My Future Stepbrother

Chapter 84

Aleah’s P.O.V.

The last few days have been a blur coated in my tears. After Dad and Tara explained everything to me I just couldn’t get my head around how I felt about it all.

I was still angry in a lot of ways, but it wasn’t like it was before. I understood things better, I of all people could get what it’s like to be drawn to someone against all logical reason and finding out they hadn’t spent months banging behind my mums back like I imagined changed things.

I felt awful for how I had treated Tara. She was just a woman who met a cute guy at a party, having no idea he was married. Then she immediately walked away when she found out. She hadn’t done anything wrong really and I’d treated her like she was a cheap whore.

The way she spoke about my mother had stuck with me. I could hear in her words how she held her in such high regard and it gave me a sense of peace knowing that had things been different, they probably would have been friends.

I wept for hours in Jayce’s arms after she told me about their meeting. I knew my mum was special, selfless and brave but I didn’t truly appreciate the level at which she loved us so unconditionally. She was even more incredible than I had remembered her to be. He just held me and I would cry again every time I thought about how much she would have loved him too.

I had walked through school those days like a zombie, not taking anything in. It hadn’t gone unnoticed.

Brie hadn’t left my side. She had even slept here last night, much to Jayce’s disappointment. I’d managed to make it all the way to 2am before I left her snoring ass in my bed and climbed in with Jayce. Of course he was still awake waiting for me, I couldn’t tell if it was because he couldn’t sleep without me either or because he knew I had the self control of a napkin when it came to him and wanted to see my face when I came in.

It was becoming harder and harder to stay away from him at school too. I would live for the moments when we could be close, we’d come to think of the cleaning closet as our second home. Being with him was the only time I felt somewhat normal, his touch keeping me alive.

Today at lunch it all became too much. We were sitting on tables opposite each other, our seats back to back, when I felt his hand take mine at our sides. I tensed every muscle in my body until I realised no-one could see us at that angle next to the wall. His fingers rubbed at my knuckles as our hands interlocked, it was a tiny gesture with a much greater meaning. In just over a weeks time it would be his birthday and we would be telling everyone about us.

Honestly I still wasn’t sure how I felt about it. There had already been so much emotional turmoil this week, I still hadn’t mended the fences I needed to with dad and it felt like a weight was holding me down to the floor whenever I thought about trying. I just wasn’t handling everything that well.

Chad had practice and Cindy was still flaking on practise so I was at the dance studio filling in for her. The competition was a week tomorrow and Brie was stressing big time.

“Seriously guys! It’s one, two then the jump on three, not after! Al come here and show them with me.” I really hated being up the front but I’d been here after school almost everyday this week and was getting used to being Brie’s little dancing monkey.

I moved with Brie in perfect sync as we went over the sequence that these guys already knew and were doing right the first time. Like I said, she was stressed.

“Brie they got this, you need to chill a bit before you’re down twelve dancers instead of one.” She ran her hands through her hair for the hundredth time this evening and sighed.

“I know, sorry guys. Just if we get this we’re set. We’ll get the win we’ve actually deserved for the last four years and the pay check to match. I just want it to be perfect.” She needed this, she’d had a lot of crap over the last few weeks and this was her chance to rise above it all and get some control on her life back.

“Bitch we’ll slay, you know that! Trust us.” Harley’s voice comes out strong and the determined look on his face is matched by the others in the group.

I pull Brie into a cuddle and soon we are engulfed by every other pair of arms in the room. It was actually really nice to be surrounded by such an outpouring of love when I felt so empty.

“Okay you lot, less hugging - more moving. Let’s take it from the top.”

We worked until late. I’d pretty much got every routine down at this point despite the fact that I was only really required for the one.

My hips and legs hurt, all I wanted was to lay in a scolding hot bath until I couldn’t feel my body anymore. Well that and food, so much food.

Brie needed to get back to May so Harley offered to drop me at the Manor.

“So, how are things with you and Josh?” His smile said it all but it soon faltered.

“Amazing but hard. It’s never easy dating a closet case but honestly, he’s so fucking cute I’d bury myself back in that closet myself if it meant I could stay with him. I don’t want to pressure him, so I guess it is what it is for now.” He was trying to mask it but I could hear the pain it was causing him in his voice.

“It must be so hard to hide how you feel about him, never just getting to be a normal couple; go on dates, kiss in public, be able to go hand in hand around the place... I imagine.” I really didn’t need to imagine.

“It’s killer. He told me about this winter formal thing you’re having at your school. We actually talked about going together... for about five minutes before he had a full on breakdown and freaked out. He’s talked about taking some fucking cheerleader instead now as a cover. The stupid thing is, it’s not even like he’s worried his family will disown him or anything, he’s worried that his stupid teammates won’t want him to play anymore. Like they’re going to be all Neanderthal and not let him go in the showers or something.”

My heart broke for him, for then both in fact. I knew first hand how cruel those boys could be and Josh wasn’t completely unjustified in his fears. I knew both Jayce and Chad should be absolutely fine but I had no idea where the rest of the team stood.

A part of me wanted to tell Jayce, let him make sure the team would be good and put Josh’s mind at rest but it wasn’t my secret to tell.

“Are you going to the game tomorrow?” He asked hopefully.

“Yep, my boyfriend wants me there, but I honestly know nothing about the game so please don’t ask me any questions about the rules because all I know is the ball should go through the hoop. That’s the limit of my sporting knowledge in general if I honest.” ...Fuck. Did I just say boyfriend?

“I didn’t realise you were dating a basketball player too? Good for you girl. Yours one of the cuties? And honestly hun that’s better than my knowledge so we can be useless together and just clap when everyone else does. I’m just disappointed those damn shorts are so baggy, if you saw Josh out of them you’d understand the frustration.”

I erupt in laughter and he joins me. I manage to swerve the boyfriend topic until we get to the Manor. I give Harley a hug and some air kisses, since I’d been going to rehearsal so much it had become our new little goodbye tradition.

I walked into the house and didn’t stop until I made it to the kitchen. I was famished.

I spot Jayce out of the corner of my eye sitting at the table playing video games with Milo but my attention is brought to the food Tara is piling onto a plate.

“Hi sweetie, good rehearsal? I bet you guys are looking really good now with all you’ve been practicing!”

I smile. “They look awesome but I’m just filling in, me and actual on stage performances don’t mix well.”

I hear Dads snigger and realise he’s standing in the doorway behind me. “You can say that again, I’m surprised that dance teacher still even let’s you in there after what you did to her shoes.”

I laugh at the memory. It strikes me that this is the first normal conversation we’ve all had in a while, it’s nice to actually not feel bile rise in my throat at the sight of them. Maybe I was finally turning a corner.

“It’s cheese and broccoli pasta, I haven’t tried the recipe before, what do you think?” She asked me with a smile. I took a look at the tray in front of her and honestly, it looked delicious.

“Looks amazing.” I could hear Jayce and Milo making gag noises behind me and turned to glare at them.

“Broccoli is gross Aleah! I can’t believe you eat that.” Milo gestured to the tray Tara is holding before returning to his game.

I’m standing there staring at him with my hand on my hip when my gaze travels to Jayce. He isn’t looking anywhere near my face, his eyes are travelling the length of me.

I look down at my body. I’d changed into a little sports bra and hot pants at rehearsal, it gets super hot when you’re dancing non-stop for a few hours and the less clothing the better. Harley was the only guy touching me anyway so I didn’t see the harm, Brie danced in what resembled her underwear so this seemed tame.

I turned to make sure Dad couldn’t see Jayce looking at me like that and was relieved to see him busy getting the plates set up. As I stood there I realised it was definitely a mistake to turn my back on Jayce, his eyes were practically burrowing into my ass and I could sense it from here.

I whipped back to him and caught him fiddling to hide the tent in his pants. I pulled the bobble from my hair and shook my hair out to fall down my back as I strutted towards him.

Jayce sat back in his chair and let out a deep breath. I could have gone around him to get to my seat but where was the fun in that? I scooted in front of him, my hips flush against the table as I squeezed through and placing my perfect ass right in front of his face.

I sat down in my seat smirking when Jayce leaned into my ear.

“You’re going to pay for that later.”

Looking forward to it.

Thank you all for all your amazing comments on the last update! Please remember to vote and comment beauts ❤📖😁