My Future Stepbrother

Chapter 153

I spin around, my hand clutching at my heart in fright as I realise I wasn't alone here.


Jayce stands before me, a towering form on the small deck that I can't even bare to blink in case he disappears again.


"I'm.. I'm so sorry.. I didn't realise it was wet. I was just..." I look to where my fingerprints sit at the centre of the piece.


Jayce’s eyes follow, a gentle smile curving on his lips but it's gone so fast I'm not even sure it was real. "Why are you here Aleah?"


His whole demeanour is unreadable, he isn't happy, sad or angry. Honestly he just looks... indifferent?


My eyes look away from his, searching our surroundings for anything else to settle them on. "Your mum, she said you were working on something. Did you fix this up yourself?"


He nods but doesn't say a word, I'm starting to think this was a bad idea. He clearly doesn't want to talk to me but we have to come to some kind of agreement here.


We stand uncomfortably silent for a moment as the wind brushes against me until I finally bring my eyes back to his. He can't keep his eyes still, they're scanning over every inch of my body and I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel a bit exposed right now.


"Your hair is longer." The first words he speaks and they're about my hair? Really?


I look down at my hair dancing about in the light breeze. "Yeah, I actually cut it shorter a few years ago but it grows like a weed."


He smirks. "I remember, it looked good on you. This is better though."


He remembers? How could he possibly remember something he never saw?... He thinks I look good?


Jayce clearly reads the confusion on my face. "I saw it the day I came for a game at your school, well from the back mostly, as you were quiet busy sprinting away from me at the time."


Fuck. How did he even see me? I saw him yes but just for a second before I bolted, this guy got eyes in the back of his fucking head or something?


"I..I.." Words Aleah. Remember your words... "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. I just wasn't expecting to see you."


His smirk grows. "Well.. I guess you know how I felt earlier then..."


All too well.


We fall back into silence, the boat rocking gently below my feet as I hold onto the hem of my dress between my fingers.


Jayce steps closer, his eyes seem to be searching me until they land on my chest. I almost step back and consider calling him out for being a perv until I realise I've got small red fingerprints all over me from where I clutched at my heart.


"Oh shit."


I look around for something to wipe it with but there's nothing, Jayce reaches into the bag of art supplies on the bench next to him and pulls out a rag.


Okay I've definitely made an idiot of myself now. Well done dip-shit.


I take a shaky step forward, allowing him to pass me the cloth and for a split second.. our hands touch.


Three years. Three years since the last time I felt Jayce Thompsons skin against mine and in this simple moment I feel every ounce of dead electricity I have suddenly relight within my body.


The force of the emotional wave so strong it almost forces me off my feet.

The spark... it's still there.


I try to steady myself, not even looking at him as I wipe away the paint from my chest. It smudges but eventually clears and I work the little left on my fingers off too. I was so distracted trying to get myself clean I didn't even see him approach.


I'm hit with the musky scent I've found myself searching for in my deepest darkest fantasies, the one that lingers invisible in the air after my most perfect dreams.


Staring at his fitted white t-shirt, still unable to meet his glare I see the swirling pattern of his tattoo is jet black at the edges as it creeps further and further out of his collar with every movement. I wonder how big it is? How far does it go?


His hand lifts from his side and I hold my breath as he lays a delicate fingertip against my chest, following the line of the circular burn above my heart. Most people don't even see it, but of course he does. He's memorised every inch of me.


"Jayce..." The breath I've been holding finally releasing. My eyes flick up and I let them meet his for a moment.


"Does it still hurt?" He asks in a voice so soft I could wrap myself in it to sleep.


I shake my head. "No, not on the surface anyway." The pain of it runs so much deeper.


I need to ask him about what we do from here, talk about how we're going to move forward and learn to be around each other again but right now I can't find a single word I want to say more than I want to just keep staring into his ocean eyes.


"Do you recognise the boat?" His hand never leaving its spot on my heart as it beats without mercy against him.


I tear myself away to look around at the details of the ship, the unique curve of edges and fine original craftsmanship of the poles... then it hits me.


"The one I saw on our first date, the one you said wasn't sea worthy. This is it isn’t it?"

I see it now, the work he's done is incredible. He must have spent months or even years to refurbish all the pieces. Most people would have ripped them out and started again but it would have taken so much away from its beauty if he had.


He smiles at me and I can't help but smile back. He really is-


"Hey jock! You got anything else to drink here but... Oh sorry. Hello?"


A beautiful woman steps up from the inside of the boat, pausing when she sees me. I stand frozen, she's not exactly who I'd picture Jayce with but she's still stunning.


She's tall and very slim, although it's hard to make out as she stands in just one of Jayce’s t-shirts. She has incredible bone structure that's only emphasised with a cute purple pixie cut. I can see from here that she has a number of piercings and a Brie style 'Don't fuck with me' presence about her.


Jayce steps back, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. Shit, I really shouldn't have come. I've probably just interrupted what was going to be a lovely night under the stars for them.


"Um... Lisa this is... Aleah." He speaks my name to the pretty face with legs up to her shoulders behind him.


She looks at me so shocked, of course she knows who I am. If I was dating someone for a while I'd have to tell them about Jayce too. They must be serious.


"Wow, it's lovely to meet you." She walks over and extends her hand to me. "You were right Jayce, she's gorgeous."


Great, she's bloody lovely too. I shake her hand trying to hide the fact my whole body is shaking and turn to Jayce. "I'm sorry, I didn't realise you had... company.... I'd um... better get back." I force my legs to move away from him in a hurry, making sure to smile at the half dressed woman before scurrying down the steps.


I hear a noise behind me but it's quickly taken by the wind before I can make it out.


Rushing through the crowds of people I don’t stop until I see the blurry red of my car sitting in the sea of black and silver ones. I get in and throw my head back against the headrest as the tears make their way from my eyes.


Why am I crying? We've been broken up for three fucking years, of course he's moved on. Not everyone is a weird sentimental freak like me who can't even go on a date with a guy! Brie told me, Josh told me, Kal told me. They all said I had to try but I just couldn't, I haven't even kissed anyone since... Well... Chad. The last time I let a boys lips touch mine it was his as he took his last breaths.


I never let myself go back to that night but right now I would give anything to have him here, sitting in the passenger seat and giving me a cheeky grin. He'd know exactly what to say right now to make it all better, he'd let me cry while he held me tight and then he'd tell me a dirty innuendo making everything seem so much more simple. It was his superpower.


I hug my bracelet to my chest as I weep. "I miss you. I miss you so much my prince."


I couldn't even say Chad's name for months after he died, one night when I was partially low me and Brie watched The Little Mermaid for the first time since my mum died. I'd realised quickly how much Chad resembled Prince Eric, my mum always said he was the most gorgeous Disney Prince but I think it was more the way he loved without questions that she found so attractive. Brie decided we'd call him Prince that night instead, so I could talk about him without getting sad. It worked for a while and kind of stuck.


I let myself just sob, grateful now I was parked in a quiet side street away from prying eyes, until finally I was done.


Jayce had moved on and by looking at how well he seemed, she was making him happy... That's good.


I'm happy for him.


Maybe this was what I needed? Maybe now I can move on finally knowing he’s over me.


Or maybe what I really need right now is two bottles of wine, half a truck of ice cream and Johnny Castle refusing to put baby in a corner.

Yep, that's it.

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