Free Stepbrother With Benefits 10 (Second Season) by Mia Clark Page B

kind of nice to see.  I know Ethan and his dad don't always see eye to eye, and sometimes his dad doesn't have a lot of free time outside of work, but I think Ethan wishes they could spend more time together.
    I don't know why I think that.  I haven't actually ever really talked with Ethan about it before.  It's just something I've thought about sometimes.  I like spending time with my mom, and I honestly couldn't even imagine not spending time with her.  I call her every day when I'm at college and tell her almost everything.  I know Ethan doesn't feel as comfortable as that with his dad, but...
    I don't know.  Maybe he wants to be?  Even if they aren't, I think it would be nice if he at least felt like he could be comfortable talking with his dad about things.
    I suppose I have ulterior motives there, because I want him to tell his dad about us, but that's not the only reason.  I'm just not sure what the other reasons are yet.
    "Well, hello there, boys," my mom says after we park and get out of the car.  "What kind of trouble are you two getting into?"
    "We grabbed some jerky at the bait shop.  Want to try some?" my stepdad asks.
    Ethan's already eating his own piece.  He spares a glance over at me while his dad comes to offer my mom some jerky.
    "Ashley?" he asks, holding the bag out for me, too.  "It's good stuff."
    I take a small piece and try it.  Oh, wow!  It really is pretty good.  I chew and swallow, and I kind of want another piece, but Ethan's dad is hanging around my mom by the firepit now.  He also has the bag of jerky.  Ethan sees me staring and he steals a piece for me and brings it over.
    I smile.  "Thanks."
    "Yeah, no problem," he says.  Then... "Meet anyone interesting while you were shopping?"
    "Huh?"
    "Caleb?"
    "Oh."  Um... this doesn't look good.  Ethan looks kind of mad, actually.  "Yup, he was there," I say, trying to sound casual and nonchalant.  I'm not sure if it works.
    "And?" he asks.
    "I don't know.  He was just there," I say.  It's not like I can explain everything to him right now.  "He helped me and my mom with our shopping.  He had to buy some things, too."
    "Yeah, sure," Ethan says, rolling his eyes.  "I'm sure that was it."
    I stick my tongue out at him.  "Well, that really was it.  You don't have to be jealous or anything."
    Ethan gives me a look, and it's a kind of sexy, smoldering look, though I'm not entirely sure what it's for.  I kind of want to find out what it's for, though.
    He sneaks closer to me and whispers something.
    "Um... what?" I say, confused.
    "Just do it," he says.
    Ugh.  I don't know what he has in mind, but I'm pretty sure nothing good will come of it.  I'm curious, though.  This is a dangerous combination, the demanding bad boy and the curious good girl, but I think I can handle myself now.  If not, I'm sure I'll enjoy what Ethan has in mind, so...
    "I have to go to the bathroom," I say to Ethan's dad and my mom.  They stop looking lovingly at each other and look over at me.  "I'm just, um... I forget how to get there?"
    Ethan grumbles.  He's not even grumbling, though!  He's pretending to grumble.  What a jerk, seriously.
    "Yeah, yeah," he says.  "I'll show you.  Try and remember, though.  I don't want to have to do this every single time you've got to go."
    I glare at him and stick my tongue out.  My mom laughs, but my stepdad just rolls his eyes at the two of us.  Alright, good, this is sort of going according to plans, I think.
    "Ethan, stop teasing her," my stepdad says.  "Ashley, it's fine.  I can show you if you want, and Ethan and your mom can stay here and start making lunch?"
    "Nah, it's cool," Ethan says, grabbing my arm.  "Come on, Princess.  I'll show you."
    I know where the bathrooms are, though.  They're up front by the main office, which is kind of far away but not that far.  I can get there fine on my own, but Ethan told me to make it seem like I couldn't, so, um... well, we're going together now.
    I