Page 14 of The Star

I let the water fall over me, curling my head forward to stare at the floor while I try to breathe through the feeling of crying. I miss my friends already; I miss my life. Never did I think I’d be wishing to head back to the hood, but I even miss the sounds of gunshots and sirens outside my window at night.

“Oh shit.” The voice pulls my attention from the sob that’s bubbling inside my chest, making my head snap up to find Carson standing on the other side of the glass door.

He has a grin on his face, and he’s doing nothing to turn away from my naked ass in the shower stall. I spin around so he can’t see my goodies. “Uh, do you mind?”

He taps a finger on the glass door a few times. “Sorry, I’m not used to anyone else being in here. I should have knocked.”

“Yeah, you should have when you heard the water running,” I snap.

He taps his fingers on the glass again. “Now that I’m here… Mind if I join you? It could be a really nice way for us to bond, little sis.”

I clench my fist at my sides. “Get the fuck out!”

I hear him laugh as he leaves the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. I should have locked the door that connects to his bedroom, but last I heard, he wasn't home. I also refuse to blame myself for this little incident, because once he heard the water going, he should have turned around and left.

Blowing out a breath, I turn back to put myself directly under the shower spray.

Well, I don’t feel like crying anymore, so that’s a plus. I, however, did not want to get to start this new chapter in life with my stepbrother walking in on me having a breakdown in the shower – whether he noticed or not.

I finish my shower, using the expensive soaps that Sara must have put in here for me and ignoring the manly stuff that is obviously Carson’s. I’m still frustrated as a motherfucker by the time I’m stepping out onto the tile of the bathroom floor and wrapping a towel around me. Smirking a little when I look at Carson’s bedroom door, I decide to give him the same treatment he gave me.

I twist the knob, barging in unannounced.

But I stop dead in my tracks when I see him. My lungs constrict, and I stop breathing completely when my eyes focus on him. He’s sitting in his desk chair, facing the door I just pushed through, his hand wrapped tightly around his dick. I try to tell myself to leave, move my fucking legs and turn around to go back the way I came, but I can’t get the muscles to move.

My eyes trail up his body of their own volition, and I take my time to admire the muscles in his stomach and chest that are coated with a light layer of sweat. When I finally reach his face, I find his eyes zeroed in on me while he jerks himself. He doesn’t stop, he doesn’t say anything, he doesn’t shy away from my wandering eyes – he just keeps going. He pulls upwards with his fist, then moves back down slowly, almost like he’s teasing himself. I choke on the words sitting in my throat, unable to speak to apologize for intruding.

He groans, and the sound rumbles through me, making my stare catapult back to where he’s fucking his hand. He flexes his hips, moving his fist faster.

“Drop the towel, and I’ll come for you.” His gravelly voice pulls me from whatever state of shock I’m in, my eyes going wide as they move back to his face. He smirks at me, hand still moving below, and I bolt out through the door I came through, slamming it behind me.

I fall against the closed door, gripping my towel tight against my body as my chest heaves, trying to get as much oxygen I can suck down.

Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit.

I just walked in on my new stepbrother fucking his hand, and I stood there… watching him.

Oh my God.Oh my God.

And what’s worse? There’s a pounding between my legs, tempting me to turn around and straddle him instead.

seven

LOGAN

There’s a tap at my door, almost making me jump out of my skin.

Please don’t be Carson, please don’t be Carson, please don’t be Carson.

I stand from my bed, padding across the carpet to pull my door open. Sara’s smiling face is on the other side, making my chest deflate with relief.

“Hi, Logan. I was wondering if you’d want to go shopping with me? I’m sure you need some new school clothes.”

“Oh.” The question catches me off guard. “I mean, I don’t really know if my dad would be able to afford to revamp my closet again.”

I’ve owned being poor for long enough that the confession normally wouldn’t phase me, but standing here staring at this glamorous woman… it makes me feel shameful, humiliated, and those are feelings I’ve worked hard to get rid of in my seventeen years.

“I don’t want you to worry about that, Logan.” Her smile turns softer, almost like she’s pitying the words that just left my mouth, making me throw up my walls and go on the defense.

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