Page 9 of A**hole Stepbrother

“I have to.”

“No, you don’t,” I said, and my voice sounded much more confident that I felt. “I’m going to get your father to come and pay your bail money, but you can’t say anything to the police. We’ll sort this out when you get back, okay?” I asked him, so that I could hear him vocally confirm that he wouldn’t tell them the truth.

“Why are you protecting us?” James asked me.

“Because what you did was wrong, but you never meant for this to happen. If you tell the police, then you are both going to be in a lot of trouble. I’m sure we can work something out with Sam, so that he drops the charges. Don’t say anything, okay?” I asked again, so that I could actually hear him say it.

“Fine, I won’t say anything,” he said, but he didn’t sound convincing and I knew I had only a matter of time before he came clean, even with his promise not to.

I turned in the direction of home and walked quickly. I kept my eyes out for a free cab and when I finally saw one, I ran out into the middle of the road like a crazy person, so that I knew it couldn’t ignore my desperate plea for a ride.

I climbed into the back of the cab and told the driver quickly where I wanted to go. He pulled off from the sidewalk, but at a snail’s pace. I could feel myself growing impatient as he slowed down at a traffic light and my fingers seemed to be tapping out that impatience on the fake leather seat that I was sitting on.

“Can you hurry up?” I asked him as I leaned forward, so that I could be sure that he’d hear me over the loud radio.

“I’ve got to follow the law, miss,” the cab driver said as he took in my panicked look. “I’ll see what I can do, though,” he added quickly.

The ride still took too long and when he finally pulled up, I practically threw my money at him before I stumbled out of the back door and sprinted up to the door. I walked in and tried to catch my breath whilst still moving quickly, and found that my chest was quickly turning into fire. I stopped at the study door and knocked quickly before I walked in without hesitation.

“It’s James,” I said in between labored breaths. “He’s in trouble and he needs you to bail him out,” I finished and then I took in the startled look on James’ father’s face. “You need to go, now,” I pushed him, and he nodded quickly before standing up and walking straight out of his study without saying a word to me.

I followed him into the hallway but turned off when I reached the steps. My mad dash had tired me out on top of it being my first day back at school, and I needed to lie down for a bit. I took the stairs slowly and found myself glad when I’d reached the top of them. I made it to my room and fell down on my bed with eyes closed. I’d known from waking up that today was going to be stressful, but I’d never thought in a million years that it would have ended like this.

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Chapter 16

James

I didn’t even bother to look at my dad until we were in the car. I didn’t need to. I could feel his glare burning across my face, as though it was the high summer sun through a window. I got into the front and fastened my seatbelt before I turned to look at him. His face was burning bright red, and I could see a deep purple vein popping away from his forehead.

“Dad, you need to listen to me,” I said as I tried to explain that in this one instance, I’d actually been doing the right thing.

“You’ve embarrassed me, son. You’ve brought our name into the eyes of people who shouldn’t know it. You’ve jeopardized your entire future, and over what? A friendship gone wrong? A scuffle over a girl? What happened, James? What made you think this was a good idea?”

“Dad, he was talking about Tilly. He said horrible, vile things that were inexcusable, and I lost my temper—surely, you understand that?” I asked him, a plea in my voice.

I watched as he thought over what I’d said. I could see his face getting visibly less red and I could tell that, although he was upset, he was no longer pissed. “I get why you did what you did,” he said eventually. “That doesn’t change the fact that you’ve risked a whole lot to defend her honor,” he said as he glanced over at me with a kind of knowing in his eyes that made me feel uncomfortable. It was as though he knew that I wouldn’t have done that for just anybody. It was as though he knew that my love for Tilly was more than it probably should have been, considering our situation.

“I’m glad you understand,” I said with a small, shaky smile as I thought about Tilly and what she would have to say when I got home.

“Listen, I know you have a smart head on your shoulders, but you also get distracted so easily and that needs to stop. I’m going to transfer some money into your account. It’s not going to be loads, but it’s not going to be change either. I want you to focus on the stock market and invest it. Anything you make, you keep, but you have to pay me the money back and any else that you need before you strike hot. Do you understand?”

“Sure,” I said as I tried to work out why he was doing it, but I couldn’t. “Why?” I asked him, because I didn’t want the question to go unresolved.

“You need something to focus on,” my father said with shrug.

I turned my attention back to the window as I felt us slowing down, and I was surprised to find that we were almost back home. I could feel my pulse starting to race as we pulled up onto the long driveway, and I couldn’t push the thought or picture of Tilly from the back of my mind. I knew that we had to talk. I knew that I needed to take anything that she had to say, and I knew that I would have to accept whatever outcome came from it, but that didn’t stop my nerves from making my whole body shake as I walked up the stairs and into my room.

“Hi,” Tilly said, and I jumped.

I looked deep into the shadows and noticed her sitting on my bed. I reached over and put the light on before turning back, so that I could see her properly. I’d spent many nights lying in my bed thinking about what Tilly would look like in my sheets, but I’d never thought about it being this situation that would get her into my bed.

“I was going to come and find you when I’d changed,” I explained quickly, so she wouldn’t think I’d been avoiding her.

“Oh, I can come back, if you want?” she asked with this innocent expression on her face that made my knees go weak and my stomach sink as I started to realize just how much I’d lost by losing her to the truth.

“No, it’s fine,” I said quickly—so quickly that she didn’t even have a chance to fully stand up.

She fell back onto my bed and smiled at me sweetly. “So, I think I’ve thought of the perfect plan,” she said without holding back on the subject.

“Oh, yeah?” I asked her in surprise.

“Yeah,” she said with a serious nod. “I’m going to record Sam admitting that he took part in the accident and then I’m going to threaten to take it to the police. He’s going to drop the charges against you for my silence,” she said as an evil, sexy smile flickered across her lips and summed up why I loved her in just one look.

“That’s genius,” I said with a smile.

“That’s why it was me who thought of it and not you,” she said with a sly grin that was returned with a grin of my own. “Do you think it’ll work?” she asked me seriously and I nodded.

“I can’t see why it wouldn’t,” I said after some thought. “I doubt he wants to be my prison buddy,” I said as I tried to make light of the situation.

“I want you to know,” Tilly started, but then she paused and looked thoughtful for a moment. “I don’t blame you for what happened. Truly, it’s okay. I don’t want you to carry guilt for this. You never meant for it to happen, and that makes it an accident and nothing more,” she finished as she stood up and walked over to me.

Her hand rose slowly up and stroked across my cheek, and in that moment, there was only me and her. The air around me filled with a beautiful floral scent that reminded me of violets and her bright eyes sparkled as they met with mine. It was in that moment that I realized I hadn’t lost her. It was in that moment that I realized that my love was totally justified and was even possibly returned.

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Chapter 17

Tilly

The diner was pretty loud, and for a while I wasn’t sure that I’d picked the right spot, but then Sam walked in and spotted me sitting in one of the booths, and I knew it was too late to back out or change the plan now.

“I was surprised to get your call,” Sam greeted me as he eyed me suspiciously.

“Well, you have so much to say at school,” I said with a small, sweet smile that made him flinch. “Are you going to sit down?” I asked him as I gestured at the free seat at the other side of the table from me.

He sat down and gave me a stone-cold look. “Look, what’s this about, Tilly? I’m all for playing games, but this one you’re playing is just getting boring,” Sam said as his patience ran out with me.

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