Free Fade Back (A Stepbrother Romance Novella) by Stephanie Brother Page B

chin on her palm and cradling her cocktail in the other like some punk psychologist. "You can either make a resolution to heed your parents’ warnings. Or you can say 'screw it' and just do the nice, safe, casual flirty thing you've been enjoying up until now. Or, and this is my personal recommendation, girlfriend: you could get your god damn tattoo finished and talk to Fitz like a god damn adult." She nodded resolutely and took a long drink, then leaned back and let loose an extravagant 'ahhhhh' of satisfaction.
    Mick raised an eyebrow at her and sighed, receiving a playful slap on the knee for his trouble. Becka wanted to weep again, but instead Mick started talking. "Karen may be a bit glib about it, Becks, but she's right. Those are pretty much your three choices, and whatever you want to do, we'll help you do it.”
    "Hear hear!" Jerome interjected saucily.
    "Not that kind of help, Jere. Not more going out till you pass out. I mean we'll help you talk to Fitz, or your dad, or we'll help you find a new job, or whatever it is you decide needs to change after this. But one thing is for sure: you are too bright, too sweet, and way too cute not to bounce back from this. He's just one guy, and you will meet more of them in your life, trust me.”
    Becka’s eyes spilled over with tears again, and after much cooing and patting of the kind that always made her feel pathetic, she shook it off and haltingly put her muddled thoughts into words.
    "I know I don't know him that well—not that I ever new him—but whatever. Part of me is sad because of that, more than anything else. I wish I’d just kept in touch with him, you know? Over all these years? Since he’s my stepbrother, you know? Then I wouldn’t have this problem on my hands. I suck at doing all that kind of mushy stuff. I regret all the people I didn't bother to really connect with because I was too busy being, well, hot."
    "But so hot!”
    “Jere!” Mick scolded his friend. “Go on, Becks,” he said, turning back to Becka.
    "I guess I'm worried now that I was actually an asshole to everybody. What if I'm no better than that Wendy bitch?” 
    "Eeeeeew, no. No. I promise you, you're not like Wendy. I mean, maybe there are teeny tiny little germs of similarity between you, but trust me on this one if nothing else." Jerome could not sound more confident, and it made Becka feel a smidgen better.
    “Wendy?” Karen asked disbelievingly, "That redhead with the bod and the attitude? Yeah, that psycho didn't leave Fitz alone for a month after he gave her that little bit of ink. She kept drifting around the store like we were frying her bacon. She’s the reason Fitz doesn't sit at the front desk anymore. That little bitch is the worst." She stopped when Mick patted her knee and made the kill sign. 
    Becka buried her head in her hands and whimpered gently. Mick stroked her back, and Karen, after a moment's hesitation, started up again.
    "So your parents are married to each other. Big whoop! It’s completely legal for you two to date, did you know that? You can even get married. Fitz can be a little too sensitive sometimes. He’s a bit freaked out by the idea of having slept with his little stepsister, but he’ll get over it. He's an old-fashioned kind of guy, and it just doesn't occur to him half the time that a lot of people aren't on that wave-length. Hell, a lot of people. Fitz thinks everything is supposed to be candy boxes and roses and no kissing 'til the third date."
    "Well he sure blew that with me."
    "He did. He really, really did. And he’s freaked out that not only did he break his normal routine, but he did it with you of all people, his stepsister. I bet you anything, that big old tat-covered softie craves a little old-timey style romance.  Or at least, y'know, he’ll tolerate a conversation. And also, seriously, get that tattoo finished before he starts slapping it on every pretty girl who reminds him of you."
    " You could finish it?" Becka