Stepbrother The Hard Trainer: A Stepbrother Romance Book Collection

by Anna Restrepo

  Would Emily dissolve amongst the large crowd of people that would no doubt fill our stands? There would barely be an empty seat in the huge arena, over sixty thousand people would come to watch us play and hurtle the ball and our bodies from one side of the field to the other.

  It was laughable to think that even amongst all those people that Emily would disappear.

  I’d be able to find her right away, I’d be able to feel her golden eyes on me the entire time. Every time I turned I would look for her, my eyes sweeping the seats instead of the field. I would miss throws and catches and probably be tackled more than I ever had before… but it would be worth it for that single instant of our eyes connecting.

  I groaned, which Cynthia mistook for a sigh of pleasure as she leaned up on her tiptoes, arms enveloping me tight as her fingers tangled into my hair.

  I held her with one arm, begging her to transform into the one woman that I wanted, begging her to have changed by the time that I opened my eyes.

  And so, I kept them closed tight, long lashes dusting over the hill of my chiseled cheek, and I pretended for as long as I could that it was not Cynthia in my arms.

  How was it that I could be so transfixed by a woman that I had never touched, never kissed, never been graced with any more than a hug?

  Emily didn’t look at me as any more than her brother. She didn’t look at me as anything other than the boy who shared her home for five years.

  She didn’t know the torture that time had been. She didn’t know how badly I needed to escape.

  I couldn’t have ruined her life by explaining what happened. It would have destroyed her as much as never touching her destroyed me.

  If there was only one of us who had to bear that burden, then I gladly took it. I gladly ran away from her so that she could have the remnants of her childhood preserved. It was easier for me to pretend that my family didn’t exist than to face the painful truth about why I had run so far and fast away from them.

  When I pulled away, I washed the taste of Cynthia away with the sharp shot of vodka and ordered another round.

  I would have as many as it took to forget those golden eyes.

  Chapter 5

  Emily

  The stadium was even more massive than I expected.

  The sun bore down on my shoulders, burning the pale, sensitive flesh. I’d gone back and forth on an outfit for the day over and over and over again. I’d grabbed my Jaxon Hart jersey at first, slipping the cozy, well-worn fabric over my head and admiring myself in the mirror.

  It was as I was finishing her cup of coffee that I realized that it might make Jaxon even more angry with me than he already was.

  It was clear already that he didn’t want me anywhere near him or near the game, but I had to go. There was no way that I would skip out on this once in a lifetime opportunity to see him play in person. I loved watching his games from the TV screens of cafes or from my living room, but there was something magical about seeing it person. I wanted to see the sunshine gleam off his helmet and I wanted to watch that powerful first tackle of his. I wouldn’t bother him, I wouldn’t cheer to loudly, I just wanted to be able watch.

  I couldn’t seem to push away from my mind the expression on his face that I’d witnessed the day before when we’d seen each other for the first time in so long. He’d looked so distraught and sad. It wasn’t like anything I’d ever seen on his face before. I remembered him being so headstrong and almost apathetic, even when we were just kids. It was so wild to me to see that more sensitive side to him now. I’d always felt like there was more to Jax than he showed on the surface. I’d always firmly believed that he was the type to wear his heart not on sleeve, but carefully tucked as deep as he could inside of him where it would be protected and guarded from everything. What else he held in the depths of his armored soul were only up to the imagination to decide.

  I hadn’t mentioned the argument when I’d called my mother that evening while Rick was at a work meeting. I hadn’t had the heart to tell her parents how upset he was. I understood, now, a little bit more why my parents were so reluctant to talk about him. It’d been cruel of me to bring him up so incessantly over the last fifteen years. I would have to remember this lesson in the future.

  I’d always assumed that Mom and Lyle didn’t want to talk about Jax because it hurt, but perhaps they had more reason for their reluctance to see him than I’d thought before. If only there was a way for me to get to the bottom of this, then maybe I could reunite them. I’d see the troubled sadness on my stepbrother’s face when I talked about our parents. He hadn’t wanted to hurt them when he decided he’d left.

  So then, why had he?

  I fidgeted with my shirt, now suddenly uncertain if I should gone with the jersey instead. I felt off without it, I’d worn it every Sunday game since I could remember. I didn’t even wash it in between their wins.

  Instead of the jersey, though, I’d finally settled on a neon yellow tank top and fitted denim jeans. Though it’d been chilly yesterday evening, it was warm today and the sun was out full force. Plus, yellow was one of the team’s colors and I figured that would be better than anything else I could’ve worn.

  After leaving Jaxon’s hotel the evening before, I’d contemplated not going to the game, but even if I didn’t speak to Jax again, to be able to see him play in person was something that I could not turn my nose up at. It may be my only chance in her lifetime to see him, and I wanted to bear witness to that that more than anything else.

  I hadn’t been able to sleep last night, lying beside Rick as he snored. I’d gone over and over the heated conversation that Jax and I had, trying to place just where I could have changed my tone or shown more patience to be able to have that breakthrough with him. I wished that we could have connected then, instead of parting on such negative terms. I loved him, after all, he’s my only brother.

  If keeping my distance was how I could be a good sister to Jax, then it was just what I would do.

  Loud music blared from inside the stadium as the pregame show took full stride, making my ears pop and my head ache. There was only ten minutes until kickoff and I was irritated at myself for taking so long to get ready. If I had just made up my mind about my outfit, then I could’ve been in my seat already, watching the men as they warmed up and did light stretches on the sideline. I could’ve already spotted Jax as he chatted with the quarterback or Lucas or took pictures with VIP admirers.

  Instead, I was still in line and surrounded by clumsy people just finishing their festive tailgating parties. Fans, drunk and slurring from their fifteen rounds of beer pong and flip cup, stumbled around me. They pushed and prodded me forward as though I could somehow make the line move any faster than it was already, making my mood all the more sour with every drunken burp and hiccup they let loose. It was obnoxious to me, but then again, I’d never been much of a drinker or a partyer.

  My biological father had been overindulgent, to say the least, and even when Rick popped his beers in the afternoon it left a bitter taste in my mouth. I’d learned long ago there was no point in asking Rick to drink less, however. One of the only times that Jax and I ever spent time together as teens was one night after school junior year when Jax called me to pick him up from a party. It was the only time I could remember him ever calling me on purpose. I’d been so angry that he hadn’t invited me along that I threatened to tell Lyle. He’d never called me again.

  “Ticket, please,” the man standing at the gate said with a yawn as I finally approached, his glazed eyes flickering over my head to the long line stretching out behind me.

  He looked as enthusiastic about dealing with all the drunkards as I had been standing next to them. I felt sorry for him having to deal with the rowdy fans and the never-ending lines. His cheeks would probably be a crispy sunburnt red by the end of the afternoon.

  Politely, I stuck out my neatly printed ticket, looking away as he inspected it once then narrowed his eyes slightly.

  “…
is there a problem?” I asked uncertainly, frowning and peering down at the ticket.

  I’d bought it only minutes ago from will call, so it was doubtful that it was counterfeit. That would be my luck, though.

  Or maybe Jax had requested that I be booted from the game if I showed. I felt my throat go instantly tight, my brain buzzing between my ears. Would he do that? Would he really request that I not be allowed inside the stadium?

  If he’d done that, his point would be clear. He’d wanted nothing at all to do with me, and he was willing to do whatever he could to make me face it.

  “One second, ma’am,” the man replied curtly, turning slightly to lift his radio to his lips and mutter something indecipherable before handing the ticket back to me.

  Taking one long look at the ticket, I tried to step through the gate but the security guard stopped me with a shake of his head and a lift of his hand, still mumbling into the walkie talkie receiver.

  “Listen, this ticket is real, I just got it from someone on your own staff-”

  “The attendant is going to take you to your seat, Ms. Hart,” the man replied with slightly confused eyes that made his brow knot over his forehead, “It can be difficult to find the right hall to the VIP lounge so I wanted to get you some help.”

  “…VIP?” I repeated after him with a start, “VIP of what?”

  The man chuckled slightly, eyebrows furrowing deeper in confusion, “You’re the sister of one of the players, aren’t you? There’s a seat reserved for you in the family booth.”

  Before I could respond, an attendant appeared from around the corner, smiling politely and gesturing toward a nearby door, “Ms. Hart, if you’ll come with me, please. The anthem is about to start playing.”

  Numbly, I gave a hasty nod and followed the woman up the long set of stairs.

  So I suppose he wasn’t having me exiled after all. I waited for the excitement to surge up in me all overwhelming and unbearable, but my mind was facing some serious emotional whiplash at the moment and couldn’t see to process it.

  Just last night my stepbrother couldn’t bear to even look at me, and now he was inviting me to the luxury suite?

  Maybe Jaxon had also done some long thinking last night about their conversation. Maybe he was ready for us to start over again? With every inch we took upwards toward the family booth, a burst of joy bubbled up in me like a geyser, making my feet hop over every step as though I were a gleeful child skipping from puddle to puddle.

  I could hardly believe it. Jaxon was not the type to apologize, he never had been, but maybe, just maybe, this was his attempt. If it was, I would gladly accept it.

  “I've never been in a VIP booth before,” I murmured aloud as I followed the female attendant around the corner. “I can’t believe it.”

  The attendant chuckled and stepped to the side of the door, giving me a playful wink, “Well, most people enjoy it quite a bit. I think you’ll be pretty impressed with it, Ms. Hart. I hope you enjoy watching your brother’s game.”

  “I’m sure I will!” I gushed, stepping inside as the woman opened the door and then closed it carefully behind me.

  I sucked in a breath, gazing around the elegant luxury suite. It was perched so close to the field that I could see the players warming up on the sidelines before beginning to drift toward where a woman was preparing to sing in the middle of the field. There were several TVs also hung on the walls so crisp and clear that it was like you were standing on the green grass beside them. Waiters walked between the large and adjoined rooms, taking drink orders and food orders while handing out several appetizers that smelled heavenly.

  There were many other people here, seated on elegant leather chairs and stools as they chatted and gazed down on the field and sipped scotch in crystal glasses. I recognized a few of them as old coaches and retired players. It was spinetingling to stand so close to them… and Jax had thought I deserved this.

  my heart swelled a bit as she walked to the large windows gazing down over the heads of other fans. Our side of the stadium was a wash of yellow, so bright and beautiful that it reminded me of the sun. There was no way that I would ever be able to repay Jax for giving me this beautiful opportunity. I wondered if he would even go as far as to allow me to take a single photo of us to commemorate the day. Looking back, I regretted not wearing his jersey. Maybe I could have even gotten him to sign it.

  I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect way to watch the game than this. Jaxon was even more thoughtful than I’d ever known. I remembered all the times in high school that he had ignored me, pretending like I didn’t exist. We’d never gotten too close because of the distance he put between us, but this made up for all of that. Hastily, I tugged out my cell and snapped a few pictures so that I could show my parents when the time was right. I’d promised myself I would limit talking about my stepbrother after this instead of jumping down everyone’s throats, but I was sure that at some point they would value these pictures as much as I did.

  “Oh my God, Cynthia!” A girl shrilly wailed from where a group of young women were seated at a small table facing away from the field.

  Empty margarita glasses piled between the group of four beautiful females, all dressed in matching short skirts and sheer tanks and dresses. They were absolutely stunning, though I didn’t recognize them aside from the small glimpse I’d caught at the bar.

  Turning away, I couldn’t help but to accept a salmon puff from one of the passing waiters, nibbling at it as I watched the national anthem being sung from the wide field. The teams stood across from one another, hands on their hearts, watching the woman belt it out. The sheer splendor of the moment almost brought tears to my eyes.

  I found Jaxon instantly, standing beside the quarterback and rocking slightly back and forth to the glorious melody of the song. His head stayed lifted high, his broad shoulders back and his crisp uniform fitting him flawlessly. I pressed one hand to my heart, pressing my other palm to the cool glass in reverence. I wished he could see me all the way up here, I wish that I could wave to him and mouth my gratitude.

  “What, Dana? You’ve never had a long night before?” the woman named Cynthia shot back to the other girl, throwing her silky red hair over her shoulder as her head tilted back in chiding laughter.

  Glancing over my shoulder, I watched them with a bit of envy. They were so pretty they could be models. Maybe that’s who they were? Cheerleaders who were taking a break from the game? They were certainly fit enough to be cheerleaders, their long legs perfectly tanned and toned. Beside them, I probably looked like a mess.

  Cynthia giggled again and smoothed her hands over the shimmery bodice of her dress.

  She was gorgeous, I noted. Everything about her was beautiful. Her hair fell in perfect waves, her makeup was impeccable. Even her clothing was flawless, like she’d been designed for a magazine cover. That was probably what she did for a living, I could probably pick up any magazine in the store and find Cynthia smiling coyly from the cover.

  “Girl, I’ve had long nights but that was just ridiculous,” one of the other women muttered with a roll of her eyes. “You’re really trying with him, aren’t you?”

  “There’s no trying,” Cynthia responded smugly, “I’ve got him wrapped around my finger. You can’t even begin to imagine how passionate Jaxon was last night. I’ve never felt anything like that from him before. It’s like he was a whole new person.”

  My chin instantly jerked toward the group of girls, eyes widening in surprise.

  Jaxon? As in my brother, Jaxon?

  I could imagine her at the side of this beautiful woman. I was sure they looked absolutely stunning together. She was just his type of beautiful with her model stature and trim figure.

  Something strange flurried in my chest like a tiny but bitter whirlwind. I couldn’t put my finger on just what the feeling was, but it was strange and suffocating and heavy inside my heart, like a lead weight had been planted with just the mention of Jax’s name on the woman’s l
ips.

  “You are so lucky,” Dana murmured back with a sigh as she rest her dimpled chin on her hand with a pout, “I can’t get any of them to even look at me. Not really. They’re down for a quickie but nothing more than that.”

  “Believe me, it’s all about persistence,” Cynthia responded with a sage nod of her head. “I wouldn’t take no for an answer. Now we’re practically engaged.”

  The other girls nodded quickly, gazing at the redhead with idolizing eyes.

  Really? Jax engaged?

  They were so much younger and prettier than me that I couldn’t help watching them, imagining what it must be like to be in their shoes and have all my worth based around with celebrity or superstar football player looked my way. It was sad, really.

  “Can we help you?” one of the women said abruptly, and it took all of them turning to glower at me for me to realize that I was now the focus of their attention.

  They gazed at me like vipers, coiling up their bodies and poising to strike if I gave them even the slightest opportunity. A shudder rolled up my spine. The girls reminded me of the mean girls of high school and the cliques ruled by who had the pinkest manicure that week.

  “Oh, um, no—” I began, tripping over my tongue in surprise.

  “Listen, lady, I’ve never seen you before and I’m not sure how you managed to sneak up here,” Cynthia began haughtily, drawing attention from the curious others who began looking our way.

  Her eyes swept over my simple outfit, nothing compared to her tight, flashy body con dress and high stilettos, her mouth curling in faint disgust.

  I could feel a red blush of embarrassment creep over my cheeks. I smoothed my hands over my tank top, wishing that I could melt away. What was I thinking, coming here?

  “Well?” Dana snapped. “Are you going to stop staring or do we need to call one of the attendants? God, we’ve had so many party crashers lately, do we not have any security?’

  Cynthia looked around, snapping impatient fingers for a nearby waiter to walk over.

  “I didn’t sneak up here,.” I finally mumbled, leaning slightly against the glass before I reminded myself to straighten up a little and lift my chin. I was horrible at confrontation, there was nothing I disliked more than that.