Page 24 of Four Stepbrothers for Christmas

One thing was undeniable: Becca was the antithesis of Mindy. Where Mindy had been cold and selfish, Becca was all warmth and generosity. Where Mindy sought to pull me down, Becca lifted me up.

I took a deep breath, grappling with the emotions surging within. The anguish, the trepidation, the budding hope. And as I exhaled, I made a vow: to let love in again, to take the risk, however formidable it might be. Because the prospect of true happiness with Becca was worth braving potential heartbreak.

I reached the hallway, the soft amber light from Becca's room illuminating the corridor. From the open door, I could see her, a picture of contentment nestled among the Gallo brothers. The soft, rhythmic sounds of their breathing, punctuated by the faint rustling of sheets, created an almost hypnotic lullaby.

Rather than being pulled into the gentle reverie, an unexpected pang gripped my chest. Jealousy. A bitter, foreign taste. I'd always considered myself above such emotions, especially given our unconventional situation. But seeing her there, so at ease, I felt an undeniable urge to be part of that tableau, to be right beside her.

As I hesitated at the threshold, I considered the idea of joining them. Would it be a welcome addition or an intrusion? The Gallo brothers had always been open-minded, our bond deeper than most families. But this...this was uncharted territory for all of us.

Would they welcome me into the fold, make space for me beside Becca? Or would they sense my hesitation, my internal conflict, and wish I'd stayed away?

Pushing off the door frame, I made my way to my bedroom. My thoughts raced, tangled and chaotic. I'd always been the logical one, the one who relied on reason over emotion. Yet here I was, gripped by an unfamiliar whirlwind of jealousy and longing.

My fingers drummed a restless beat on the wooden surface of my nightstand, echoing the turmoil inside. Should I talk to Becca? Lay bare my feelings and fears? Or should I just take the plunge, let go of my reservations and let myself be part of this?

I sank into my bed, the weight of my thoughts pushing me down. But even as I was consumed by this inner struggle, a singular realization rose above the noise: I needed to heal. Not for Becca, not for the Gallo brothers, but for myself. Until I could reconcile with my past, confront the demons of my betrayal, I couldn't hope to be part of any future, however tempting it might be.

Pulling the covers close, I tried to drown out the sounds coming from Becca's room. But they persisted, a gentle reminder of what could be, of what I was missing out on. Tomorrow, I decided, would be a new day. A day to confront, to heal, to move forward. I just hoped it wasn't too late.

Chapter 15

Becca

The familiar chime of my phone pulled me from my dreams, the sensation of the previous night still lingering on my skin. With a lazy smile, I stretched out, feeling every delicious ache. The bed beside me was empty, the cool sheets a testament to the Gallo brothers' early departure.

I groped around, fingers finally closing around the phone. The screen displayed Mom and I answered with a still sleepy, “Hello?”

"Becca, honey! How are you? Did I wake you up?" Mom's voice rang out, the same energetic tone I’d known all my life.

“Kind of, but I needed to get up anyway," I said, pushing strands of hair from my face. "What's up?"

"I wanted to remind you about Christmas, dear. You’re coming home, right? You promised!” There was a hint of desperation in her voice. Mom and I shared a bond unlike any other. She was both my parent and my confidante.

I laughed, pulling the covers up to my chin. “For the hundredth time, yes. I'll be there on Christmas Eve. My flight lands at one pm. Why do you keep asking?”

She gave a secretive chuckle. “Oh, I just have a little surprise for you. You’ll see!”

I groaned in playful annoyance. “Come on, Mom, not even a hint?”

"Absolutely not!" she responded with mock sternness. "You'll just have to wait and see." The conversation shifted, as it often did when talking with Mom. “Have you spoken to Mikey recently? Is he joining us for Christmas?” she asked, her voice tinted with hope and worry.

A pang of guilt tightened around my heart. Mom didn’t know Mikey was in rehab. He had pleaded with me not to tell her, wanting to fight his battles privately. Every day was a struggle for him, and I respected his decision, but it made conversations like this challenging.

“Uh, I'm not sure, Mom. You might want to call and ask him,” I deflected.

She sighed, disappointment clear in her voice. “I try, darling, but he never answers. Sometimes I feel like he's avoiding me.”

"It's not you, Mom," I reassured her, wishing I could say more. "He's just going through some stuff. Give him some time."

Before she could press further, Mom changed the subject, her ADHD-driven enthusiasm steering the conversation to her new garden project. I listened with half an ear, smiling at her typical scattered energy.

As I chatted with my mom, I wandered to the window, pulling aside the curtains to reveal a breathtaking winter scene. The landscape was blanketed in an untouched layer of snow, which sparkled brilliantly under the morning sun. Each tree branch wore a coat of frost, turning them into delicate crystalline structures that glistened like diamonds. The sky was a pure azure, contrasting strikingly with the pristine white below. A sense of peace settled over me, the beauty of the winter wonderland serving as a tranquil backdrop to Mom's familiar voice.

My fingers played absently with a strand of my hair, twirling it around in loops. As we talked, I wandered back to my bed, its softness lulling me into a false sense of timelessness.

"So, darling, how has it been going with your bosses? You were so nervous before leaving. Are they as intimidating as you'd imagined?" Mom asked, the same touch of worry in her voice.

A chuckle escaped me as fleeting memories of the hot tub event swirled in my mind. "It's been... unexpected," I began, carefully choosing my words. "I mean, they're a handful in the best way. The work keeps me on my toes, but they've been kind enough to let me use their hot tub, which has been pretty damn nice.”

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