Dalton held my hand. “I want to be with you desperately but we can't throw everything away. Not our futures, our parents.”
I thought about my mom. She would be devastated if we never came back. But wouldn't she understand if it was for love?
I felt insane for thinking it but I loved Dalton. I'd only known him for a short while but I knew he was it. He was the man I'd been searching for my entire life.
“I would miss my mom but the sacrifice would be worth it.”
“And what about college?” Dalton asked. “Are you just going to leave that behind. Don't you think you're making a hasty decision.”
There was no changing his mind. Dalton didn't feel the same way I did. I pulled my hand from his and turned my head. “Just take us back then.”
He sat there for a moment, searching for the right words to repair the situation but there was nothing to be said. Dalton left me to go steer us back home.
I didn't say another word to him while we sailed back. I just couldn't. I was torn up inside. My love for Dalton was stronger than ever and I was devastated that he didn't feel the same way.
It took all the effort in the world to keep myself from breaking down on his bed. I didn't want him to see me sobbing and crying his name out. That would be better left for when I was alone in my own bedroom.
Dalton ducked his head into the cabin. “We're pulling up to the dock,” he announced.
It had only been a day since we left but everything looked different. We sailed into docking bay ninety-four and Dalton tied us off.
“I'll see you back at home,” Dalton said.
I ignored him and jumped off the boat. My legs were still weak but I willed them to work. I wasn't going to fall and give Dalton the satisfaction of saving me.
Thank god I drove here in my own car. Driving back with him in awkward silence would've killed me.
I sat in my car and couldn't bring myself to turn the ignition. Tears began to creep down my cheek and I couldn't stop myself. I broke down, letting everything out. I cursed, I cried, and punched the steering wheel until my hands hurt.
Dalton drove me to brink of wanting to kill him if it meant a release of this pain. I sat in my car for hours, thinking about everything that went wrong.
I felt so silly crying over this man I barely knew. I stiffened up and wiped my watery eyes. I wouldn't let him have this control over me anymore.
Dalton was just like any other man.
I gathered the courage to turn the ignition and drove myself home.
When I entered the house, I discovered Dalton sitting with my mom and Irving. I couldn't bring myself to make eye contact with him.
“There you are, Brendon,” my mom said.
I don't know what they were talking about but I guess it had something to do with Dalton leaving early. It would be good for both of us if he wasn't around anymore. The temptation wouldn't be there.
“I didn't think it was a good idea at first but Dalton convinced us that it would be good for you.”
I couldn't follow my mom's train of thought. I didn't have any inkling of what she was talking about. “What's going on?” I asked.
She raised her eyebrows. “Well Dalton told us that he wanted to take you on a sailing trip. It might be a few months. At first, I only thought about your college career but Dalton assured me that you could pick it up when you got back. You'll only skip a semester at most.”
The room began to spin. This didn't make any sense. Did I walk into the right house? Did Dalton change his mind about us?
I found his face staring at me with tears in his eyes. He felt the same way that I did about him. It just took him a little longer.
“I want to take you on a shopping trip and get you everything you're going to need,” my mom said, grabbing my hands. She droned on and on and it all drifted away. I focused on Dalton's eyes, telling him with my thoughts that I loved him.
When my parents finally left us alone, I sat next to Dalton. “What changed your mind?” I asked.
He put his hand on my cheek. “I'm sorry. It just took me a little while longer to get to the same conclusion you did. I want to run away with you. I love you, Brendon.”
Those were the words I always wanted to hear. “I love you too, Dalton.”
The End
Story Fifteen
Copyright 2018
All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer: This ebook is a work of fiction. Any resemblance characters in this story may have to real people is coincidental.
No section of this book may be copied or reproduced without the author's permission.
Description
Sterling is home for the holidays but this time it's going to be different. The stepbrother he's been obsessed over is coming too. The only problem is they haven't exactly met yet. But this Christmas will bring them together in more ways than one.
Mason didn't want to come home for the holidays. He never really cared for Christmas. Everything is about to change and now he'll never want to leave.
Warning! Get that mistletoe out because there's going to be a lot of insta-love. Warm up next to the fire but don't get too close because this one's going to be hot.
Chapter One
It wasn't much of a surprise when I found out that my mother got married while I was away at college.
It was the way she got married that shocked me.
She'd been dating Bobby for a couple years now and everything was going really great. Bobby was a nice guy with average looks and always treated my mom with respect. It was a quality I really appreciated about him.
My mom and I would talk on the phone about how much she loved Bobby and how they were going to spend the rest of their lives together.
All of the mushy stuff that made me want to puke.
One night she called me up sounding drunker than even the worst people I'd seen at frat parties. Every word out of her mouth was slow and slurred. I could barely understand what she was trying to say. I could hear Bobby on the other end yelling for my mom.
The only words I was able to make out was: Vegas and married. Then the call ended.
I couldn't believed they had eloped in Vegas. The crazier part was that my mom sounded trashed. I don't think I'd ever been that drunk before.
I didn't get the whole story until the next day when my mom called me with a serious hangover.
“I'm so sorry, Sterling. I really wanted you there. It was just a spur-of-the-moment decision. Bobby and I were drinking and then the idea just popped up. I didn't even have time to think before I said yes.”
My mom getting drunk wasn't a new concept to me. Ever since the divorce she'd been close with the bottle. I'd find her passed out on the couch almost every night and would have to help her upstairs and into bed.
But that was about the worst of it. She never drank during the day and she never let it affect our relationship.
That's why I loved her.
“It's not a big deal, Mom. I already knew Bobby and you would be getting married soon. It was only a matter of time. But this Vegas wedding doesn't take away the fact that you can still have a regular wedding.”
My mom halted her crying for a moment. “You're right, Sterling. I can plan a huge wedding and nobody has to know about the one in Vegas. It can be our little secret.”
“That's right,” I replied.
“Thank you so much for understanding, Sterling. I don't know what I'd do without you.”
“I love you too, Mom.”
“You're still coming home for Christmas right?”
I'd been so caught up with studying for finals that I didn't even see that far ahead. “Of course I'm coming home.”
I could feel my mom's smile through the phone. “Great! Bobby will be thrilled. Oh and by the way, Bobby will be bringing Mason too.”
My heart skipped a beat. Bobby had spoken of his son Mason a lot and showed me plenty of pictures of him. He was fucking hot. And that was an understatement. I'd never seen a g
uy that looked like that unless he was a model or in the movies. I'd stolen a picture of him out of Bobby's wallet and kept it with me at college.
Mason had just graduated from college with a degree in business and got a job at some fancy startup with a hip name that I didn't remember. There was no doubt that he was making good money.
I would pull out his picture during those lonely nights and dream about being with him.
I never thought I would actually meet the guy.
Too many things crossed my mind. What do I wear? What do I say to him?
There was still a week left until Christmas break and it didn't feel like nearly enough time to get my shit together.
“Are you still there, Sterling?”
I didn't realize that I still had my mom on the line. “I'm sorry, Mom. I had to put my phone down for a second.”
“I asked if you were okay with Mason joining us for Christmas. I know you too have never met but I think you're going to really get along with him.”
“It's totally fine. I've been wondering about him ever since you started dating Bobby.”
“Perfect! Then I'll see you when you're finished with school. Good luck on those finals.”
The call finally ended and I opened the drawer in my nightstand next to my bed. I took out my sketchbook that I had neglected for a long time and opened it to the middle. The picture of Mason was nestled next to the binding, crisp and flat.
I lay back on my bed and stared at the photo. It was of Mason during college. Probably his senior year. He wore a black button-down shirt and black pants. He was dressed formal for some reason and I never got to ask Bobby the reason why. I couldn't bring it up after I stole it without risking Bobby checking his wallet and finding it missing.
Mason was well built. Probably worked out in the gym twenty hours a day or something. But he didn't seem like all the other college guys.
I felt a connection to him the instant I saw his photo. It sounded crazy but there was something about him that drew you in. It was most likely his insanely good looks. How he came from Bobby was a mystery to me.
His smile made my heart melt.
Now I'd get the chance to finally meet him at Christmas and I was more nervous about that than my finals.
Chapter Two
My mom always went all out for Christmas. Multi-colored lights hung from almost every visible surface on the outside of the house. The astronauts in space would have to shield their eyes.
The lawn was covered with that fake snow that was like carpet. A cheap replica of Santa and his reindeer stood in the middle with Rudolph at the front with a glowing red noise.
I walked up to the front door that had a fresh green wreath nailed to it. I almost knocked when I realized that this was my home too. I went to open it and found that it was locked. I took out my key and stuck it in the lock. But it wouldn't turn.
“What the hell,” I said.
I tried it again to no avail. Bobby must've changed the locks at some point. I foolishly put my key away knowing that it was useless now. I rapped my cold fist against the door and waited.
No answer.
I put my head close to the door and listened. I could hear loud Christmas music being played. No way they were going to hear me. I grumbled and rang the doorbell this time. I folded my arms across my chest and bounced around to warm up.
The door finally opened and Bobby stood there with the biggest grin in the world. “Sterling! You're here.”
“Yep, I'm here.”
Bobby grabbed the suitcase out of my hand and motioned for me to come in. “Dorothy! Our son is home!”
I stepped into the house I grew up in and realized that maybe my mom had gone a little crazy since the last time I saw her. The outside of the house was pretty decked out with decorations but the inside had it beat.
Mistletoe hung from every door frame. Christmas lights ran in various directions over my head. Two large tables were set up with a miniature winter village. My mom loved collecting little houses and every year it grew bigger and bigger. She had even put a train around the entire thing that had steam coming out.
My mom appeared upstairs and looked down. “You're home, Sterling!” She ran down before I had a chance to move to her.
Her hugs were famous for being hard and lasting for way too long. I braced myself for pain and hugged her back. She swung me around like a rag doll. “It's so good to have you home.”
She let me go and I took in a deep breath. “I wanted to say congratulations to the both of you.”
My mom took Bobby's hand. “Isn't he the sweetest? Thank you, Sterling.”
“I know its late but have you had anything to eat?” Bobby asked.
My stomach grumbled and I realized that breakfast was the only meal I had for the day. “I could use some food.”
My mom clapped her hands. “Perfect. I made some chicken and rice for dinner and there were plenty of leftovers. I'll microwave some for you.”
“And I'll put your suitcase in your room.” Bobby grabbed the handle and began to ascend the stairs.
“Thank you,” I said to both of them. I followed my mom through the living room that was filled with nutcrackers and into the kitchen. A Frank Sinatra Christmas vinyl record spun on a turntable.
The kitchen was about the one place in the entire house that wasn't dressed up in Christmas decorations. The Santa fridge magnets were about the only thing. She probably had future plans for the kitchen.
I sat down at the island with white marble counter-tops. “The house looks great, Mom.”
My mother took out a plate of leftovers from the fridge. “Took a long time but Bobby was such a great help. He did all the lights outside.” She put the plate in the microwave and punched a few buttons.
“I'm glad you found a guy to share your Christmas obsession with.”
“Well I wouldn't exactly say he's thrilled with the over-the-board decorating but he accepts it.” The microwave dinged and she took out the plate.
“Then I'm glad you found a guy who will accept you for who you are.”
My mom gave me a gentle smile and put the plate of food, fork, and knife in front of me. “Bobby really is such a great guy.”
I cut into the chicken and put the first piece in my mouth. Even though it had been cold and reheated, it actually tasted really good. Way better than the filth they served at my dorm.
Bobby entered the kitchen. He was certainly jolly right now. “What are my two favorite people talking about?”
My mom poured me a glass of water. “I was just about to bring up school to Sterling.”
Bobby turned to me. “How's college going?”
I tried to chew my food faster so I could open my mouth and speak. “Going well I guess.”
“And your grades?” my mom asked.
I swallowed a big lump of rice. “Still in the B range.”
My mom went to the oven and set it to preheat. “Keep up the good work. I'm going to bake us all some gingerbread cookies so save some room.”
“Those cookies will be the death of me,” Bobby said.
My mom slapped him with a rag. “Oh stop, you.”
Bobby poked his chest. “You want me to stop? Well come here and make me.” He pulled my mom in for a kiss and I had to avert my eyes to avoid the gushy romance.
The doorbell rang and thankfully interrupted them. “That must be Mason,” Bobby said.
My heart skipped a beat.
Chapter Three
I didn't think Mason would be here so soon. It was still three days until Christmas. I thought I had at least a couple more days to get used to the idea and prepare myself.
I looked down at my outfit and groaned. A puffy jacket and jeans weren't going to cut it. I quickly tore off the jacket to reveal a plain brown shirt. It wasn't exactly what I wanted to wear for Mason but it would do.
“Sterling! Come over here and meet Mason,” my mom called out.
I took out my phone and used my reflection to tr
y and comb my hair with my fingers. I took two deep breaths to calm my beating heart. “You can do this, Sterling,” I said softly.
I walked into the hallway and saw him stuck in a bear hug with my mom. I couldn't get a good look at him because he was being blocked. It would be a little while longer until my mom would finally release him.
Beware of Me Page 27
