Free PIERCED - A Stepbrother Romance by Maya Hawk Page A

sizzles and browns. I’m not sure why I threw another one on. It’s not like Lauryn’s going to come busting through my door at any moment, making herself at home, and asking what’s for dinner.
    Wishful thinking.
    My left hand slides into my pocket, my fingertips grazing the warm glass of my phone.
    Fuck it. I’m calling her.
    Against all odds, she answers.
    “Yes?” Her voice is rushed and breathy; as if my call interrupted some very important business she was conducting.
    “Hello to you too.”
    She groans into the phone. “Sorry. Hello.”
    “That’s more like it.” I turn the steaks, listening to her breathe and silently appreciating the fact that she’s on the other line. Something about that feels comforting, like that warm and fuzzy feeling you get when you think about a fond memory. Most people get it when they think of home, but Lauryn was the only thing that ever felt like home to me.
    “Can I help you?” If she’s trying to sound polite it’s not working.
    “Look, I’m sorry about earlier.” I can be the bigger person, especially if it means it’ll keep her from walking out of my life again.
    She’s quiet, which, knowing Lauryn, could be either really good or really bad.
    “Come over for dinner.” I’m not asking. “I’ve got two steaks on the grill. How do you want yours?”
    “Sut…”
    “You can’t stay mad at me forever.” I put the phone up to the grill and bring it back to my ear. “Hear that sizzle? That’s a New York strip with your name on it, personally grilled to perfection by yours truly.”
    “I appreciate that, but I’m sort of in the middle of something right now.”
    “A girl’s got to eat. You’re going to eat right?” I toss a few pieces of garlic bread onto the top rack of the grill and stir some marinated zucchini in a grill basket. “Lauryn, I can see your place from here. You’re a five-minute walk away. Get over here and have dinner with me. I’m your brother. We’re family.”
    I say the last part with a smile in my voice. I want her to remember that things don’t always have to be so serious. We can get back to that fun place again. I’ve loved her all my life, but if friendship is all she can offer me, I’ll take it.
    “Sut, please. I told you I’m busy tonight.”
    “With what?”
    “I’m checking into something.” She has a distant inflection in her voice, the one that women get when their minds are saturated with worrisome thoughts.
    Fucking James.
    “Want help?” I offer.
    “I’ll let you know.” She ends the call as I curse that fucking rodent.
    I met James my freshman year of college, and he made it quite clear from the beginning was that his life goal was to be filthy rich. I’d never seen such determination in another man’s eyes before. He’s spend chem lectures scoping out the girls and Googling them until he narrowed down which ones came from money, and then he’d turn his charm on and work his magic.
    He failed out of the program within a year, and though we kept in touch for a while, I started distancing myself from him. I watched from a far as he dated rich girl after rich girl, each relationship ending catastrophically when they realized James’ wasn’t the nice guy he pretended to be.
    And now he’s fucking with Lauryn. My Lauryn. Lauryn who’s the sole heir to her mother’s multi-million dollar fortune. Sweet Lauryn with her movie star good looks and naïve heart and loyal demeanor.
    My phone buzzes in my pocket, sending a shock straight to my heart. I’m like a teenage girl, praying my crush is calling me. I slip my phone out with baited breath, only it’s my mother.
    “Hey, Mom.” I plate the food and carry it back inside, the chilled air wrapping me up like a frozen blanket.
    “I think your father’s cheating on me.” My mom’s voice is a hushed, rushed whisper laced with teary undercurrents. She’s insisted on calling DeVonn my father since they got married, never mind the fact that I was