Free Tease: A Stepbrother Romance by Veronica Daye

became your stepbrother like yesterday, so that doesn’t count. Now you’re just looking for any excuse.”
    “I have to go get ready for my date.”
    Issy shook her head. “Whatever.”

    ***

    The house was quiet when I got home, so I rushed upstairs to quickly change. I didn’t want Simon to run into Jagger. If I was lucky, Jagger was out and I wouldn’t see him at all.
    As I left my bedroom, I heard voices coming from the loft. My stomach sank as I realized it was Simon and Jagger. Jagger had a huge smile on his face as I entered the loft. Simon looked pale.
    “There’s our girl,” Jagger said. “I was just talking to Simon here, catching up I guess you could say. He said he’s taking you out on a date tonight.”
    “Yes, he is,” I said nervously. “Let’s get going, Simon.”
    Jagger patted Simon’s back. “Well, don’t forget what I told you, Simon.”
    Simon stood, nodding. He didn’t say anything to Jagger or to me, and he quickly descended the stairs and headed out the door.
    “What did you say to him?” I hissed at Jagger.
    “Nothing,” he said with a shrug. “Have a good time. Don’t come home too late.”
    “You’re a fucking prick, you know that?”
    “Ahh, but you love it.”
    I ran down the stairs and out the door. Simon was already sitting in his car. As I closed the door, he started driving.
    “What did he say to you?”
    “Nothing. I didn’t know Jagger Myka was your stepbrother.”
    “Yeah, as of yesterday.”
    “I hated him in school.”
    “So did I. I still do.”
    “Why? He’s the guy I always wished I was.”
    “What are you talking about? He was just as awful to you as he was to me.”
    “Not always. I’ll never forget there was this one day I was being bullied by Aaron Hick. Do you remember him? Well, Aaron was the worst. He dragged me into the men's room and was just about to give me a swirly, you know, in the toilet, but Jagger saved me. He beat the shit out of Aaron.”
    “He did? I remember Aaron had a black eye for a while, but no one knew what happened.”
    “Yeah well, I did. I was there. Jagger swore me to secrecy. He kept teasing me and doing a little shit every so often, but I didn’t mind it as much anymore.”
    I thought about how Jagger saved me from Dex. And how he saved me by fixing my hair. Why was I avoiding him? Issy was right, he was only here for two more weeks, I should be spending as much time with him as possible. It was what I really wanted to do.
    “Simon? I know Jagger said something to you. Can you please tell me?”
    Simon let out a small laugh. “You mean other than how he would kick my ass if I touched you?”
    “He said that?”
    “Yeah, kind of odd for a stepbrother, don’t you think?”
    “Well, you know we’re not really related.”
    “I know. It’s none of my business anyway. But I couldn’t help but think that you might have said yes to this date to make him jealous.”
    “Why do you think that?”
    “Because it’s obvious he’s into you and I think you’re into him, too.”
    “Sorry,” I said quietly. “I think you’re right.”
    “Then why are you out with me?”
    “Why are you out with me?”
    “Yeah, I’m pretty obvious about Issy, aren’t I?”
    I nodded. “You asked me out to make her jealous, didn’t you?”
    He nodded. “And she didn’t even notice.” Simon grew quiet, glanced over at me, then back at the road. “When Jagger said he’d kick my ass, I told him about Issy. He told me the craziest thing. He said I should text her some videos of myself stripping. I’m sure he was bullshitting me, but the way he explained it, it made sense. Is that crazy? Do you think she’d be into that?”
    “It can’t hurt,” I said, laughing. “You might be surprised how it can win someone over.”
    “Really?” he said, arching his brow.
    “Really.”
    “I think I need to talk to Jagger more.”
    “Then let’s stop on the way home and get some dinner for the three of us.”
    I pulled out my