Free Crude: A Stepbrother Romance by Aubrey Irons Page B

stomach.

    I can’t help but grin to myself right there at the table thinking about it, and I look up to try and catch her eye. She’s ignoring me, or at least trying to, but I make an extra effort to keep asking her to pass me random things like salt I don’t use, or a dinner roll I don’t eat, just to try and get her eye.

    It’s half working.

    “So, Knox,” Joe’s sawing into his steak as he glances up at me, pulling my attention away from Paige; “You’re finally starting to feel things out around here I take it?”

    Paige chokes on her food.

    “Absolutely, sir,” I nod authoritatively, mimicking Joe’s own mannerisms; “It takes a little exploring and prying, but I think I’m really getting used to the new places.”

    She’s staring at me like I’ve completely lost my mind, her mouth hanging open and this cute, bright red flush across her face that’s a cross between mortified and wanting to murder me. Hey, at least I’ve finally got her attention, right?

    I put on my most cheesy grin for King Joe as he nods and smiles at me. My mother is beaming away at me as well, so I guess I’m making up for a little lost graces here.

    “I’m proud of you, Knox,” Joe says, spearing a piece of tenderloin; “You’ve really shown some effort with adapting to this new change.” He shoots Paige a quick sideways glance, as if to say the opposite to her while he chews his food. I want to say something, even if I won’t. I frown; I mean, shit, give the girl a break. She’s wound pretty fucking tight as it is, and  it’s not like either of us got eased into this whole idea of getting new step-parents until we were moving in with them.

    I mean, I can deal with it, cause, well, I’m not going to freaking Columbia in the fall. I’ve got nothing else on the brain except how to spend my summer, and how best to continue exploring Paige and her own boundaries.

    “So how was practice today, honey?”

    Paige blushes and looks quickly down at her plate. Yeah, I suppose no answer is better than “oh I was making out with my new stepbrother in the pool instead of practicing the piano”.  

    Woops.

    “Paige?”

    “I- I got busy.”

    Joe’s fork comes down on his plate with a clatter; “Paige-”

    “Dad, I know.”

    “We talked about this.”

    “I’m fine, I’m-”

    Joe waves his hand, silencing her in a way that has my fist tightening under the table; “Your trials are coming up in August, Paige. that’s three weeks awa-”

    “Dad, I’ll be read-”

    “You need to be ready now!”

    He’s louder than I think he meant to be, but the effect is pretty immediate as the whole table, and even those around us, get instantly quiet.

    Damn, dude.

    He shakes his head and takes a deep breath; “Honey, you know it’s just because I want the best for you.”

    Paige nods quietly; “I know.”

    I want to scream, or throw something, or reach across the table and shake her or kiss or anything to just snap her out of it! Anything to get that fire I know that’s inside of her roaring and anything to give her the courage to do what she wants to do.

    “Maybe you could take a page out of Knox’s book over there.” I cringe as Paige’s eyes dart up to mine, flaring.

    “Hard work pays off, honey, remember that. Keep at it and you’ll be amazed at what doors open up for you.” Joe smiles at Paige and reaches out to pat her hand; “Free up those distractions, honey.”

    *****

    Later that night, I slip through the bathroom to her room, only to find the door locked fast from the other side.

    “ Pssst! ” I whisper through the door; “ Hey, open up. ”

    “Go away, Knox. I have work to do”

    I frown; did that fucking pep talk at the dinner table really get to her like this?

    “Oh c’mon, don’t you want to continue what we were discussing befo-”

    “NO, Knox.” Her voice is tight, and I can tell she’s right on the other side of the door; “No, I do not. Please just leave me