ur

ly time. But when Lila walks back into the house she swore off, she finds the

a's

as I pulled into the driveway, the

didn't quite feel like it. Not after m

it was my stepbrother that I hated. I didn't want to see him, fuck I hated

ing asshole whom I had fallen for at a point an

forget t

er a long drive from my campus. I'd not seen him

, Richard's truck parked cr

have to come back,

r 'family time'. The last family time aka thanksgiving that I attended was a blunder. I fool

ime is not exa

you thinking? He's your fucking stepbrother and that means of

ached the porch. Mom burst out, arms wi

nd lavender filled my nose. She pulled back and cupped my face, "Look at

d me again, "Oh, my baby. Two whole years!" s

ng his hands on a dishtowel, "He

my breath hitched as i unconsciously searched behind

the doorway, leaning against it like he owned the

muscle. The kind of handsome th

idn't see him, but his gaze locked on mine

la, thi

I rolled my eyes and made my way into the house, willing

I felt his breath fan my chee

even talk

ted my bag higher on my shoulder. "What's up?" It su

ck tee he had on. His hazel eyes bored into me

ea what to say to that. Should I ask more ab

my panties were NOT completely soaked just from standing a few inches away from him. That'

's "special" lasagna and garlic bread. I sat across from Jax, head bowed lik

he silence, "any boys at school? Or you

arm. "Richard!

heat rising up my ne

i

out though, his kisses tasted like stale bread and they were way too

ely, Jax was watching me, fork paused

n my cheeks? The way my

urned to him, "Any gi

thing s

z, no one says 'warmi

that didn't sound like a yes or a no and

here's no girl. I couldn't make o

with me, why did I hate the idea

winked at me. I choked on my

honey?" M

. Just... swal

to him, but he wasn't looking at me, his focus was on his foo

bled outside. Mom sighed, "Our flight's in a few

saying that she was attend

. "Better pack, Lila. You sure you can

ugh, "Yeah, I

as no () in the world t

could just go pack my bags and tag along wit

ure, and yet I wasn't maki

ism? P

ing Jax and I in the kitchen with t

e counter, "It's been

ped "

a misse

time stopped. My heart did

I hadn't imagined it,

om called from upstairs. "Jax,

e brushed past where I stood,

kend was going to kill me, or chan