Royal Pain: A Step Brother Romance

by A. J. Moran

  Chapter 13

  Taylor

  Three weeks. Twenty-one days. That’s how long I lasted before saying anything else to either brother. Not that I was counting. Both of them tirelessly seemed to try to get under my skin. I couldn’t even help snapping at Marcus. I had wanted to do so much more.

  He had a revolving door of girls hanging on him and around him. They had no shame. It was embarrassing. Second-hand embarrassment was sometimes the worst kind. Just ask me, I lived with it daily. So when I realized Renee Mitchell stuck-up cheerleader extraordinaire was plastered to Marcus’s front like that gross slime you can make with glue. I couldn't help it. My blood pressure spiked and the back of my throat burned. It was either run away or confront him.

  Naturally, I choose a bit of both. Not that running away from Marcus really would work well since he had to follow me to our next class and sit next to me the entire time. Ick. I needed a shower after witnessing that.

  “Hey what’s wrong?” Samantha asked as soon as I slid behind my desk.

  “PDA’s” I mumble under my breath before adding brightly, “Nothing.”

  “Uh, okay.” She frowned and bit her lip. “Well, I’m here for you if you ever want to talk. For real.”

  She apparently didn't believe me. I felt my shoulders slump and I gave her a nod. Definitely not going to talk about Marcus to her when he was going to show up any moment. Well, that is if he could pull himself away from Renee for class. My stomach flipped over again, and I felt a little sick. It was only amplified when Marcus slid into the seat next to me with a smirk on his face.

  Fantastic.

  “So, I was thinking.” Marcus’s voice startled me, even though I was hyper aware of him sitting next to me.

  Clamping my lips together with my teeth I stayed silent, my eyes focused on the board at the front of the room.

  “Maybe you’d like to go with me to homecoming.” Those words did it. My head snapped in his direction, my eyes felt like they were going to pop out of my eye sockets. Was he talking to me? I had to be imagining things. The guy I just called a playboy was asking me out. The guy I live with, that not a single friend knows about, is actually asking me to a dance. What alternate dimension did I walk into?

  “I- Uh- Are you talking to me?” I asked the words falling over themselves to get out in a rush. I leaned back in my chair to watch him.

  “Yeah. Maybe I am.” His blue-green eyes sparkled with humor at me, I swear they changed colors with his mood. Did he hit his head? “Would you say yes if I was?” He winked.

  With a slight head shake to clear it of what I must be hearing wrong I bit my lip and looked over at Samantha to see if she was catching any of this conversation. Maybe she could shed some light on it for me, but she was writing some kind of note down in her notebook and had missed it all.

  “We live together.” I whisper-hissed the words at him, like that was all the answer he needed. Besides he didn’t really like me. I was a bitch. He knew that.

  “Yeah.” He nodded his head to agree with me. “But that is no big deal right? It’s a big enough house.” A big enough house to avoid each other like we had been for the last three weeks, that’s what he meant.

  “I- I have a boyfriend.” Those should have been the first words out of my mouth. He had just caught me off guard.

  “That’s too bad then.” He leaned back in his chair taking up as much space as he could, his posture relaxed. Bringing his hand up he ran it along my forearm, “Maybe that will change?”

  I opened my mouth to respond only to find no words ready. He left me speechless. Snapping my mouth shut I took a breath to steady my thoughts. I couldn’t even bring myself to feel offended. He was right. The end was near. It made my heart ache a little at the knowledge that something else in my life was going to come to an end.

  Chapter 14

  Taylor

  After school, I ran into my room and grabbed up my guitar and started to strum on it. I hadn’t touched it since before my mom had passed away. We used to play and sing together, just something else to add to the never-ending list of things that are no more.

  Humming along to the random tune I was strumming I found myself playing ‘Who knew’ by Pink. My voice sang the words softly as tears for my mom ran down my cheeks. Something about the lyrics spoke to me. I had to let go. She was gone and she was never going to come back. Derrick and I would never be what we used to be. I just had to let him go too.

  Dragging in a heavy breath I whispered the last of the words. It took a full minute before I realized someone was standing in my doorway. I had forgotten to close it.

  Swiping at the tears and wiping my running nose I faced Wade and set my guitar to the side.

  “Can I help you?” I didn’t try to hide my red face from him and I didn’t wipe away any more tears. It didn’t matter if he saw. I didn’t have anything to be ashamed of.

  “Wow, your voice—“ He stepped hesitantly into the room, “it is really good.”

  “Thanks,” the question hung in the air between us.

  “Your door was open. I heard you playing. My brother plays too. He doesn’t sing as well as you though.” He laughed at his own joke. “I don’t have that kind of talent though. Makes me a little envious.”

  “Um, right.” I stood up and slipped my feet into my shoes and picked up my discarded purse. “Well, I’ve got to go.” I moved past him and waited for him to follow before shutting my bedroom door behind us.

  “Taylor, wait, I was serious that first week. I’m a good listener.” He sounded earnest but I felt too raw to accept anything right now so I just nodded once to shut him up and then quickly left.

  That was the second time Wade had found me crying. But I couldn’t do it. Sure I was warming a little bit to Claire but the brothers were a different story.

  My car door shut behind me. I sank back into my seat and sent a quick text message to Derrick. I had to stop this. Let him move on. Remove my safety net.

  A half hour later I slid into the booth across from Derrick and tucked a stray hair behind my ear. “Thanks for coming.”

  “What is going on?” He bit his lip. He knew. I mean how could he not know.

  “This is really hard to say,” I pause and suck in a breath. It felt like I wasn’t taking in enough air. “I can’t do this anymore.”

  “Taylor—“

  “No, Derrick, no.”

  “Maybe we could just take a break instead.” He pleaded with me. Defeat already shining in his eyes. That wasn’t the answer. I had to let him go. He could be happy with someone else. Someone else would love him. It broke my heart a little bit.

  “I don’t think that is a good idea.” I watched as the muscle along his jaw jumped in response to my words. He swallowed hard and turned his face towards the window and the falling rain.

  “We have been through a lot, Taylor, don’t just throw that away.” His eyes shined with wetness and my heart gave a painful thump in response. If nothing else he was my friend.

  “We can still be friends.” Classic words. It’s not you it’s me. We can be friends. The words made me feel like crap. I couldn’t look at him. It was better this way.

  “Right.” He leaned back in the booth and ran his hand through his hair restlessly. “Whatever.” He slides out of the booth and pulled out his wallet before dropping a ten on the table and walking out. I pulled in a shaky breath as I watched him go. Going after him now wouldn’t send the right message. No matter how much it hurt.

  I don’t know how long I sat in the booth staring absently down at my hands on the table. It was long enough for someone else to slide into the booth across from me. Pulling my eyes up to see that it was Marcus that was sitting across from me. To say I was confused would be an understatement. I couldn’t force any annoyance at him, or any feelings to be honest.

  “You okay?” He lowered his head to catch my eyes. They were soft with concern. Who was this guy, and what did he do with the real Marcus?

  Fo
r the second time that day I couldn’t find the words to say to him and I am sure I looked like a fish opening and closing my mouth without saying anything.

  “I saw what happened. I’m sorry.” He’s sorry? That didn’t make sense to me. He was the one hoping it would change earlier today. He was the reason it did change. Not so I could be with him. No, it was because he pointed out the obvious.

  My heartbeat thumped through me and my breaths came quick. “Yeah? What do you really want Marcus? Why are you being so nice?”

  “You wound me, Taylor,” he clutched at his chest like I had actually shot him with an arrow in the heart.

  “Seriously. Drop the act playboy.” I crossed my arms over my chest in a protective manner, and leaned back in the booth.

  “Who is to say it is an act? I’m actually concerned. Mom would be upset if she knew I watched you and didn’t do anything to help.” He shrugged like that was the answer.

  “Well, I’m fine. You can consider your act of good complete for the day.” I motioned for him to leave with my hand.

  “Okay, but if you want to talk about it, you know where I sleep.” He winked as he moved out of the seat.

  Over the next couple of days I had a few different encounters with the brothers. I wasn’t sure how to respond to either of them. Wade seemed to just want to be friends. He came off as honest. Marcus was harder to pin down. He was flirty with half the school it seemed. So I wasn’t anything special for him, not really.

  The Frost brothers, as they had become to be known at school, had joined the football team, even though the season had already started, the coach felt they had what it took to be on the team. They seemed to quickly make friends and be emitted into the inner circles of the school.

  Which meant they were also invited to all of the parties. Girls seemed to hang on them wherever they were. Not the same girl each time, different ones. And every single one of them appeared to be a cheerleader. They had no shame. Or maybe it just looked that way.

  Chemistry class had become a painfully awkward part of my day. Which sucked because it had been the class I was looking forward to most. On Thursday, I was sitting at our table when Samantha came into the classroom and sat down in her seat across from me, she turned immediately in her chair and looked at me, "Have you heard who Marcus has asked to the Homecoming?" She gushed.

  “Um, no, I don’t keep up on what Marcus does. He’s just my lab partner.” I informed her with a dry laugh. If she had heard that he had asked me I wasn’t sure what I would do. I mean all of our friends knew Derrick and I had broken up but it was still at that awkward stage of friendship, post break up.

  “Erica Stewart!” She burst out like she couldn’t hold the name in any longer. “Can you even believe it?”

  My mind raced to picture Erica, for some reason I thought she was the quiet girl from my lit class. Short bob cut for her highlighted hair. With her pert pixie-like features, she was part of the inner circle but not someone that I usually talked to.

  Totally not whom I would have thought he’d go for when I denied him, she was totally pocket size compared to him. And she did not fit any of the type of girls he had been entertaining in the hallways in the past few weeks. Definitely as far from me as he could have picked.

  "For real?" My curiosity got the best of me, and I leaned forward in my seat, wholly absorbed in her information. A part of me stung a little that he hadn’t asked again and had given up so easily when I refused him, but I pushed that part down and ignored it.

  “I know I couldn’t believe it either. Such a lucky girl.” Samantha sighed. “Shhh, here he comes.” She hushed me like I had been the one going on about him.

  I sat back up and faced the front of the class as Marcus took his seat next to me and dropped his book onto the tabletop. Even though he had been a little bit chatty lately I wouldn’t start a conversation with him.

  "Hey, Marcus," Samantha said as she leaned forward in her seat to see him and she sent him a flirtatious smile and a small wave.

  He looked from me to her like I had told her up to say hi to him. I snorted and opened my book. Who he talked to was none of my business. Although he didn't say anything to her, he just nodded, and then he also opened his book and mirrored my motions.

  "Is this really how it's going to be?" His voice was low, and it startled me. I jumped in my seat, thankfully I didn't yelp too. My gaze swung to him, and I looked back down at my book like he hadn't said a word.

  “Erica Stewart?” The words were out of me before my brain even processed that I was going to say them at all. I snapped my mouth forcefully shut after they escaped.

  He laughed slightly and a grin lit up his face, “Jealous?”

  With a roll of my eyes I laugh, “Hardly, playboy.”

  “Come on Taylor, this can’t be how you want your life to play out.” He sighed deeply when I didn’t answer. “Our parents are serious. You can’t ignore us or snark at us for the rest of your life.” He quietly added. He was right, I hadn’t seen my dad so happy since before my mom was sick.

  "Kettle, black," I muttered under my breath. Right. Just because my dad had found love didn't mean that transcended to me. I still missed my mom. The hole she left in my life couldn't be filled with other people.

  I could see from the corner of my eye that his jaw clenched when I muttered those words. “Well, that is just a little bit childish don’t you think? I’ve been trying. I know Wade has been trying too.” He leaned back slightly on two legs of his chair, and I hoped it would fall out from under him. Yes, it was a petty thought. I didn’t care. “You’ll change your mind.” He whispers close to my ear the two legs of his chair snapping back to the floor.

  Ha. I would not be changing my mind.

  Chapter 15

  Marcus

  That's it. I'm done with Taylor, bet or no bet. I had tried again, for my mom this time. She had asked us to try harder. Not that we weren’t already trying. Granted my trying wasn’t all home life motivated.

  Well, I had tried. Again. And I had been shot down. Again. Not going down that road ever again. Fool me once shame on me, fool me twice shame on you, I don't want to go for the third time.

  There was just something about the girl that made me feel hyper-aware of only her when she was around. Even with the random chicks hanging around. It was like she became the center of it all when she walked into the room. It was confusing and frustrating. Especially with her ability to be the biggest pain in the ass I knew. If we could just get past this, I had a feeling it would make it all better, and I could stop obsessing about a girl that wanted nothing to do with me. Even less than nothing to do with me if I was completely honest, it was crazy, even Wade had started to tease me about it.

  Life here hadn't been horrible. It hadn't even been half bad. It was great. Fantastic room all to myself, no sharing! A Brand new truck drove right off the lot courtesy of Dan and his colossal pocketbook, and he had to spend the money somehow I guess. A great football team, hell all the school's teams were terrific. Hot ladies. The list could go on and on. Taylor had been the only sore spot. And she had also been the single thing that I was most focused on.

  Glancing over at Taylor hunched over her science book, I drew in a long sigh. She looked over, and I swear our eyes caught for a moment before she dove right back into her reading. Was that regret in her eyes?

  "Look, that didn't come out right, I know I haven't been playing nice either. I just think we should try. You know for our parents." I opened my mouth, and the words came tumbling out. I sounded like a chick. And I just told myself I wasn't trying again. I held back my cringe and kept my focus on her. She straightened on her stool and looked over at me through her black hair. Her teeth clamped down on her lower lip. Not in the coy way that some of the girls in the school do it.

  God her lips were created to torture me. I can think of so much to do with those lips.

  “What do you think would happen? Will we become the best of friends? Hang out all the time?
Talk about our dead parents? Bond?” She was harsh. Her gaze ran over my face and down to my hand that was holding my pencil. She was taking in the damage.

  Her words were hissed in a half whisper at me, it was clear she intended to hurt me. I watched as her lips formed each word and I still couldn’t pull my eyes away. She was like that chick from that play that we were studying in Lit. The one by Shakespeare, something to do with taming a shrew, which I imagine, equates to someone being a bitch in today’s language. Could Taylor be tamed? What would it take? Was it worth it? Was I mental?

  "Well?" She snarked at me, and I realized she had been waiting for an answer to her rapidly fired questions.

  “Probably not.” I laughed and tapped my pencil on the desk. “But something would be better than nothing. Don’t you think?”

  Her silence was all the answer I received. Absorbing the disappointment that added a strange weight to the pit of my stomach, I pushed back my stool and grabbed my bag. I had to get out of here. I had given it 110%, and no one could say otherwise. Not even mom. Mr. Tanner calling after me couldn't even stop me. I was done with this day. I would just pay Adam the money I owed him for failing with the bet. I don’t know what I had been thinking.

  Chapter 16

  Taylor

  That night my dad stopped me in the kitchen as I was grabbing out some water to take with me to the workout room. The frustration from my earlier conversation with Marcus still strummed through me.

  “Taylor I know there is a dance coming up in a couple weeks, the fall one.” He told me. Things had been tense between us two in the last three weeks. My home felt like a prison more than a home. It was to the point of feeling like I should find a job just to be out of the house for long periods of time.