Page 25 of Hey, Stepbro

Justin peeks over my shoulder, trying to catch a glimpse of my phone screen. "Who's texting you? Is it Blakely?"

I roll my eyes and shove my phone back into my pocket. "Mind your own business, man."

Pablo jumps in. "Ooh, Brock's got a hot date tomorrow night. Better bring your A-game, bro."

But inside, my heart is racing with excitement. I can't wait to see Blakely again and spend more time with him. Maybe this could be the start of something real, something more than a fling.

After I leave the locker room, I swing by the library. The only librarian I like, Mrs. Justine, is behind the computer.

"Hey," I say, waving at her. "I know I'm not the biggest reader, but a new friend of mine is super into literature. Do you have any recommendations for a good book to read?"

She looks up from her computer and smiles at me. "Of course, Brock. What are you in the mood for? Romance? Adventure? Mystery?"

I pause for a moment, thinking about Blakely and the feelings that have been stirring inside me. "Romance, I think."

Mrs. Justine nods, then walks over to one of the shelves and pulls out a book. "How about this one? It's called 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen. It’s a classic and one of my favorites."

I take the book from her and flip it over, reading the blurb on the back. It sounds interesting, and the cover is beautiful. "Thanks, Mrs. Justine. I'll give it a try."

"Wait," she says. "This one's a new arrival. You might like it, too."

As she scrolls through the database, I can't help but think about Blakely again. It's amazing how much he's been on my mind lately, but I can't seem to shake him off.

Mrs. Justine hands me a thick book titled "Paws for Thought: A Comprehensive Guide to Animal Shelters."

"This should be helpful." I flip through the pages.

"You're welcome. Let me know if you need anything else."

I'm in shock she knew exactly what I needed. Now, I'm not sure I'll actually read these books, but it's impressive Mrs. Justine damn near read my mind.

I'm grabbing a coffee from a shop near campus when my phone buzzes.

AnimalLover:Hey, any chance you'd want to try to meet again?

Me:Yeah, man. I'm so sorry about last weekend.

AnimalLover:Don't even worry. I actually had a pretty good time, despite the fact that you flaked on me.

Me:Haha, I'm sorry. It was a dick move.

AnimalLover:You can say that again lol. I waited at the shelter for an hour before I realized you weren't coming. But listen, I'm free this weekend if you want to try again.

Me:Absolutely. Let's plan for Saturday?

AnimalLover:Sounds good to me. Can't wait to see you again.

As I put my phone away, guilt pangs through me at the thought of seeing both Blakely andAnimalLover. But they're two different things, right? One is a friend who loves animals, and the other is someone I'm starting to have feelings for.

As I walk back to Dad's house, I can't shake off the sensation that things are going to work out. Maybe it's the narcissism of youth, or maybe it's the voice of destiny... Okay, I won't be dramatic. Things will fall into place; all I must do is keep showing up and doing my best.

Blakely

"Girl," I say, taking a bite of my marshmallow rice crispy bar, "you won't believe what Brock and I did last Sunday."

"Wait. Brock?" Stella gasps. "You're actually talking to him?"

"It's a little hard not to when we live in the same house."

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