Romance: My Stepbrother's Plaything

by Valentine, Annie

  “Well I am going to apply for a job there,” she said adamantly. “Don’t worry. I promise I will not give you the time of day. And don’t bother with the ride. You’re close enough to my house. It’s broad daylight. I don’t need you.”

  She opened the door but he gently but firmly pressed it shut.

  “Take a deep breath,” he said softly. “This is for your own good, you’ll see. Now, I will too give you a ride home.”

  “No,” she said. “I really don’t want my parents to see me with you.”

  That hurt his feelings. She got the nerve to look him in the eye and she saw that she had wounded him. She was a little glad for it. Served him right to tell her after the fact that he shouldn’t be with her.

  It was easy enough for her to walk which he let her do. The distance from Wilson’s to her house was not more than two miles. Fortunately, the weather was good. It didn’t take long after she started walking, to wish that Wilson had gotten on his bike and was somehow following her.

  She heard the whir of a bike in the distance behind her, her hopes raised. The biker pulled over. He was too heavy to be Wilson. It was Duran.

  “Hey,” he called. “Remember me?”

  “Yeah,” she said. “Hey.”

  “You heading somewhere?” he asked.

  “Yeah, I am just going home,” she said.

  “I’ll give you a ride,” he said.

  “It’s a real nice day. I think I’ll walk,” she replied.

  “Oh come on,” he said. “Let me make up for being a jerk last night.”

  “You weren’t a jerk,” she said.

  She had thought he was sort of one but now that he was being nice, she gave him a break.

  “Hop on. I will give you a ride,” he said.

  Touching Duran was not as nice by any means as touching Wilson. Duran was soft to the touch. It gave Summer the willies just making contact with him. Especially after spending recent times with Wilson. She reluctantly braced herself against him. Neither of them wore a helmet. Her hair quickly became tangled as they rode.

  Summer gave him direction by pointing. They were pulling up in front of her home quickly. Her parents were not home. They were already off to work. Duran turned off the motor. He lingered a little too long. It felt awkward. She just wanted him to go on. But he didn’t go.

  “I’ll walk you to the door,” said Duran.

  Summer didn’t want him to but she tolerated it. He followed her to the front door and waited until her fitted the key into the lock. He hovered.

  “Thanks,” she said coldly.

  As she stepped inside the home, Duran gave the door a shove. He shoved her forward and closed the door behind them. Summer was in a panic. He was a big man and she was petite person. His intentions were clear.

  She wove her way through the house and out the back door. She scurried as fast as she could around the front. She was afraid he would come after her. He had not emerged from the house yet. Summer went immediately to the bike and knocked it over. She sprinted with everything she had and then darted into the yard of a neighbor. She spied, watching him leave her house. She heard him curse as he discovered his bike. She definitely heard him say he was going to kill her. Duran started up his bike. Mercifully she didn’t do enough damage to it to prevent him from driving away.

  Chapter Five

  Summer found the safety of her home. She quickly locked all the doors and windows. She couldn’t call Wilson because he had made it clear he didn’t want anything to do with her. The best night of her life led to the worst morning ever. She showered, made herself breakfast and a plan.

  Between her parents and Wilson, and even the bartender at Rowdy’s, Summer was tired of being treated like a kid. She was eighteen. She was a grown up. But she decided she would compromise with her parents. She checked out the community college on her computer. She decided she would walk back down to Rowdy’s before the lunch crowd to fill out an application. She brought her mace with her. If Duran ever got near her again, she was going to let him have it.

  The trip to Rowdy’s was a total bust. Before she had gotten there, apparently Wilson had talked to them first. Her heart sank.

  “Why?” she asked trying to not cry on the interview.

  The manager smiled faintly. “Don’t get me wrong. It’s a good place but it’s just not the place for you.”

  “You’re absolutely right,” she said proudly. “It’s not the place for me.”

  The walk home was brutal.

  But time passed. Weeks. Summer came to an agreement with her parents. She went to the community college which pleased them and they shared a car with her so she could work part time at the grocery store.

  The job was easy enough. It was physical but still she was doing well. She was dogged by exhaustion. She was wondering if school and work was a bit too much. She was actually glad for the heavy schedule since even though their time together was so brief, Summer was heartbroken over Wilson.

  In the middle of one of a shift in the second week or so at the grocery store, Summer got a text from her father that there was a broken window in the kitchen door and did she know what that was about?

  The first person who came to mind was Duran. She had not told anyone about that day when he tried to overpower her in the house. She thought twice about suggesting him because there was nothing specific except that Duran was scary that supported his being involved. Summer put it out of her mind and finished her shift.

  She was so tired as she drove home, she could hardly keep her eyes opened. Even though tomorrow was not even there yet, she was dreading her shift to come. She was so tired already she needed to have the time off. She felt like she could sleep forever.

  When she got home, she was shown the broken window by her mom. Her father had patched it temporarily. During the course of the conversation her mother stopped to ask her how she was.

  “You look different,” she said.

  “Different?” asked Summer. “I thought you were going to say I looked tired. I am beat.”

  “Maybe that’s it,” said her mother.

  But it didn’t sound like she was convinced. Summer went to bed. Her plan was to go to school and to work the next day. Just two more days until the weekend and she would get some rest when she wasn’t doing homework. Suddenly she was obsessed with sleeping. She crawled under the covers and sank into sleep.

  Chapter Six

  Summer’s deep sleep didn’t last as she expected. The sound of her mother’s car alarm woke up the household. She could swear she heard the sound of a motorcycle. Her father rushed with the keys out the door.

  “You’re kidding me!” he shouted.

  Summer and her mother were soon at the doorway. All four tires of the car were flat. Immediately, her dad called the police and then called the roadside service. Again, Summer thought of Duran. Since the cops were coming, she thought it was time to let them know about him. She wasn’t one hundred percent sure he had anything to do with it but she had to say something.

  Her parents told the cops about the series of incidents and Summer told them about Duran. They dusted for finger prints but since Summer’s dad patched the window and the fact that Summer said Duran had been in the house, there might not be much they could do. They took a report.

  Summer’s parents were furious for keeping what happened with Duran a secret from them. Just as things were sort of on track with her going to school and work, the morning started horribly, complete with another family fight. At one point, she rushed into the bathroom and threw up.

  Miraculously, the rest of the day was uneventful. She had enough energy to get through class and to go work. The store was not busy and because of that, they let her on the register. She wished she could stock the shelves or something to take her mind off of things instead of just standing, waiting to ring people up. Thoughts of Duran, made her long for Wilson. It made her play the night that they shared, over and over again. She was so emotional for some reason. More so
, she thought, than was called for. She only hoped that her emotions weren’t showing to her co-workers.

  She was wiping the counter, trying to stay busy. A customer sets his stuff down on the conveyer belt. Summer looked up. Wilson. He looked at her with look that was a mix of sadness and endearment. It didn’t look like he didn’t want to see her.

  “Hello,” she said stiffly.

  And she began to ring up his things. Wilson touched her hand and stopped her.

  “I don’t want to get you in trouble with work but I need to talk to you about Duran,” he said.

  Summer bristled. She would just rather forget about him.

  “What about him?” she asked.

  “Why didn’t you tell me he harassed you? And that he’s being bothering your parents?” he asked.

  Summer was so shocked about the question that she laughed.

  “I seem to recall, I mean it’s been awhile, what a couple of months now?” she asked. “That you said to forget about you. Now you want to know why I didn’t confide in you and how did you know I was here?”

  “Number one, it’s not quite two months. Duran was arrested. I went to see him. I went to see your mom and dad and now I am seeing you.” he said.

  Summer was upset again and she was struck with a wave of nausea.

  “Oh gosh,” she said and ran towards the bathroom. “Cover my register,” she said to the assistant manager as she ran by.

  The stress of everything was obviously too much for her. Maybe she wasn’t mature enough as her parents and even Wilson suggested. When the sickness past, she washed her mouth out and fixed her face. She went back to her register. Wilson was still there.

  “Your mom said she drove you to work because you all are sharing the one car for today. I am going to come for you after you get off work.”

  She started to argue but Wilson gave her a look that told her how such a sweet nice guy like him could also be the head of a biker club. Just like that, she thought it would be best if she did what she was told.

  “Whatever,” she said. “You can say what you need to say then and then I don’t want to see you again.”

  Chapter Seven

  True to his word, as soon as Summer was out of work, Wilson was waiting. He had a helmet for each of them.

  “I don’t need that,” she said.

  “You’ll wear it,” he said.

  “I’ve ridden without one before and I just as soon not. I want to go home. I am dead tired,” she said.

  Summer couldn’t believe it. She teared up. She couldn’t seem to cap her emotions.

  “You must think I am a wuss. Get wiped out tired from going to school and working. Cry like a baby,” she said.

  “And throw up,” he added quietly.

  Did he have to mention that?” It was pretty embarrassing.

  “Can we go?” she asked.

  He handed her the helmet.

  “Duran didn’t make me wear a helmet,” she mumbled.

  “You rode with Duran?” he asked her.

  “Do we have to do this here? Out in front of my work?” she asked. “Yes. The day I walked home from your place. He just happened to pull up. I got on the bike with him. When I opened the door, he pushed his way into the house.”

  “What happened next?” he asked.

  “He chased me. I got out of the house, watched him go and that was that,” she said.

  “Put on the helmet,” he said.

  The look in his eye was firm. She put on the helmet and he helped her to adjust it.

  It didn’t help that she reacted to their physical charisma. That she wanted to grab his hand and tell him that she had missed him so. She placed her hands on him just enough to hold on. As he did on that first night, he corrected her. He placed her hands around his middle so that she had to hold onto him tightly.

  But instead of going to her house, they went to his apartment. As he pulled into a parking lot, her stomach jumped. So many feelings came to the surface and Summer didn’t want to do this right now.

  He parked the bike and took her hand. Summer knew that Wilson was a pretty reasonable guy. She guessed that after he said what he had to say he would take her home. He took their helmets as they entered the apartment. It had been two months since that wonderful night. The only thing that she could think of was the Wilson probably had been with another girl since then. She was jealous.

  “What do you want to say?” she asked.

  He set out box for her. She read it. A pregnancy test?

  “What?” she asked.

  And then she thought. Oh no, she thought. Could she really have lost track like that? Reluctantly she went into the bathroom and took the test. It didn’t take that long before the test came back positive. Summer put head into her hands and sobbed.

  She wasn’t sure how long she cried for. They were deep and quiet tears. Wilson had come in and sank down beside her.

  “Hey,” he shook her gently.

  Even in a moment like this, she was instantly worried about what she looked like. She reached for a tissue. He handed her a bunch and together they wiped her face. She couldn’t bring herself to look at him.

  “Hey,” he said again. “It’s going to be okay.”

  “How did you know? I’ve had my head in the clouds. I didn’t even know. You were almost right. I am not young. I am stupid.”

  “Wow” he said. “None of that. And anyone who can go to school and hold down a job, isn’t dumb. But as far as this is concerned, you didn’t get pregnant by yourself. I stand by you no matter what. I just ask that you don’t make any rush decisions. I mean if you know right now what you want to do and you’re sure, I still ask you to please, please just think about it.”

  It sounded as though Wilson wanted her to have the baby.

  “What are you saying? What is it that you hope I will do?” she asked.

  He took a deep breath.

  “I know I told you that morning to go and not come back. To not come back to Rowdy’s. I love being a biker and all that entails. To me you’re just so pure, so beautiful. I didn’t to do anything that ruined that. But I have to tell you, I prayed for a reason to have you back in my life. Call me crazy but I think I fell in love with you that night.”

  These were words she was so happy to hear. She didn’t know what her mother and father would say but the first thing she thought of was that there was no reason she couldn’t continue to go to school if she was a mother. Lots of people did it. Summer looked at him intently.

  “So are you saying I don’t have to stay away from you anymore?” she asked.

  “I know you don’t understand why I did that but no, I don’t. I want you to be a part of my life,” he said.

  “So what about Duran?” she asked.

  “What about him? They found enough evidence, including a neighbor who said he saw Duran pulling away from your house. Your parents are present charges. He may not get much in the way of time. But I will make sure he doesn’t bother your family anymore,” he said.

  “Is he part of your club?” she asked.

  “For now. We’ll put it to a vote but I am going to suggest he gets kicked out. He’s not going to like that,” said Wilson.

  Then in a spontaneous moment, Wilson took her heads in his hands and kissed her. It was a slow, sensual kiss. He scooped her up and carried her out of the bathroom and onto the sofa into his living room area. They continued making out for a while. Then he broke the kiss.

  “Here I asked you to wait for to take time to make your decision and then I told you what I want,” he said.

  “What do you want really? I know you want me in your life. You want me to have the baby?” she asked.

  “Yes, I do. But I want you in my life no matter what you decide. I hope you can come to feel the same about me,” he said softly.

  Summer didn’t want to rush into to telling him one way or the other, after all. So much had happened. She was so tired. He could see that.

  “I think we need
to get you home,” he said, kissing her on the forehead.

  Chapter Eight

  Summer’s parents were much cooler than she had expected they would be when she informed them that they were going to be grandparents. Everyone agreed, even Wilson, that they would work together to make sure that Summer would finish school. She cut back her hours at the store. Wilson helped out financially so it all worked out.

  She waited those few days he had asked her to. She was off from the store on a Friday night and asked him if he would take her out so they could talk.

  “Where do you want to go?” he asked.

  “I want to go to Rowdy’s,” she said.

  He didn’t entirely like the idea.

  “I want to shoot pool again while I still can. Before I get too big,” she said.

  He conceded.

  Rowdy’s actually had a good menu. All eyes were on them when the two of them entered the bar. Many of the guys at Rowdy’s had devilish grins. Wilson and Summer took a seat a table with menus.

  “I guess I should let you know there’s a rumor going around about me and you,” he said.

  “Really,” said Summer teasingly. “Well I guess I should make an honest man of you.”

  “Is that so?” he raised his eyebrow with an expression of hope.

  “Yes,” she smiled.

  Wilson leaned over the table and kissed her. He took her into his hands and kissed her hard. The bar whooped and hollered. Applause broke out. The bartender came over to put cocktail napkins on the table.

  “Dinner is on Rowdy’s,” he said.

  “Wait a minute,” said Wilson. “What did we do to deserve this?”

  The bartender grinned. “Just let us. What can I get you to drink?”

  “Give us a couple of waters to begin with,” said Wilson. “Let’s have a basket of chips and salsa.”

  The bartender stood at the table grinning.

  “And let’s have a little privacy,” said Wilson.