Free Stepbrother Forever: A Stepbrother Romance by Jessica Marx Page B

friends, who know exactly how much this part will mean to his career. The
drinks start flowing and we collectively hit the dance floor. We are in full
party mode now.

 
    The
mood lasts through the night. We stay out until the wee hours of the morning
for last call. I have a little buzz, but after my drunken stupor from our first
celebration, I’m taking it easy. We all live fairly close to each other, so we
walk home as a group, which dwindles down every time someone reaches their
door. One of Ryan’s friends, Adam, is staying on our couch tonight because he’s
the only one who doesn't live here and it’s too late to catch a train. The
three of us turn down our block, leaving the last few to make their way home.
Tara, Keira, and Jen live together, so they all go to the same place, anyway.

 
    Ryan,
Adam, and I make it up to the third floor safely, and the boys sit at the
kitchen table when we get inside. I pour myself a glass of water and offer one
to each of them, which they accept.

 
    “Can
you grab me another beer while you’re up?” Ryan asks.

 
    I make
a face at him. “Seriously?”

 
    “Hell
yeah. I’m not going to be able to drink like this for a long time,” he replies.

 
    “You’re
going to be shooting a movie, not going to jail,” I respond, pulling a two
beers out of the fridge. I hand one to him and one to Adam.

 
    “I have
to be on good behavior. It’s part of the deal,” Ryan explains, and then takes a
long swig from the bottle.

 
    “When
are you leaving?” Adam asks.

 
    “Monday,”
Ryan answers, taking another sip.

 
    “Monday?”
Adam and I repeat together.

 
    “This
coming Monday?” I ask in disbelief.

 
    “Yup,”
Ryan replies. “They want to get a bunch of screen tests and some other things
done before we begin filming.” I’m sure he knows more, but seems to be having
trouble recalling the technical info in his drunken state.

 
    “When
will you be back?” Adam asks. He’s sounds much cooler than I am right now. I’m
panicking.

 
    “They
estimate four to five months to shoot the film, and then another four to five
to edit and promote before it’s released,” Ryan advises us.

 
    “So
you’ll be gone for…” I start but Ryan finishes for me.

 
    “Almost
a year. But don’t worry, I will pay my share of the rent until you find a
roommate or the lease is up.” That is the least of my concerns right now. He
has no idea how my whole world is being turned upside down by all this news
today.

 
    “Of
course, I won’t be shooting and promoting the entire time,” Ryan adds, “so I
can come and visit...” I think he can sense my apprehension about him leaving,
even though he doesn’t all his wits about him.

 
    “That’s
so awesome, man,” Adam says, shaking his head. “I’ll come visit you and you can
introduce me to some hot celebrities.”

 
    Great.
Ryan’s new life will be filled with movie stars and models and all sorts of
women who will want a piece of him.

 
    “I hate
to end this, guys, but I’m shot. I’m going to bed,” I announce. I can’t talk
about this anymore. I don’t want to take away from Ryan’s happiness at all. As
happy as I am for him, I also don’t want to lose him. Now that I know that, I
can’t even tell him. This is the chance of a lifetime, and I don’t want to
throw a wrench into that by professing my love. Not that he would give it up to
stay with me, but I don’t need him to leave with that confession lingering
between us.

 
    I
fucked up. I should have been honest with Ryan and kissed him when he dared me
to that night. I guess it wouldn’t have changed things in the long run—it
actually may have made things worse. But now I am bound to silence.

 

Chapter 14

 
 
 
    I wake up in an awful
mood. It’s hard to imagine we have less than a week together here. As I amble
into the kitchen, I glance at our little Christmas tree. Ryan won’t be here to
celebrate.