Free Good Stepbrother (Love #2) by Scarlett Jade, Intuition Author Services Page A

“No way.”
    “Liar.” He shook me and my neck bounced back and forth. “You’re a liar.”
    Narrowing my eyes, I hissed between gritted teeth, “And you’re hurting me, so I suggest you take your hands off me before I tell my mom everything. It’s obvious I’m real good at telling a story and having people believe me. Do you want to cross me?”
    Releasing me, he spat, “Whatever. At least I’m not a slut.”
    “Aww, that’s soooo original. Like I haven’t been called that before.” Shrugging, I turned away and linked arms with my best friends. “Find your own way home, homo!” Screw you, asshole. You know nothing about me and why I am the way I am.
    The whole way home I steamed. Dropping the girls off, I drove home alone and sulked in the driveway before crawling out of the car and storming in the house. Mom caught me as I walked inside. “Bri, baby? Can we talk?”
    “Sure.” I sighed, hanging my backpack up and kicking off my shoes. “What?”
    “Come sit down.” She caught my elbow and steered me into the kitchen. Pushing me into a chair, she sat down across from me and smiled tightly. “How was school?”
    “What is this?” Sighing in irritation, I stood to leave. “I’ve got things to do.”
    “Bri, wait. I need to talk to you about something. Charlie and I are trying for a baby. Will you be okay with that?”
    My knees went weak and I collapsed back into the chair. “A baby?”
    “Right. It would be more siblings to love. Your dad’s wife is going to have another baby soon…”
    “When have I even seen the first one? He got her knocked up and forgot all about me. I’m never allowed over, he never calls me, he never wants me around the brat. I barely know her name, Kayleigh, and we’re supposed to be sisters. So is that what you and Charlie have planned too? Get knocked up, have a brat or two and then forget all about me? Well here, let me make it easy for you. You don’t have to be my mom anymore. Not that you were a great one anyway. So have all the babies you want. I don’t care.” Tears pricked my eyes and I jumped up from the chair and ran to the front door. Pulling on my shoes, I grabbed my keys and threw the door wide.
    Running to the car, I opened the door and slid behind the wheel. Mom rushed down the stairs, her blue eyes wet with tears. “Bri! Wait! Let’s talk about this.”
    Starting the car, I threw it into reverse and backed down the driveway. I could barely see through my tears as I drove aimlessly. Mom wanted a baby. She would forget all about me too. First my father, now her. Carter hated me. Everyone hated me. I hated me. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I called Peter.
    “Hey, baby, I was beginning to think you forgot my number.” It had been months since the party and the guys he’d made me pay for the kegs.
    “I need…” I sniffled, unable to say what I wanted. I needed someone to make me forget, and Peter was good at that.
    “Aww, you need some lovin’, don’t you baby?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Come on over. Door’s always open for you.”
    “Be there in five,” I breathed, turning onto his street. Peter Mansfield was exactly what I needed. No strings attached. Just our bodies, figuring shit out.
     
    ***
     
    I became even further detached from my family over the next few months, and Mom gave me my space. True, it could’ve been that I threw a shoe at her and threatened to run away if she came in my room again, but I didn’t want her sympathy or her love anymore. I didn’t want anyone, except Peter. He made things bearable. I stayed over at his house all the time, lying and telling Mom I stayed with Britney and Jennifer.
    “So, kid,” he asked me one night as I lay wrapped in his arms. “What are you running from?”
    Sitting up, I slid off the bed and found my clothes. “Does it really matter, Peter?”
    He shifted up to his elbow and peered at me. “I guess not.”
    “Then let’s keep this just like it is. No strings. No emotions. Just