ADDICT

by Piper Frost

  "Fiona's had a little too much to drink. Already," her brother speaks up from the couch where he's lighting up a joint. "The hell's on your couch, Kenshaw?" With a cringe he adjusts himself to get away from the wet spot Jo made.

  "No clue." I push off Fiona and head to the kitchen. "Gonna eat some food."

  I walk in and Jo's searching through the cupboards with Kinlee right on her heels.

  "You two best friends now?" I ask, leaning against the counter and cracking open another beer.

  Jo glances at me but doesn't even smirk. "I like Kinlee," she quietly claims, opening the same cupboards.

  So now she's pissed.

  "Kinlee, can you get Fi another beer? She needs it." My eyes stay on Jo.

  "Yeah, sure!" She's always happy to help.

  When she leaves the room I walk over to Jo and wrap my arms around her from behind, trapping her against the counter.

  "You said you weren't pissed," I whisper, my eyes flicking to the doorway.

  "Brandt!" she quietly snaps. "Get off me. Stop following me around. People are gonna know!" Her elbow nudges me away. "Stop. I'm not pissed. And who the fuck is that girl?" She whips around but her eyes go wide then she shakes her head. "Never mind. Don't answer that. That was weird." Flustered, she moves away from me.

  "It's not weird. You have a right to know. And she's nothing to me. She's annoying, but she's nothing." I really don't want to say the words 'we've fucked' in order for Jo to realize why this girl's being so annoying. I just need her to realize she means nothing at all to me. And never will. "She's not my type."

  "It's totally cool." She awkwardly laughs and grabs the jar of peanut butter. "Not going to be the crazy girlfriend. Go have fun."

  "I'd be having more fun if we were in your bed. Or my bed. Come to think of it, my bedroom's better."

  Kinlee walks in, startling us both. "Oh my god, Brandt, don't rub it in her face you got the master suite!" she chides. "Stupid big brother. I tell ya, he's always been a little smug. You'll get used to it." Kinlee is talking to Jo like I'm not standing right fucking here.

  "I'm not smug." I take a drink and glance out to the living room where everyone else is. "Kinlee, don't they need anything?"

  "I love playing host!" she squeals and grabs beers. "Jo, you want me to make you a virgin?"

  "A few years too late for that." Jo chuckles. "But, I'm fine. Thanks." She looks at Kinlee then glances at me.

  I've got nothin'. My mind wanders to who her first time was with, how many people she's screwed, and praying her first time wasn't one of those times she told me about the other day. Now I know why she asked me how many people I've been with that one day. It doesn't make a difference about how I feel about her, but that's just that many people I have to be better than.

  "Six," I blurt.

  Kinlee's eyes fly to me and she laughs. "Are you drunk already?"

  Jo looks at me curiously.

  "Huh?" I mutter stupidly.

  Kinlee laughs and leaves the room with more beers, leaving us alone again.

  "That’s your count…six." Jo repeats.

  I nod and take another swig of my beer. The buzz is flowing from that damn shot and I should probably slow down, but I don't have to work tomorrow. I can sleep off the hangover. Probably. The problem is the gang knows my dad doesn’t make me work on my birthday and so the night before we always party. Hard.

  "Kinlee?" Jo asks as she gets a spoon.

  "No!" I bark out a laugh, grabbing another spoon and stealing the peanut butter jar from her hands. "It's my birthday," I say with a mouth full.

  She looks up at me. "I wish you would have told me," she whispers and moves a little closer. "I could have stolen something for you when I went into the city with Donna."

  "Or." My eyes light up because I know exactly what I want from her. "You can toss on a pair of cowboy boots, some sexy little lingerie you probably have, and my hat and do a strip show for me. That's better than anything you could've stolen for me. And way more legal." I push off the counter and want nothing more than to move in for a kiss but my luck Kinlee will walk in on us.

  Still smiling she looks away, dipping her spoon again. "So six, huh? Any of those six here right now? And don't say me."

  Before I can answer, Fiona saunters into the kitchen, headed right for me. When she reaches us, she latches on and looks at Jo. "You're Brandt's sister, aren't you?"

  Jo's smile is long gone and her eyes dart from me to Fiona. "No," she dryly says to her, then looks at me. "And I think I just got my answer." Jo walks out of the kitchen and sits next to Bo on the couch.

  "Let's play a game!" Fiona blurts as she follows right behind me on the walk to the living room.

  I can't fucking shake this girl. I mean, I've never had to try too hard to get the girls, but I've never had to try this hard to get them away from me either.

  "I’m not a game player." I chuckle, plopping down on the couch on the other side of Bo. Jo glances over at me and Bo's eyes widen slightly.

  "Oooh games! Fun!" Kinlee claps. "What're you thinkin' Fiona?"

  I watch Fiona's eyes dart around the room and she grins slowly. "Spin the bottle."

  "No. Not happening. My birthday, my call. We're not playin' spin the bottle."

  I'm out numbered while all the girls beg to play, and a few of the guys start joining. I look at Jo and she has a smirk on her face, but she's not saying anything.

  "Jo, do you want to play?" Kinlee asks giddily, like she's the deciding factor.

  "Why not?" She sits back on the couch and lifts her feet up. "I haven't played this since I was fifteen."

  "Because it's childish. We're too old for this." I look at Bo's face and he's nodding silently but Chase is grinning like a wolf that's set his sight on Jo.

  Hell. No.

  "You used to be fun, Brandt," Fiona says with a roll of her eyes.

  "Come on, Brandt. It's just for fun. It'll be funny!" Kinlee chimes in.

  "Yeah, come on, Brandt. Even though you see her all the time, Jo’s kinda new to all of us. What better way to get your sister acquainted with everyone?” Fiona starts to laugh.

  "I love a good spit-swapping to try and get to know someone," Jo says.

  Shit, this can't be happening.

  "I'm not letting my step sister be acquainted with any y’alls spit." Brandt laughs nervously.

  I sit forward and grab an empty bottle, holding it up. "Don't be so lame, Brandt." I think I have my answer that he's fucked that girl, but I don't think he'd tell me straightforward. "Kinlee, you should start."

  "Ooooh, okay!" She downs another shot and rubs her hands together. Reaching out, she spins the bottle and we all wait as it slows to a stop. Her eyes follow the neck of the bottle and land on some guy I've never seen before.

  "Bryce," Kinlee blurts, then laughs and walks over and presses her lips to his quickly. There was no spit swapping but the girls are giggling anyway.

  Bryce spins the bottle and when it lands on the bitch that's trying to rub against Brandt, she practically jumps into his lap to kiss him. I groan quietly and sit back, getting a small chuckle and nudge from Kinlee.

  Fiona spins the bottle and it lands between Brandt and the girl sitting next to him.

  "I'm not a homo, so..." She slowly moves toward him. Nothing like she just did to the Bryce kid. This is like a lion stalking and she thinks she’s hot shit. "And we've done this before." She kneels in front of him.

  "This ain't a show, Fi." Brandt leans and gives her the tiniest of pecks then pulls away. "There. Done. My turn."

  "Isn't there a rule?" The Fi girl blurts. "Like shouldn’t it be so long or somethin’?"

  "Sit down, Fi." Bo gives her a push.

  "Only rule is you kiss whoever the bottle lands on. That's it," Brandt blurts, then grabs the bottle and shakes his head, letting out a whispered curse before spinning it. The entire room grows silent and it feels like this damn bottle's never going to slow down.

  It lands on Bo and Bo grins
, shouting, "No homo!" before puckering his lips.

  "No fucking homo," Brandt says, laughing, then takes a long swig of beer before puckering up and leaning toward Bo.

  I cover my face while I burst into laughter because they just kissed and they're both grinning like they loved it. Bo spins and it lands on Kinlee. His stupid grin turns into a love-struck one and my brows raise. Wow, Bo loves Kinlee. A lot.

  They kiss, a little lingering in my opinion until Kinlee giggles.

  "My turn." When someone grabs the bottle, I immediately notice Brandt's scowl.

  "Chase, didn't you go?" Bo asks but he spins, seeming to flick his wrist skillfully so it lands on me, and lo and behold, it does.

  He grins and starts moving in. "I’m Chase, remember me?" he says as his eyes drop to my lips.

  I hear Brandt make a noise but don't glance over at him. It'd be way too obvious.

  “Yeah, hey.”

  When Chase moves closer Brandt blurts, "Shots anyone?" He storms out of the room but it doesn't phase Chase one bit.

  His lips land on mine and before I can pull back from the soft kiss, his tongue darts out until he's shoved back. "She has a fuckin' boyfriend," Bo snarls and gets to his feet next to me.

  My eyes go wide as I watch the two guys square up.

  "Yeah? It you?" Chase counters.

  "Maybe it fuckin' is." Bo steps closer and Brandt rushes back into the room, hopping over the living room table to get to them before they go at it.

  "The hell, you two?" He pushes Chase away from Bo. His eyes flash from Bo's to mine, then over to Chase. "What'd you do?"

  "Apparently Bo's fuckin your sister, man." Chase looks down at me then Bo again. "Seems to be news to Kenshaw, Bo. Looks like I let the cat out of the bag." He shoves Bo's shoulder before walking away from him.

  "Bo. Outside. Now." Brandt practically growls, then looks at me. "You too."

  I furrow my brows. Me fuckin' too? Why? But I don't ask it, I just glance at Kinlee whose mouth is in an O, then I follow.

  "The fuck did I do?" I step onto the back porch with them.

  "Nothing," he growls, slamming the door once we're on the deck. His eyes pin Bo to his spot. "What the hell was that?" Brandt says as he steps between Bo and I.

  "I just did you two a favor. You can thank me later," Bo says, taking a casual swig of his beer.

  "A favor?" Brandt barks.

  "A favor?" I blurt at the same time.

  "Yes, idiots. A favor. Because Chase'll have his dick all up on you in twenty seconds flat and I didn't want you," he says, glaring at Brandt, "to come in guns blazin' when he starts in on your territory." His hand waves at me before bringing his bottle to his lips for another swig. "So yes. A favor."

  "Hold on!" I blurt, then glare at Brandt a second. "Guns blazin’? Territory? And if I don't want his dick all up on me, I wouldn't let his dick all up on me. This kid can't be serious?" I look at Brandt again while Bo grabs a circular canister from his back pocket then packs his lip with chew and I cringe. I'm in fucking hick-ville hell! "That's so gross!"

  "He knows," I hear Brandt say. He walks away from us and leans over the deck ledge with a huff.

  "He knows? That it’s gross to chew? Because that's all he better know." I look at Bo who's grinning with that stupid packed lip and I want to punch it.

  "Listen." Bo raises his hands and steps back a few steps. "I mean, I don't get it, but I ain't never had a hot step sister either."

  "Oh fuck," Brandt groans.

  I gasp and grab Bo's shirt. "I'm going to knock your teeth and that chew so far down your throat," I threaten, raising my fist, but Brandt's hand engulfs my knuckles.

  He chuckles and pulls me off Bo. "While that's adorable and all. Kinda sexy," he says, smirking, "Bo ain’t gonna tell no-one. Right?" He looks at Bo and Bo seems to laugh it off.

  "Nothin' wrong with what y’all are doin'. Little strange, but I ain’t one to be startin' fires, if ya know what I mean." He takes a step away from me.

  "Why the hell did you tell him?" I quietly snap at Brandt, then glance at Bo who's grinning at me.

  "I didn't. My fuckin' brother stole my phone that night a few weeks ago. Your tits were on the damn screen. Bo's not stupid and I knew he saw it. Well, I assumed he saw it." He nods to Bo. "Sorry ‘bout that, man."

  He raises his hands again and chuckles. "I can't say I'm mad. Don't hit me!" he exclaims and backs away from me. "But yeah, I saw it. Confused the shit out of me, but then it kinda made sense. You been actin' like a puss since you met her." He slugs Brandt's shoulder.

  "You can't tell anyone. I mean it. Not them. Not your sister. No one." Brandt shakes his head. "Our parents would fuckin' die."

  Bo raises his brows then spits over the deck. "Y’all are kinda screwed. And I ain't speakin' for all of them, but I noticed you kinda ain't leavin' her alone, Brandt. I won't be the only one to notice it soon."

  Brandt's face scrunches and he shakes his head. "I'm not leavin' her alone. You don't know the half of the shit we're goin' through with Cash. God knows who he has keepin' tabs on her." Brandt curses and starts to pace, shoving his hands in his pockets before looking to Bo. "You think if we let them believe y’all are a couple that they'd let off a bit?"

  "Oh, fucking hell," I groan and look at chew-boy over here. Brandt's a fucking ripped, sexy, hot cowboy. Bo's cute in his own gumpy way, but no one would believe I'd date him. No one would believe he'd fuckin' date me!

  "I think to throw them off your tail, we should do somethin' like that," Bo says quietly. When he looks at me, he's got a nervous look across his face and I glare at Brandt.

  "I fuckin' hate it, but it's smarter than the alternative," Brandt grumbles before looking at Bo again. "You try anything and I'm fuckin' killing you in your sleep and feedin' you to the hogs."

  I shake my head, completely shocked I'm in this fucking situation. "This is so royally fucked," I mumble then look at Bo who meekly shrugs. "Fuck!" I bark before snatching his hand and yanking him toward the back door. Before I walk inside, I look over my shoulder at Brandt, shooting him a scowl, but the look on his face makes me sigh. "Hang on," I demand. "Stand right there and don't let that door open, and turn around." I grab Bo and position him so his back is to us then I walk up to Brandt and pull him into the shadows of the porch. "It's twelve thirty. Officially your birthday. So happy birthday." Shifting to my toes, I softly press my mouth to his, kissing him slow and tasting the alcohol on his breath that only makes this better.

  His lips stay pressed to mine when he questions, "Why are you so good to me?"

  I snort at that and roll my eyes. If only he knew he's my new addiction, I don't think he'd be thinking that.

  "Let's get you another drink, farm boy." I kiss his chin and lower off my toes.

  "Lead the way, city girl." He grins and nods toward Bo. "Touch her ass and I'm blowin' your hand off with my shotgun. It's in my room waitin' for ya."

  "You two are fucked. And weird. Can I just say that? Farm boy? City girl? The fuck world you guys livin' in?" He laughs. "I wanna see the day Donna and Garrison find out about this."

  "Fuck off," Brandt barks and pushes past us before storming inside, heading straight for the alcohol.

  "We are royally fucked," I whisper to Bo.

  "Yes, ma'am, you are," he concurs, and I shove him through the door before grabbing his hand.

  I hear Brandt in the living room, causing some kind of ruckus, and when I walk in I see him holding the whole room's attention.

  "So, I fucked him up real good. Apparently they're an item. We'll see about that." He glares at Bo and so does everyone else. "Y’all can't be an item if I never leave your side. Ain't that right, sis?"

  I bite my lip as I smile, trying not to smack him upside his drunken head. We didn't plan on this huge announcement. I thought subtle. Subtle is good, but now he's drawing all kinds of attention to me.

  "I suggest you look the other way if you don't want to see it." I narrow my eyes at him a minute, th
en turn to face Bo, getting to my toes. I look him in the eyes and he sees the warning. He's scared to death right now. Barely touching my lips to his, I make it look like we're making out and hollers of encouragement fill the room.

  I sigh and roll my eyes but turn around and grin, leaning my back against Bo and his hands stiffly land on my shoulders. Him and Brandt are in a stare down and I think Bo's about to piss himself.

  "You better fuckin' treat her right, Bo. Or I'll murder you. And that's a promise." He glares at Bo. He hates this plan, even though it was his fucking plan!

  Kinlee’s bubbly personality has suddenly been deflated since she learned of mine and Bo's fake relationship and I feel for the girl. I thought she wanted Brandt, but she's actually just a really nice ditz, and I think she has a little thing for Bo...my boyfriend.

  The only good thing that came out of this fucking lie is Chase has left me alone, but Fi has been clawing up Brandt since his sixth shot and he's becoming too inebriated to stop it.

  When Brandt passes out in the chair, and three of his other friends have fallen asleep in random spots, I lean my head back on the couch, still holding Bo's sweaty hand. The poor guy's been pouring sweat from nerves all night, but he's done his job well. His hand goes limp in my lap and I look at Brandt a second.

  "Hey." I nudge Bo. "I'm gonna go to bed."

  "Uh, yeah, night."

  Chase looks at me and slides his teeth over his lip. "You need company?"

  "No, she don't, ya worthless asshole," Bo growls and stands, taking my hand.

  I don't know what the hell he's doing, except he's coming with me to my fucking room! Brandt's going to kill us both! As we walk past Brandt, Bo kicks his boot hard enough to wake him up.

  "My bad. Me and Jo are turnin' in," he quickly informs Brandt.

  Brandt's eyes flash between the two of us then narrow. "The fuck you are." He stands from the chair, taking a minute to gain his balance. "I meant it when I said I'm not leavin’ you shits alone. March. I need a good bed to puke in." He pushes Bo toward the bedroom and I close my eyes briefly.

  This whole idea. The entire fucking thing—kissing, fucking, falling in love with my step brother, then making his best friend my fake boyfriend—it was all a horrible idea.