. I just didn’t see all the possibilities open to us…and now I’m falling…fallen? Hell, I don’t even know. What I do know is he’s the son of the woman my father is about to marry, and I can’t spring that on Dad now.

“Ew. Gross.” I act like a kid, while also not lying to him. I didn’t say no, and though I do have feelings, they are kinda gross.

Dad laughs. “You will one day, and there’s nothing like it, kiddo. You won’t think it’s so gross then.”

“You clearly don’t understand my maturity level…or lack thereof.”

Dad nudges me with his arm. “Come on. Let’s get this finished. We’re going to make the whole neighborhood jealous,” he says playfully.

Yes, yes we are.

It takes us a few more hours to get everything done. Taylor and Nicole are out for the day, shopping and spending time together. They pull up just as we’re finished getting everything cleaned up.

She parks her car in the driveway, the two of them getting out.

“Oh my God! It looks great!” Nicole exclaims.

“Wait until it gets dark.” Dad pumps his brows, then wraps his arms around her. They hug, him whispering something in her ear, and I can’t stop my gaze from shooting to Taylor.

He gives me a small smile in return, then steps closer to me, throwing his arm around me in a way that will look playful to our parents but that I really need right now.

“Get a room, you two,” he jokes.

Dad pulls back from Nicole. “Did you guys have fun?” he asks Taylor.

“Yeah. It was nice. We brought dinner,” Taylor tells him, then squeezes my arm before going back to the car to grab the takeout.

The four of us go inside and eat the chicken and potatoes they brought, laughing and talking, and when we’re done eating, it’s dark outside, so we go out to look at the house. It’s gorgeous,with tons of lights and yard decorations. A light-up snow globe and outdoor Christmas trees.

I feel the heat of Taylor’s arm against mine, the way his fingertips brush my hand, caressing and sweet.

“It’s incredible,” he says.

“I did it all myself,” I say, making everyone laugh.

We stand there for a while, in awe of it, before Taylor and I head back to Peachtree Springs. We have a week left of school before break, and both of us are working through our time off, but we will come home for Christmas Day.

“You okay?” Taylor asks as we’re driving back.

“Yep. Still reveling in my kickass light-decorating skills.”

He reaches over and rests a hand on my thigh. “I know how much your mom loved Christmas, Bren. It’s okay if you want to talk about her.”

And just like what Nicole did for my dad, Taylor is giving me understanding and love about my mom. It means more to me than I could ever say.

We spend the whole drive home talking about her and all her wild Christmas adventures. It’s exactly what I need…and maybe he is too.

21

Taylor

As my eyesflit open, Brenner’s curled up against my chest, his arm locked around my waist. I relax, enjoying his body heat, a sharp contrast to the apartment, which is cold as fuck.

There’ve been a lot of mornings when either I’ve woken up with Brenner on me, or I’ve been curled up against him. One of the perks of seeing each other.

It was nice spending the holidays with him. Not like we haven’t hung out over Christmas and New Year’s in the past, but this time it’s been as more than friends. Even though we had to be discreet around our parents, the little grazes and glances meant everything to me.

And that light shit he and Keith put together for us…damn, as if I needed a reason to like these guys more than I already do.

---