Free Getting Mine: A Stepbrother Romance by Adair Rymer

it.
    “I'm sorry. I have to.” I sighed, if it wasn't the paparazzi it was the next worse thing. I watched Arsen's head lull back with disappointment as I reached over for my purse. I spilled out the contents on a nearby chair and answered the phone. If responsibility was a train, then my father's ring tone was the incoming horn.
    I just hoped I wasn't on the tracks when that train came speeding through.
    “Hey, Dad. What's— Oh. Is—” I glanced over to Arsen, “Yes, of course he's with me. Thanks for letting me—.” The call was ended and for a moment I couldn't help but stare off into space as I worked out the words in my head.
    “What did, old Ironsides have to say?”
    I turned back to Arsen, my face twisted with worry. “There was another attack, your mom is in the hospital.”
     
     

Chapter 10
    Valentine
    Past
     
     
    Arsen teased me even more, but I quickly hopped off him. I wanted to go further, but I was just terrified to do so. We came so painfully close to kissing so many times, that I had whatever blue balls was for girls. I wanted to jump him the whole time, but I was too nervous.
    Arsen picked up on that and didn't force me to do anything. We didn't do anything more than soak and flirt. We barely even drank the terrible beer that Arsen stole from the party.
    I didn't know if it was because we were breaking so many social rules by being together like we were, but there was something magical about the whole thing. I did know that today would go down as one of the best days of my life.
    “Hey,” I said, grabbing his hand before we left Marcus's family gazebo. “It really sucks that you're going to have to leave when your dad gets back.” A long pause followed until I could muster up the courage to say what was really on my mind. “I don't want you to go. I'm... I'm really going to miss you, y'know.”
    Arsen turned fully toward me, as if to give me all of his attention. He smiled sharply with confidence, as was his default look, then it softened, but just for a moment.
    “I know.” He pulled my hand to his lips and gave it a gentle kiss. The moment passed just as quickly. He slipped behind me to grab his jacket, then whispered into my ear, “Everyone will.”
    “You jerk!” I shoved him away, trying not to smile at him.
    Arsen laughed, then gave me a quick wink that said he was only joking, at least about the last part. Just looking at him, I could somehow feel it.
    He was going to miss me too.
    We left in the early afternoon so that we'd have time to dry our clothes in the dryer before Arsen's mom came home from work. Arsen's mom did administrative stuff off campus for our school. She was super nice, but I didn't think even she would approve of us bailing on classes to break into a Jacuzzi and drink beer.
    Marcus' house was a half hour away from Arsen's so he had 'borrowed' his dad's truck to get us there and back. What Arsen didn't realize, was that we needed to put gas in it on the ride home and of course we didn't bring any changes of clothes. I couldn't help but laugh as Arsen was forced to pump gas in a soaked white towel.
    When he went in to pay, the late November chill had formed frost on his butt. He got a lot of stares from the clerk, but in true Arsen fashion, he just shrugged it off. He might have acted too cool for cold, but I could tell from the way he stiffly jogged back to the car ,that he was freezing his balls off.
    “Are they still attached?” I asked, flicking my eyes down to his crotch when Arsen got back into the nice, warm truck.
    “Larry and Barry are holding on for dear life.” Arsen was shaking when he started the car. I giggled at the names. It was rare that I could call him adorable, but this was definitely one of those moments. He turned to me and winked, his teeth chattering from the cold. “Still totally worth it.”
    We got to his house soon after, then ran for the door like our lives depended on it. It was the first time I'd ever actually been inside.