Page 31 of Stephan

Jade

Cassie stayed the night and we’d talked untilthe early hours of the morning. The only other person I’d spoken tolike I had with Cassie was my best friend in the city, Jess. Herhouse had been a safe haven for me from my mother and herfriends.

I was surprised when we woke up and Stephanwasn’t hovering over me. He may let me sleep in my own room but hewas in it almost as much as me. Stephan had no boundaries. Ishowered and got dressed. Cassie took a shower while I dressed.Together we went downstairs and to the kitchen.

It was so quiet without Stephan and Derick.Stephan had come in while his mum, Cassie, and me had been watchinga girly movie in the theater room. He came over and pulled me tothe side. I stepped away from him and stared up at him.

“I’m going out tonight. You don’t need me doyou?”

I couldn’t help the grin that spread over myface. Peace and quiet. I’d have one night off from his overbearingways. I wondered if jumping up and down squealing with joy would berude, especially in front of his mother. I bit my lip and took aminute to compose myself. “Sure. No, I don’t need you. Yes. Go outand have fun. I’ll be fine here. Don’t worry about me.”

By his glare I knew I hadn’t fooled him.“Fine. If you’re going to be like that I’ll see you tomorrow.” Helooked over at his mum. “Can you drop Jade and Cassie into Sydneyat the apartment? We are going to the movies and dinner. Any timeafter lunch would be good.”

“Sure, if the girls want to go.”

I didn’t want to go to the movies in Sydneyor out for dinner. I debated arguing for a moment, but thoughtbetter of it when I looked at Stephan. He looked sad. I’d neverseen him look like that. Guilt assaulted me and my heart sank. Ishouldn’t be such a bitch to him. Going to him, I wrapped my armsaround his waist and rested my head on him. He stilled and myheartbeat followed. Had I pushed him too far? If my legs didn’thurt still I’d go up on my tiptoes and kiss him.

“I want to go.” I gazed up at him and smiled.“It sounds good. I haven’t been to the movies in ages.”

Stephan’s arms came around me and I sighed. Iloved when he hugged me. For a moment there I thought he wouldn’tdo it. I needed to show him I liked him.

So now Cassie and I sat eating brunch in thekitchen waiting for Evelin to wake up and take us Sydney. I had agreat girls’ night, and as much as I loved the silence and Stephannot hovering, I missed him.

*****

Stephan

I felt like shit. Beer, shots of tequila andwhisky don’t go together. I may have drank a little harder eachtime one of the guys called me pussy whipped or a accused me of myballs being in a jar, but I outdrank all of them and was stillstanding when they passed out so I was proud of that.

Groaning, I cracked an eye open to see I wasin the apartment lounge room. Opening my other eye I looked aroundto see bodies everywhere. I sat up only to freak when arms fellfrom my naked chest. “Fuck. Shit.”

Searching the room for Derick, I winced atall the naked women. I racked my brain to remember what happenedand prayed I hadn’t fucked up. The woman who’d been hugging me satup, her bare breasts out for all to see.

“You’re awake.” She stood only wearing a redG-string. “Let’s go have some fun.”

I backed away. Shit I needed to know whathappened last night. I glanced at my watch and I felt my whole bodyturn cold. It was eleven thirty. I ignored the chick in front of meand went sifting through naked bodies. “Derick! Derick, wake yourarse up now. I need everyone out like an hour ago. Derick.”

A loud moan in the bedroom direction had mefollowing the noise. Derick had made it to a bed but he was farfrom alone. I needed help and was freaking out about what I woketo. I leaned over the naked woman and shook my brother. “Wake thefuck up now. We have, if we are lucky, an hour to get everyone out,showered, and ready for Mum, Jade, and Cassie.”

Derick groaned and pushed my hands off him.“You do it. You invited them back.”

Feeling sick to my stomach, I dug deep intomy pockets, I needed answers and I needed them now. I hoped Brandand his team knew what happened.

“Hey, kid. How you feeling?”

“You tell me. Who was on me and Derick lastnight?”

Brand chuckled. “Unfortunately not me. I’mdriving your mother, Cassie, and your girl to you now.”

“Fuck, fuck, fuck. How far are you away?”

“About half an hour.”

“Mother fucker. I need you to stall. I needto know who was on me and Derick last night.”

“I’ll try the first. And David, Royce, andOwen. Heard you had a good tim—” I hung up. I had no time forchitchat.

I went back out to the lounge room andyelled, “Up, everyone up. Get your shit and get out.”

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