Page 11 of Hey, Stepbro

CHAPTER4

BROCK

The not exactly pleasant scents of liquor and sweat enter my nose as I settle onto the stool at the Riverside campus bar. I remembered my fake this time, which is a relief.

After the wild week I've had, I need to meet up with the homies.

Amanda left me. That relationship, which I poured my soul into, is as good as gone.

Then, I turned into a cock addict. That was something I didn't expect, but I'm not opposed to it. Okay, it's a little out of character for me, but maybe a man is what I've needed in my life all along.

Don't kid yourself. You need Blakely. He's the only one who brought this side out of you.

Blakely is... incredible. I still don't know much about him, except for the fact that he's a bookworm. I'm excited to learn everything I can.

Justin and Pablo slide into the seats to my left and right. "Hey, Brock. You okay?" Justin asks, looking at me with concern.

I nod, taking a swig of my beer. "Yeah, thinking about some stuff."

Pablo leans over, his eyes scanning the room. "Like what, man?"

I hesitate for a moment, unsure if I should open up to them. But then I remember Blakely's words from earlier. I don't have to label anything. I don't have to rush.

"I think I might be into guys."

Justin and Pablo exchange a glance before turning back to me. "Really? That's cool, man. We support you," Justin says, patting my back.

I let out a breath. It feels good to have their support. "Thanks."

Pablo grins, his eyes lighting up. "Any guys in particular catching your eye?"

I hesitate again, my mind immediately going to Blakely. But I can't tell them that. "One. But I doubt anything serious will come of it."

Justin nods, taking another swig of his beer. "There are plenty of fish in the sea. You'll find someone."

I take a minute to check out my two friends. Justin is a sophomore like me, with dark hair and a lean build. Pablo is a bit older, a junior, with a muscular frame and a charming smile. They're both good-looking guys, but they don't compare to Blakely. The way his floppy brown hair falls in front of his eyes, the way his lips curve into a small smile, the way his soft stomach flexes beneath his shirt... I can't get him out of my head.

Son of a bitch.

I can't believe I'm even comparing two of my closest mates to Blakely.

Justin and Pablo have been with me through thick and thin, and not once have I thought of them in that way.

What the fuck is getting into me?

"Thanks for being so accepting." I try to steer the conversation away from my thoughts. "I really appreciate it."

"Of course." Pablo claps me on the back. "We're always here for you."

As we chat, my mind drifts back to Blakely. He's the one who brought this side of me out. The one who made me realize that maybe I've been playing for the wrong team all this time.

I take another swig of my beer, a sense of longing washing over me. I want to be with him, to explore this new side of myself with him.

But he's my stepbrother, for Christ's sake. It's not like we can just jump into bed together.

Or can we?

I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I can't keep obsessing over him like this. It's not fair to him or to me.

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