Evil Stepsister

by Scarlett Jade

“Hey, I’m the one with the five cent psychiatrist stand,” Dad objected.

  Brielle rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

  “So, what do you say, Dad?”

  “I-I…I’d love to.” He jumped up from the table and pulled me into a hug. “God dammit, you’re such a good kid.”

  “He’s the best,” Brielle agreed. “He always has been. We just didn’t always appreciate it. I know I didn’t.”

  “Can I start Monday?” Dad asked.

  “Absolutely.”

  “My manager dropped me. So did my label.” Brielle blurted as she turned over a strip of bacon.

  “What?” Dad and I cried in unison.

  “I told them I didn’t want to tour anymore. I just want to make music. They told me no.”

  “So what are you going to do now?” I asked.

  “I don’t know. Maybe hang around Marysville, Nebraska for a while.”

  Smoke billowed out of the pan and the smoke detector went off. “God dammit, Bri! You burned the bacon!” Dad yelled, grabbing the skillet and throwing it out the back door into a snow pile.

  We ran upstairs. I pulled her along behind me until we ended up in my room. She giggled as she ran into me. “Ow.”

  “You mean it. You’re staying?”

  “I am. I might look into a smaller label that will let me write what I want to and only do albums, no touring. But for now, I’m disillusioned with Hollywood. It’s not as glamorous as it seems. I just want to heal my body and be at peace with myself. I’m getting there. I don’t want to play anymore games. I don’t want to sneak and lie. I just want to be right here. With you.”

  “I don’t want to hold you in one place, though. You’re too wild to be tamed. You’re too bad to be wholly good.”

  Her eyes twinkled and she smiled softly. “I’ll be bad when it’s necessary. But I don’t want to be your evil stepsister anymore. I just want to be Brielle. A girl you’re in love with. I don’t want you to be Carter, my good stepbrother, either. I just want you to be Carter, a guy I’m in love with.”

  “I can live with that.”

  “It’s a good thing, because I think you’re stuck with me. You gave me a charm bracelet and you said you’d be my mechanic. You know I’m rough on brakes.”

  I pulled her into my arms and kissed her forehead. “I’ll always change your brakes for you. Always.”

  “Good. Keep me safe. That’s what you were best at.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Brielle proved she could still be bad, while being oh so good. Late night cable porn had absolutely nothing on her. I’d learned new positions, and had so many orgasms I’d lost count. She also taught me how to pleasure her, and I was getting better at knowing what she liked.

  After a particularly rousing session in the middle of January, she lay spent in my arms. With a yawn, she opened her eyes. “Hey, I have a question for you.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Do you know how to work on Porsches?”

  I shrugged. “I guess so. A car’s a car, pretty much. Honestly, I’m a lot more interested in learning how to work on you…” Sliding down the bed, I buried my face between her legs.

  “Be-be-be serious!” she stuttered, her thighs quaking as I flicked my tongue against her clit.

  “I am.” I murmured against her skin. “I’m real serious about you, Brielle Harper.” Sucking on her clit firmly, I slipped one finger deep inside her.

  “Carter, you can’t make me come again. I-I-I can resist your charms, you know!”

  Raising my head, I smiled slowly. “Is that so?”

  “It’s so. I taught you all you know and I am the sex master.”

  A second finger plunged into her and she hissed softly. I smiled wider. “What was that?”

  “I can resist…um…” she hummed softly as I lowered my mouth back to her clit.

  She really loved when I swirled my tongue around in figure eights on her clit and flickered my fingers inside her as I withdrew. I knew there was no resisting my charms, as she’d so elegantly put it when she arched up off the bed and screamed my name. “Carter!”

  Her pussy clamped around my fingers in spasming waves and I kissed her clit softly, withdrawing from her heat and grinning against her thigh. “So, what was that about being able to resist me?”

  “I hate you,” she groaned. “You’re exhausting!”

  “You created this monster.” I came to rest beside her on the pillow and kissed her nose. “It’s your fault.”

  “I need you to be serious!” she pouted, and I kissed her lips next.

  “I am serious.”

  “Can you work on a Porsche?”

  “Sure, probably. Why?”

  She giggled and her eyes lit up. They were the most beautiful shade of blue I’d ever seen. “Go look out the window.”

  Stretching slowly, I crawled out of bed and padded to the window of the apartment above the shop. Sitting in the parking lot was a shiny, slick silver car. It was the most gorgeous car I’d ever seen. “Whoa! Who’s Porsche is that?”

  “Yours.” I whirled around and she giggled.

  “Mine?”

  “Yours.” She sat up and nodded. “I took your car when we were kids…and now I’m paying you back.”

  “You can’t just give me a Porsche, Brielle!”

  “I believe…I just did.” She grinned wider and I launched myself at her, pinning her to the bed.

  “I can’t accept it,” I whispered between kisses.

  “You have to. I can’t take it back.”

  “It’s too much…”

  “You do know I’m a multi-millionaire now, right, Carter?”

  For some reason, I’d never really thought about her money. I mean, I knew she was famous, but the money wasn’t what mattered. She mattered. “I guess I knew.”

  She stilled beneath me. “Is it a problem?”

  “No! No. I just…It never mattered to me what you had to give me. I just always wanted you.”

  “And this is why you get a Porsche. Because you’re one in a million and you deserve a car that great. Get dressed and go look at the car. I need a nap.”

  God, I loved her. I loved her more than the air I breathed. I was still waiting for her to run. The other shoe was bound to drop. Nothing was so good for so long. Not with her.

  My fear slowly dissipated as the days passed and winter blended into spring. We were happy. All of us. Blissfully, stupidly fucking happy. One Thursday night I took her with me to Kirby and Mindy’s house. I’d been going by myself still. I needed something without her. She understood my need for space, and she used that time to work in the mini recording studio she’d set up in the basement.

  Kirby wanted to jam and I was ready to eat some real food. I loved Brielle…but I didn’t love her food. If I had to eat one more avocado and kale sandwich, I would turn into a mass murderer. Mindy promised fried chicken if I brought my shortcake. Brielle insisted on bringing a quinoa and pepper salad. I would never, ever get used to her food. I just ate it to be polite, then I snuck shitty hamburgers from a fast food place when she was busy.

  I had tried to talk to her about it, but she was worried about our health. She was into a full blown health kick, juicing, doing yoga - which I totally didn’t mind, it made her flexible in bed and her ass amazing…ahem - and sleeping a lot.

  Parking in their driveway, I grinned as Daisy ran down the steps, screaming my name. “Unca Carda!”

  Brielle looked over at me and her eyes were wide as I got out of the car and kissed Daisy’s cheek. “How’s my favorite girl in the whole wide world?”

  “Who dat?” Daisy asked, pointing at Brielle in the car.

  “That…my sweet girl, is my favorite woman in the world.”

  “I’m favorite!”

  “You’re my favorite girl. She’s my favorite woman. I love you both.”

  “No. Daisy’s Unca Carda!”

  I realized trying to reason with an almost three year old was impossible. “Okay, D
aisy’s Uncle Carter.”

  Brielle climbed out of the car and adjusted her dress. “I got you a present,” she told Daisy, who eyed her suspiciously.

  “Yeah?”

  “Uncle Carter said you like baby dolls.” Brielle held out a little pink bag and shook it. “Do you like baby dolls, Daisy?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, come get it.”

  Daisy scrambled out of my grasp so quickly I almost dropped her. “Mine!” she squealed, grabbing the bag from Brielle and darting up the stairs and into the house.

  Brielle giggled and picked up her bowl of quinoa from the floorboard and another bag, which held a gift for Travis, the new baby.

  Yeah, they named the boy after me. I was the godfather. Kirby refused to name him Carter because he said only rich white assholes were named Carter. So they settled on Travis and surprised me after the little guy was born. Best. Present. Ever. Well…the Porsche was right up there with it.

  She was so determined to make a good impression on Kirby and Mindy, and it was one of the most adorable things I’d ever seen. “Relax, babe,” I whispered in her ear as we walked up the stairs.

  “I can’t. I’m not the same girl I was in high school and I don’t want them to think I am.”

  “Pretty sure they won’t…”

  Brielle had pulled out an awful granny dress from the depths of the local thrift store and wore a cardigan over it. She said it was to show how sweet she was now. Yeah, she was sweet all right. I’d fucked her over my desk before we left. She was real sweet with the skirt up over her head as she screamed my name.

  Mindy opened the door for us and she smiled brightly. “Hey, Carter!” I kissed her cheek and she turned to Brielle with a smile. “Hey, Bri, it’s real good to see you. How are you feeling?”

  Brielle relaxed instantly and she smiled a wobbly little smile. “I’m okay, thanks for asking.”

  “What did you bring?”

  “I brought a strawberry with my shortcake, but she ran away.” I sighed.

  “I brought a quinoa red pepper salad,” Brielle held out the bowl and I noticed her hands trembling.

  “That just sounds amazing!” Mindy cooed, taking the bowl. “Come on in and let’s get you some tea.”

  I could’ve kissed Mindy square on the lips right at that minute. She was pulling out all the stops to make Brielle comfortable and secure. I really didn’t want Kirby to try and kill me for kissing his woman, though, so I just smiled gratefully at her over Brielle’s head. She winked and led her into the kitchen. Kirby was a damn lucky man.

  I meandered down the hall to the man cave, where Kirby was waiting for me with our guitars.

  “My main man!” Kirby yelled, wincing as Travis started to cry. “Oops. Sorry, buddy. Here Uncle Carter, take care of your godson.”

  “Hey pal,” I smiled down at the little tyke and he calmed down instantly.

  “Hold up, everyone, we have the baby whisperer in the house!”

  Mindy poked me in the back. “Give me my son.”

  “I just got him!”

  “And he needs to eat. Unless you’re lactating, give him here.”

  I passed him over and flopped down in my orange chair. “Where’s Brielle?”

  “Daisy has taken her to her room so she can play dolls,” Mindy called as she left for their bedroom to feed Travis.

  “Shall we make some sweet, sweet music?” Kirby asked, pulling our guitars out of their cases.

  “Why not?” I took mine and strummed a little.

  “What’ll it be?”

  “Do you know She Is Love by Parachute?” Kirby asked and I thought for a minute.

  “I do, I do. Let’s do it.”

  We played the opening strains and Kirby started to sing. The words of the song always got me. It was obvious he was singing it to his wife, who was only a wall away. I joined him on the chorus and we just enjoyed playing together. It wasn’t performed perfectly, but it was perfect for the moment.

  “That was beautiful,” Brielle whispered behind me. “I need guitarists…I really do. If we could do something like that, I could pitch it to a record label. I’ve got songs, I just need music. I’ve been trying to find someone to help me but it’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack out here. Carter, why didn’t you tell me you were that good?”

  “I’m not ‘that good’...I just strum a little.”

  “Your voice gave me chills.”

  “And I’m just like a fucking ogre over here,” Kirby pouted.

  “No! Kirby you were great! I loved it,” Brielle insisted.

  Truthfully, he had sounded good on the song. I would give him that one. But normally he sounded like a dying water buffalo.

  “I’m not interested in recording anything.”

  “Carter, I need your help. I think I have a song that would be a great demo to send to these smaller labels. Please.”

  Turning to look at her, I shook my head. “This is one of those cases I’m saying no.”

  Her face fell. “Why?”

  “I don’t want you to get burned out again and collapse.”

  “Carter, I feel so much better. If I could just record and release albums, I’d be fine. I need your help, though.”

  “Surely you can find another guitarist.”

  “She sure can.” Kirby jumped up and extended his hand. “Kirby Lowell, at your service.”

  “I look forward to working with you, Kirby. If you want to do something now…maybe hear what I’ve got planned?” Brielle shook his hand and I gaped at my best friend.

  “Really? You’re going to help her?”

  “Why not? It’s just some music, man.”

  “No, it’s not just some music.” I threw down my guitar and stalked out of the room. Mindy caught me as I was getting ready to walk out the door. “Hey! You’re not leaving after I cooked.”

  “I just need to clear my head.”

  “Let me put Travis in the swing and I’ll come with you.”

  “I’ll be on the porch.” Opening the door, I took in a long breath of air. Mindy followed me out and pointed at the picnic table under the tree in front of the trailer.

  “Let’s sit. What’s bothering you?”

  “Kirby is going to help her run.”

  “What? He’s going to play some guitar on a demo that may or may not ever be seen. I wouldn’t worry about it.”

  “Come on, Mindy. She’s famous. Labels will be angling to pick her up. Then she’ll succumb to pressure and leave. Again.”

  “I see.”

  “It’s like, I knew it was too good to be true. I knew she wasn’t going to stay. She doesn’t know how to stay. I’ve been waiting on the other shoe to drop, and here it is. She’s going to make music and leave. I’m such an idiot. She hasn’t changed at all...”

  Mindy looked behind me and grimaced. “Shit,” she whispered.

  I turned to see Brielle framed in the doorway. “Why don’t you tell me how you really feel, Carter?”

  “Look, I…”

  “No, that’s just fine. I won’t waste anymore of your time, since I’m just going to leave you high and dry again.”

  “Guys, this is all just a big misunderstanding, I think you two should go talk,” Mindy tried to reason with me, but I was having none of it.

  “No, I don’t think we should go talk. I think everything was just said,” Brielle crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes.

  “Fine. Go make your music and leave. That’s all you were waiting on, right?”

  “You won’t listen, so why do I even bother trying to tell you anything, you stubborn asshole?”

  “I guess it takes a bitch to know an asshole,” I snapped back and she recoiled as though I’d hit her.

  “Go to hell, Carter. Just go straight to hell.”

  “Oh, what’s that? Hell? I have only lived in hell since the moment I met you in the sandbox when we were five. You always made sure I was miserable. Your game is pretending to be sweet s
o you can get me comfortable then rip my heart out. Were you just waiting to get me relaxed enough to help you with your music? Make me fall completely in love with you then walk away and laugh?”

  She laughed as tears streamed down her cheeks. “You have me pegged, Carter Travis. You know everything about me.”

  “That’s right. I do. Mindy, I’m going home.” I jumped up from the picnic table and stalked to the car. “I don’t want to see you again,” I pointed at Brielle as I slid behind the wheel.

  “Good, you won’t.”

  “Carter, you’re overreacting!” Mindy yelled as I peeled out of the driveway.

  I didn’t think I was. I felt like just as soon as things got comfortable and good between us, she had to ruin it. Again. I was tired of being hurt and if I never saw Brielle again in my lifetime, that was fine with me.

  If she thought she could buy my love with a fancy car and great sex, then use me to further the one thing that was killing her and taking her away from me, she was crazier than I’d thought.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  I refused to drive the car she bought me. It sat in the corner of the lot, mocking me every single day. I went back to my old beater and drove it around proudly.

  “Carter, you need to stop this,” Dad tried to reason with me again, for probably the millionth time.

  “Dad, I swear to God. Stop.” I pointed my wrench at him as I crawled out from under the car I was working on. “This is the only solace I get. The only fucking thing in my life that’s making sense. You’re not going to harass me while I work. I will quit.”

  “You can’t quit. It’s Father and Son Auto. You’re stuck with me. You’re the one that took me back, so now you get to listen to me give you life advice. You’re fucking up. Royally. You’re letting the best thing that ever happened to your sorry ass go.” Dad sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

  “I can quit. Keep pushing me!” I yelled back petulantly.

  “You’re just as stubborn as your mother!”

  “Leave that bitch out of it. She has kept herself out of it just fine for the last eight years or so.”

  “Carter, that’s not true. She and I talk often. You just won’t talk to her.”