Score - A Stepbrother Romance (7 page)

“I also remember giving you the wrong address.”

She gave me a sweet smile. “I’m not as dumb as you think. I knew you’d give me the wrong address, and besides, Brett added me on Facebook. So I asked him for the right address.”

“Right. So where are all your little friends?”

“They had to go to some other thing. I’m probably going to meet up with them later, but I thought I’d check out this party first.”

My eyes narrowed. “So you drove here yourself? In that case, I’m not letting you have even one single drink.”

It wasn’t that I didn’t want her to have fun, I just didn’t want her wrapping her car around a streetlight later on tonight.

She rolled her eyes. “I got an Uber, don’t worry. Stop being so protective.”

“Whatever. I still don’t want you drinking.”

“Okay, big brother,” she said. “Whatever you say.”

She spotted Brett on the other side of the room and waved, and I grabbed her arm. “Look, just be careful, okay?”

“I will,” she said with an exasperated sigh.

She turned away but then looked back at me. “Oh, and Chase? You totally thought I wouldn’t be able to come and have fun, what with you giving me the wrong address and all, but I outsmarted you anyway,” she said with a gleeful expression. “And I’m
going
to have fun. So I guess that’s score one for me…”

I couldn’t help but smile as she walked away. So she wanted to play a game with me, huh? Well, game on…

T
oday
, I felt good. I
was
good. A silly smile was plastered on my face as I walked into the party house, and as soon as I spotted Chase, I made sure he knew I’d scored against him in our silly little battle of wits. His subsequent grin and nod of approval made me feel even better. I knew I was being childish, but hey, I was only eighteen, and you only get to be young once, right?

For so long now, I’d been feeling insecure and downtrodden; something indiscernible weighing heavily on my shoulders. But tonight, I’d left all my worries at home. If I didn’t know exactly what was bothering me, then what was the point in stressing about it all the time?

I’d spent an hour getting ready; something totally unusual for me. For my outfit, I’d settled on a cute red dress with a skater skirt and a pair of black ankle boots. The dress was from Goodwill, and the boots were years old, but I still thought the outfit looked cute. It made me feel good, anyway, and that’s what really mattered.

At first, I’d been a little scared about not fitting in with the crowd at this party, but I’d tried not to let it bother me all that much as I entered the house and scanned the main room. Landon and Michaela had somewhere else to be at the moment, and they’d apologized profusely about not coming with me, but they’d be free in two hours anyway, so if the party ended up being a total bust, I could meet up with them later.

I’d been scared about not fitting in over nothing. As soon as my talk with Chase was over, I spoke to Brett for a minute, and then a few acquaintances from class waved me over. I approached shyly at first, but within a few moments, I was chatting away and feeling more relaxed than ever.

“Did you see Professor Denver’s presentation on cell biology?” a classmate called Rebecca snickered at me. “She uploaded the wrong thing, and there was a photo from her vacation in the slideshow. She’s sooo drunk in it.”

“Are you kidding me?” I giggled as well. “I haven’t logged on to the site yet, but that’s hilarious. I hope she’s not too embarrassed...”

“She’s drinking a cocktail the size of my head and wearing a luau outfit in the pic!”

Rebecca was laughing her head off and I soon joined in. The notion of my strict, frumpy professor on a booze-fueled vacay in Hawaii really was something.

I kept chatting to my new group of friends, and every time someone offered me a drink, I politely declined. While most people my age would’ve been happy to accept a beer, I wasn’t having it. Getting wasted at someone else’s house and vomiting into a flowerbed wasn’t really my style, and besides, something about the idea of being drunk made me feel like I was perilously close to losing control of everything. I had no idea why that was, though. I’d been like this for what seemed like forever. Maybe I was just a control freak?

“How’s college treating you, Lina?”

I looked up at George, a guy I’d sat next to a few times in some of my lectures. He was a nice guy. He’d even let me borrow his notes when I’d accidentally spilled coffee all over mine—something I’d been told was almost unheard of in college.

“It’s…different,” I replied with a smile. “But I’m really, really enjoying it.”

He beamed at me and my smile reflected his.

I finally fit in. I didn’t stand out like a sore thumb; something I’d been so afraid would happen amidst my privileged classmates. They were all loaded, from rich and influential families, and I was poor little Lina Diaz, broke and always badly dressed.

Except I wasn’t anymore, was I?

In only a few months, I would be the stepdaughter of a successful politician, and I’d be just as well taken care of as the rest of them. Even in recent weeks, Peter had regaled me with offers to take me shopping, but I’d declined every single time.

I needed time to adjust. I was still me, and no amount of money could ever change that, but for once, I was comfortable in my own skin…and it felt really good.

Throughout our chat, I kept glancing around the room, my eyes betraying my cool exterior and trying to find Chase. He was mingling, talking to anyone and everyone. Every so often, though, I’d catch his gaze and we’d make eye contact, and then he would give me the most delicious smile, the corner of his lips turning up slightly. Like it was just for me…

I was grinning like a fool within an hour, feeling better than I had in ages.

I’d just finished my Coke, and I excused myself to go to the kitchen for a refill. The party was definitely fun, and while there was some crazy stuff going on—I’d seen several keg stands, which made me feel like I was in a movie—I still felt safe.

I was just about to head into the kitchen when I spotted some frames on the wall. I approached them with a grin on my face, realizing Chase was in one of the photos, his hand around Brett’s shoulders as they grinned at the camera.

I stopped to look at the shot as a warm and tingly feeling filled my stomach. It made me smile to see him so happy. He seemed so on edge at times, especially around his Dad.

Remembering my intentions to get a refill, I headed for the kitchen again. The music was a little softer here, and I appreciated it. The heavy drum and bass in the other room had been starting to make my head pound.

Heading inside the room, I spotted a few girls I’d seen around the halls on campus. They seemed like your typical popular gang; pretty, tall and willowy, each with her own designer purse and expensive outfit to boot. Their highlights alone probably cost more than my entire wardrobe.

“Hey, Jessie,” I said to the one I knew, a shy smile on my lips. She was the daughter of a prominent Republican politician, so she was rather well-known around Chicago because of her father. Just like Chase. In fact, I was quite sure her father was actually Peter’s main opponent in the gubernatorial race, but I’d have to check to make sure.

She gave me a strange look as I said hi, so I headed for the fridge, realizing she probably didn’t even know my name. It was silly of me to assume everyone would be friendly, I guess—you can’t have everything.

I was pouring myself a drink when someone bumped into me, hard. Coke spilled over the edge of the glass and all over the floor. I stepped aside just in time to salvage my shoes.

“Oops, sorry,” a voice snickered behind me. I turned around, sidestepping to avoid the puddle of Coke on the floor, and I looked up into a pair of cold, hard blue eyes. It was Jessie, the girl I’d said hello to before.

“That’s okay,” I replied with a smile. “Were you trying to get something from the fridge?”

She gave me an incredulous look and the girls behind her laughed at me. I felt uncomfortable now, like I’d stumbled upon some serious trouble.

“Nope, I was trying to salvage your outfit, sweetheart,” Jessie replied condescendingly, giving me a once-over. “Was just doing you a favor. Too bad I missed; I’m sure you’d look better naked than in this horrendous get-up. Those shoes
need
to go.”

She strolled right up to me, giving me a syrupy sweet smile as she delivered the last blow. “And so do you, sweetie. Go on now. Shoo.”

My eyes started watering before I’d even comprehended her words, and I was left staring at her in disbelief. Had I somehow taken a wrong turn and stumbled onto the set of Mean Girls 2?

“I’m sorry…what?” I asked in a shaky voice. Surely she couldn’t be for real…all the mean girls should have been left behind in high school, right?

Jessie stepped even closer, her thick perfume cloying the air around us. Violet and orange blossom. I’d never get that smell out of my nose now.

“I said, get lost, you cheap slut,” she slurred, already a bit drunk and very, very pissed at me for whatever reason. “You don’t belong here. I don’t even know who invited you.”

Tears were starting to fall from my eyes, as hard as I tried to hold them back. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. Once more, I was a fish out of water.

“Watch your mouth, Jessie,” a growl came from behind me. I didn’t need to look over my shoulder to know it was Chase. Instead, I focused my gaze on the floor, swallowing the lump in my throat.

“Chase, hi,” Jessie purred. I could tell she had no idea that Chase and I knew each other, let alone the fact that we were soon-to-be-related. “You didn’t come speak to me all night…thought you’d forgotten all about me.”

“Might as well,” he said. “Apologize to Lina, please.”

“What?”

“You heard me. Say you’re sorry. You shouldn’t treat people like that.”

“You’re defending this…” I could feel her eyes on me, even though I was busy inspecting the carpet and fighting back tears of anger. “Trash?”

Ouch, that stung…badly.

“Apologize,” he snarled at her, and I could tell he was getting angrier by the second. “That’s my stepsister you’re bullying.”

There was a long moment of hesitation, followed by a shrill laugh.

“Sorry, pumpkin,” Jessie purred, evidently changing her tune to appeal to Chase. Typical. “It was just a lame joke…your shoes are totally cute. You know I was kidding, right?”

I could just imagine her mouth set in a thin line. She’d probably make my life even more hellish now, knowing that I had Chase on my side. I was just a girl, and she obviously saw herself as the queen of the college hallways. She’d never step down for someone like me, and she’d make sure I regretted Chase coming to my rescue.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I burst out of the room, leaving all of them behind me. The ugly words, the mean girls, and the prick with a secret golden heart, whom I could never have. I just needed to get away.

“Lina! Wait, Lina—please!”

He caught up to me just before I reached the door, and for once, I was thankful for the loud music thumping through the house. It meant no one could hear my sobs.

Chase’s fingers wrapped around my forearm, and he made me turn around, but I wasn’t having it. I wouldn’t let him feel sorry for me, because there was nothing wrong with me, nothing at all. Those girls were stupid for thinking I was worth less than anyone else, and it spoke volumes about them, not me.

Even though I knew all that, it was still too hard to stop the tears. I needed to be alone for a while so I could try to calm down.

“Just let me go!” I snarled at Chase.

“Calm down! Jesus,” he said. “They’re just fucking bitches, Lina. Just mean, vapid girls. You know none of that is true!”

“They seem to think it is,” I said. “And you probably agree. Everyone here probably thinks so too. I don’t belong. I don’t know why I thought I ever would.”

Chase stared at me incredulously, ready to protest, but I gathered the last of my strength to rip my arm out of his grip. Then I ran outside, slamming the door behind me.

My phone had died in my bag, so I couldn’t call a cab, and it was raining outside.

Of course it was.

I ran through the thick curtain of water falling on top of me, the drops heavy as they mixed with my salty tears. Soon, I couldn’t tell them apart, but it didn’t even matter. I just needed to find a way to get home, find a bus stop or something.

I knew I was being a bitch to Chase. He didn’t deserve any of it; he was just trying to protect me. Maybe I was as bad as those mean girls, because I’d put them in the same box, labeled them with the same words. Rich, snarky, mean.

Chase wasn’t like that, though.

As I hiccupped and cried, I thought of how he’d come to my defense. He was so sweet…and also totally off-limits, as I was so often painfully reminded of.

I made myself think about something else, even though he kept popping into my head, and I swallowed a sob, promising myself it would be the last one of the day.

The bus stop was nowhere in sight. Instead, I found refuge in an alley; a dirty and stinky place just off the main road. At least it was empty, and I hovered under a rooftop, deciding to wait for the rain to stop.

It was falling hard, noisy and aggressive, the thick drops hitting me like bullets. I could hear a strange sound as well…something other than rain hitting the pavement.

My eyes widened, and I looked around. The last thing I needed was some frat boys assaulting me in an alley.

But the sound was softer, sadder. It sounded like someone calling out for help.

Despite knowing I’d probably get sick, I stepped out into the rain again, trying to follow the noise. It was coming from a trashcan, louder and louder as I neared it. Maybe someone had dropped a cellphone in there? If that was the case, I was stupid for following the sound.

As I neared the cans, I heard footsteps echoing behind me, and a voice cut through my thoughts only seconds later.

“Lina, for fuck’s sake! You’ll get sick out here!”

“Shh!” I motioned for Chase to be quiet as he tried to catch his breath. He was soaking wet, water dripping from every part of him and running down his body in rivulets. “Can you hear that?”

My bad mood was momentarily forgotten as we both listened to the creepy sounds of the alley. Rain hitting the metal trash cans, cars driving by. And then, right there…a small, mewling sound, scared and begging for help.

Chase and I rushed forward. He lifted the lid off the trashcan and we peeked inside, looking for the source of the sound.

A pair of eyes stared back at us. Big blue eyes, with huge dilated pupils.

“A kitten,” I said. “Someone stuck her in the trash!”

Chase lifted her out of the can, and we huddled under the rooftop, the kitten protesting loudly as Chase held her close. We stepped closer together, my heart beating faster at his proximity, but I was too busy worrying about the little kitty we’d just found to even think of our current closeness as meaningful.

“Who would do that?” I wondered out loud.

“Some fucking jackass,” Chase growled. The kitten looked tiny in his robust hands, like a wet rag. She was shivering and mewling even louder now, but that didn’t stop her from snuggling into the crook of his arm. “We need to get to my car and get home. She needs to be warm and dry.”

I found myself nodding as he gave me the kitten, sheltering her from the rain. Even though she’d been stuck in the trashcan, some rain must’ve gotten through the holes because she was soaking wet. I couldn’t even tell what color her coat was—she was a mess of sticky fur and angry claws.