Stepbrother's Gift

“Maybe some day,” he said, winking at me. “Anyway, you should get to my apartment. I've got to make sure all my equipment gets put away right, but I'll be there as soon as I can.”

“Are you sure? I can help if you like.”

He shook his head. “Some of it is heavy. I promise, I'll be as quick as I can. Anne is going to keep manning the register until the place is empty, but she'll be right behind you.”

I nodded, figuring I'd just wait for her. James turned away and started dismantling sound equipment, while I walked to the front of the store. The metal folding chairs were all gone by now, so I pulled a chair up to one of the tables on the other side of the shop. Anne saw me and waved. As soon as everyone was gone, she gestured for us to go. “Once more, into the breach!” she cried as she turned the OPEN sign to CLOSED and locked the door.

Chapter Thirty-One

As soon as we walked into the apartment, I noticed how different it felt with so many people in it. There were forty or so people, including a bartender that I had seen at the concert. He was now manning a table with every kind of major liquor available. People were drinking and having a great time, but all my mind could think about was how dirty this place was going to get.

I guess when you're as rich as James, you just get maids to do it.

Anne immediately introduced me to some people. She said that her band couldn't make it there tonight, but that I totally should meet them some time. From the way she lit up talking about them and her music, I really was looking forward to hearing her play.

Soon, however, I was tired of hearing people I didn't know tell stories about more people I'd never met. I went to the bartender, thinking about getting a drink, but just getting a diet cola at the last moment. One drink wouldn't hurt the baby, especially when I didn't even have a positive pregnancy test yet, but zero drinks would probably be better.

I went and sat down on the couch, the same couch that I had played with myself on just a few days ago. I really just wanted to hang out with James, not go to a party where I knew literally nobody. I thought about pulling out my phone, but then I knew I'd look really bored. I unzipped my jacket, letting the cooler air hit my stomach. It had been a long day, so I just kind of leaned back and closed my eyes.

“You feeling okay?” a voice that I had just listened to for an hour asked me.

I opened my eyes back up. The lead singer, Ryan, was standing over me. “Mmm? No, I'm fine.”

He nodded his head, then sat down next to me. “Too much to drink?”

I looked down at my cup, half full of the cola still. He didn't know that it was non-alcoholic. “Yeah, maybe,” I said. I noticed his tattoos. They looked tribal, but I had no idea what they meant. I had been dating bad boys for a long time, and they all seemed to get tattoos that looked cool without knowing what they meant.

He nodded again. “You're James' little sister,

right?”

“Yeah, is he back yet?” I asked, looking around the room.

“No, he's still packing away equipment. He's gotta have everything done just right so that it doesn't get broken. I'm sure you know how he gets, though.”

I didn't really know, but I nodded anyway. He was a perfectionist and it didn't surprise me that it flowed into everything. “You were great tonight,” I said.

He seemed to puff up a little bit. “Well, your brother messed up a couple times, but other than it was a great performance.”

I had been watching James all night and hadn't noticed him messing up. I didn't know what his angle was here, but I just wanted to change the subject. “So. Lefty and the Sharks. Interesting name.”

He shrugged. “We change it every month or so. Last month it was 'Spoon Boy and the Potentials'. But my nickname in high school was already Lefty, so this was perfect.”

“Why is your nickname Lefty?”

He smirked at me. “Two reasons. I'm left handed, for one. But that means I jerk off with my left hand, so my dick naturally curves to the left.”

It was such an outlandish comment that I couldn't help but look down at his pants. His left hand made a jerk off motion, and it made me laugh. “That's funny, I've never seen a dick curve to either side.”

“Well, maybe you'll see one tonight, if you play your cards right.”

Normally a comment like that would have made me more likely to actually sleep with him, but I was with James now, whether we were public or not. I was in his house. It made me feel really uncomfortable that he would be this upfront, even if he didn't know that. I felt my smile fade a little, then I shook my head. “Probably not, though.”

He shrugged. “We'll see what happens,” he said.

“Well, you have a great night, Lefty,” I said. I stood up from the couch and walked over to where Anne was talking to her friends. I had a feeling he wouldn't follow me here, and I was right. However, I made the mistake of looking over my shoulder at him.

His eyes were boring right into me.