My Future Stepbrother

Chapter 50

Dad wanted me and Brie to ride in the cars with him. We’d never been in a limo before and I couldn’t tell if Brie was more excited about arriving to a fancy event in it or just the bottles of free champagne when we got there.

As we pulled up to the venue it was quite the spectacle. The building was on old church that had been converted and extended into a posh hotel. It still held a lot of its original character, it looked almost regal.

Tara had the driveway lined with lantern after lantern of candles leading people straight to the entrance. It was magical.

“This is amazing.” I said almost breathless by the beauty of the view in front of us.

Tara smiled. “Okay girls grab an escort, ladies are always accompanied when entering a ball.”

I felt a hand grab each of my arms.

“Can I be your-" Chad and Jayce spoke at the same time before locking eyes.

Well this is fucking awkward..

“Excuse me, I would like the honour of escorting the most beautiful lady here into the ball.” Milo extended his hand to me.
Easy choice.

I pulled my arms from the warring best friends and took Milos hand.

I look back at them. “Sorry guys, how can I say no to the cutest guy here?” And shoot a smirk at Jayce which he returns.

“That kid is smooth.” Chad remarks.

I watch as Brie saunters up to Chad with her hand extended, just as Chad reaches for it she ducks him completely and links arms with Jayce.

“Seriously Brianna?!” Chad fumes.

“Oh it’s okay cutie-pie, you can take me in.” Elizabeth links her arm through her sons and he looks less than impressed with the outcome of his attempts tonight.

The inside of the venue is even more extraordinary than the outside.

Almost every wall is draped in white fabric, as are the tables and chairs. Large vases of red and white roses are throughout and the entire middle section of the room is a shiny white dance floor. There are fairy lights and candles everywhere, filling the room with a romantic ambiance. I can’t help but marvel at the beauty of the party Tara has put together.

“We will definitely be on there later!” Brie squeals at me pointing at the dance floor.

I notice lots of faces I don’t recognise eyeing me as Milo escorts me through. I try not to let my anxiety get the better of me and hold myself with confidence.

The meal was delicious and I was grateful that dad allowed us two glasses of wine, it helped to steady the nerves that were threatening to take over.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as dad read the poem he had written for Tara. I watched as they got up to dance and never broke eye contact the whole time. I envied them, my eyes would find themselves traveling down the table to where Jayce sat. I want that and I want it with him.

As the music picked up and more people joined the dance floor Brie grabbed my wrist and pulled me on. She’d spent the last half hour flirting with the DJ. He was heavily tattooed and about 10 years too old for her so of course in her eyes he was class A prime rump steak ready for her to devour.

“He’s going to play our song so you know we have to do it!” Oh god.

“No Brianna, absolutely not! I am so not drunk enough for that!”

When we were 6 we loved the spice girls more than anything, we discovered the cd at a yard sale and listened to the songs on repeat. When I was super depressed after losing my mum Brie would cheer me up by bouncing on my bed singing ‘Wannabe' and we came up with this stupid dance routine.

“Please! Please Al! I swear I will never ask you for anything else for our entire lives.”

I’d heard that before. “Liar.”

She threw her head back as she laughed.

“I know but still, pleaseeeee!!”

“I swear to god Brianna if I slip in these heels and flash everyone what I had for breakfast I will end you.”

As the song started we broke out into our little routine and laughed the entire time. By the time we were done I was almost on the floor in stitches. I don’t know how I’d ever lived without this girl but I was glad all those years ago she found me and never left.

“May I steal her Brie?” My dad reached for my hand as a slow melody began.

“Of course, I had my eye on someone else for this one anyway.” She winked towards the DJ.

I let my hand rest in dad’s as we swayed softly to the music.

“Are you enjoying the night poppet?”

“It’s beautiful dad. Tara really out did herself. I can’t believe she doesn’t do this professionally, I mean I know the law thing is good money, but she’s wasting her talent.”

Dad laughed. “She actually organises that  cancer centre gala every year that your mother made me go to that one time, so she has some experience in this type of thing.” 

I smile at the memory. Mum made him get dressed up and go even though he hated wearing a suit. She said that they had bought the tickets and it was rude to leave empty seats so she made him take one of the guys from work. He hated it but he loved her so he did it. The chemo had made her really sick that day so I stayed with her and we watched bad talk shows from her hospital bed whilst the nice nurse sneaked me lots of pudding cups. It was one of the nicer memories I had from her time in there.

“Can I ask you a question poppet?”

My feet came to a halt. “What’s wrong?”

Dad pulled me back into a rhythm. “Nothings wrong sweetheart, well at least I hope it isn’t. I just wanted to know about you and Jayce.”

My heart stops and I feel a cold blanket throw itself over me.

“Me and Jayce?” I manage to stutter out.

“Yes, I know you guys put on a good front for us but I just wanted to make sure he is being good to you now. I always kind of hated the kid for how he treated you and I want you to know if anything happens between you that I’ll support you, no matter what I’m on your team, you can tell me anything he does.”

I hate lying to my dad. I wish I could take those words and apply his support to me and Jayce being together rather than ripping each other apart but that was never going to happen.

I looked to the bar where Jayce was standing, laughing with Chad. He was effortlessly beautiful and I wanted nothing more than to be with him right now.

“Me and Jayce are perfect dad. We are perfectly happy with each other. You don’t have to worry.” It wasn’t exactly lying was it?

Dad seemed to let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. “Good. Do me a favour and have a dance with him tonight, it only has to be one. It would mean a lot to Tara to see you two getting along.”

My stomach filled with butterflies at the thought, I would love nothing more.

As the song came to an end the music went quite, everyone looked at each other at the sudden silence.  The DJ quickly untangled himself from Brie and ran back to the booth.

Dad burst out laughing and Brie ran towards us. “Quick I need off this dance floor now. Drink?”

We joined Chad and Jayce at the bar. Brie couldn’t help but immediately start flirting with the cute guy making our drinks. That girl is an animal.

“Want to try out the photo booths?” Chad spoke to the group.

Jayce lightly run his hand along the bottom of my back as I stood there.

“Actually..” I turned to Jayce “Do you want to dance?”

His eyes widened as he registered my question. I’d never asked a boy to dance before and I had a stupid irrational moment where I felt like he was just going to laugh in my face.

“Yes.” He held out his hand and took me to the dance floor. I looked back at Chad who for some reason was fiddling with his beer bottle whilst glancing back at me nervously.

“Is this okay?” Jayce asked as he placed his hands on my hips. “I’m not sure what the rules are here.”

I smiled at his inability to look innocent. I could tell that is absolutely not where he wanted his hands.

“Yes. My dad actually wants us to have a dance, I know its not exactly for the reasons either of us would have preferred but..”

I placed my arms around his neck closed the space between us.

“I’m not sure I can do this Lee, I can’t be this close to you and not think about kissing you.” His eyes lingered on my lips.

As the cool tempo of the previous song slowed it transitioned into a beautiful romantic melody.

“Try this.” I took his hand from my left hip and pushed it to the small of my back whilst I took his other hand in mine. “Better?”

“Lee, now we’re even closer.” He sarcastically remarked.

“Yes but at least now you get to hold my hand.” I smirked.

I felt the pressure increase on my lower back as he pressed me ever so slightly towards him. “Yes, it’s better.”

We let the rhythm guide as Jayce twirled me effortlessly in his arms.

“I love this song" it was ‘A Thousand Years’ – one of my favourites.

“Me too, it’s the one from Twi-" Jayce stopped himself but it was too late, I’d caught it.

“Twilight?!” I sniggered “The big bad Jayce Thompson is a Twilight fan?” Jayce looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him up.

“You tell anyone that and I will never do that thing you like with my tongue ever again.” He threatened.

I laughed at his empty threats whilst checking nobody heard him. All clear.

“I’m sorry but you just never seem to stop surprising me. Next you’ll be telling me you love Ghost and Dirty Dancing.”

He lent down to my ear in a whisper, his cool breath fanning against my skin. “Nobody puts baby in a corner.” My knees feel weak.

He pulled back. “You look unbelievable tonight Lee. Its actually making it really hard to focus because I can’t stop looking at you. You’re the definition of breath-taking in that dress.” I grinned at my gorgeous boyfriend. His perfect white teeth and ocean eyes were all I wanted to look at for the rest of my life.

“Jayce, I’ve never wanted to kiss you as badly as I do right now.” I admitted.

“Me too.” Jayce took the hand that was resting against my back and placed it to the back of my head, he gently placed my head against his chest. It was an incredibly intimate gesture.

“Jayce we shouldn’t.”

“I know.. I don’t care.”

I let myself melt into him as he held me. We both moved in silence listening to the lyrics of the song and feeling every word.

I knew right here right now one thing for certain. I was completely in love with Jayce Thompson.