Wrong: A Stepbrother Romance

“Alright then. I like when you girls are drunk.”

“That makes three of us.” Aria returned to her seat and winked at A.J, ever the capable flirt when she was hammered. “Now what was I just talking about?”

“Something filthy as fuck, so do continue.”

“No, we’re done with that subject,” I rolled my eyes.

“Hey, speak for yourself!” Aria scoffed, indignant one second but giggly the next. Biting seductively on her straw, she turned to A.J. “I was just talking about those boobful gals over yonder.”

A.J looked at where she pointed. “The ones rubbing up against Liam?”

Despite myself, I joined them in looking toward the pool tables. My jaw tightened the second I indulged in the sight I’d been avoiding all night – Liam wearing the hell out of a black T-shirt and black jeans, a pool cue leaning against his impossibly broad chest. At his left, a leggy blonde. At his right, a ridiculously pouty brunette. He wasn’t giving them the most attention in the world but he was still smiling, conversing, leaning in to listen and laugh at the occasional joke. With every one of his sexy laughs, they upped their game, the brunette tossing her hair and the blonde hiking up her skirt.

“Yup, those two. Help me tell Sasha to talk to Liam so she can get to his dick before those girls do.”

“Aria!”

“What?”

A.J laughed. “It’s okay, Sash, I know about you two. You and Liam,” he said. I eased up only slightly, pausing for a bit and then giving a huff.

“I had a feeling you did. But it’s still weird to hear this stuff out loud.”

“All good. No one we know is here besides the guys from the gym and they all know already anyway.”

“Seriously?”

A.J feigned fear at my wrath and held his hands in the air. “What, are we blind? We saw the way he looked at you last night! And then you guys disappeared for twenty minutes. What were we supposed to think – that you went upstairs to discuss Thanksgiving plans?”

“Damn it, A.J.”

“Babe, come on. Don’t worry. The guys won’t say shit. What happens in the gym stays in the gym. Plus, they know better than to do anything that’ll piss off Liam.” Like a soldier, A.J faced me at attention. “Hand on my heart, babe. You know I don’t lie. Not to you. I told you the truth about Liam’s feelings for you before Liam told you the truth about Liam’s feelings for you. So trust me when I say that you secret’s safe with the gym and you should go get your man. You two don’t get tons of chances to act like a couple, but here, tonight, it’s all family. So go for it.”

I raked my bottom lip between my teeth. “Alright,” I exhaled, though in defeat. I felt as if I wasn’t quite covering my bases – like I had a good dozen loose ends in my life. Little threads just waiting to be pulled to unravel the entire sweater. I wasn’t used to it. I lived knowing with full certainty what lie around every corner, which till recently, seemed like the perfect way to live. Winging it was a new concept. It was weird and stressful and scary. But at the same time, as odd as it was to admit, it made me feel more awake than ever – like I didn’t have my days on cruise control anymore. Shifting in my seat, I made a scrunchy face. I wasn’t sure how to reconcile feeling at once so uncomfortable yet so alive.

“Alright, enough chit chat,” Aria sassed. “What’s it gonna be, girl? You finally gonna claim your man?”

“Are you?” I countered.

Her mouth dropped open. There was a long pause as Aria and I battled on who could lift their eyebrows higher. A.J finally broke the silence.

“I don’t know what’s happening but I’m turned on.”

Aria giggled. “Seriously though, Sash. You left Liam hanging today. Ball’s in your court to make a move.”

“Speaking of balls,” A.J raised his hand, “mine are blue.”

“Oh-kay, and I’m gone.”

Snorting, I hopped off my stool to give A.J and Aria the privacy they so clearly needed. Drunk as I was, I made a steady beeline for the pool tables where Liam was hanging out with Max, a few guys from the gym and plenty of girls from the bar. I could never remember the name of the place that we were – it was the same Lower East Side spot that we all went to after nights out, because it tended to stay open well past 4AM. Liam and his boys were known to be spotted there on weekends, which meant girls in crop tops and booty shorts were known to be spotted as well.

I was glad that tonight, I was actually dressed like one of them. Normally, I had on my stained white T-shirt with The Queen logo on the right breast. My jeans were generally something light-washed and tight-fitting but equally stained, and any remnants of makeup were virtually gone by midnight. So generally, at this spot, I sat at the bar with Aria while the dolled up girls played groupie with Liam and his boys.

But tonight, Aria had known better than to let me stay hidden.

After hearing about Ethan and my day at the bar, she dragged me to her favorite nail spot so we could get our nails and toes done while I gave her the details. Then she ushered me into the bar next door with the all-day happy hour and kept the five-dollar well drinks coming as I listed all the cons of telling Liam about what happened.

“Fine, don’t tell. I just fucking hate Ethan. I refuse to let him force you back into your shell,” Aria declared. “I refuse!”