Steven: A Billionaire Stepbrother Romance Novel (18 page)

“I agree,” he said. “No matter what their reaction is, we are staying together. Even if my father says he’ll never speak to me again, I won’t let that sway me. You matter more to me than anything in this world, Kelsey. I want you to know that. And if anybody tries to threaten that, then I’ll cut them out of my life.”

His words were sweet, but also made me nervous. It made me wonder if William would be upset enough to try to keep us apart. It also made me think of my mother and I wondered if she would do the same thing. I guess neither Steven nor myself would know, though, until we told them.

“You matter more than anything in this world to me too, Steven,” I said, as I closed my eyes. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

I paused for a moment as I drew in a breath. Then after a few seconds I continued.

“But I don’t think we have to worry,” I said. “We need to stay positive. They are our parents and they love us. They may be shocked by the news, but if they are the loving people that we know they are, then they’ll eventually be understanding.”

Steven gently massaged my back as he held me close.

“I’d like to think that you’re right,” he said. “But honestly, I don’t know. This isn’t exactly regular old news we’re telling them. We’re not saying that we accidentally left the gate open and the dog escaped, or that you stole money from your mom’s purse when you were a kid, or that we were the ones who drank my dad’s whiskey that one night. No, Kelsey. We’re telling them that their kids, their stepchildren, are in an intimate relationship.”

Steven’s tone had changed and I could tell that he was starting to get nervous about the idea of telling them. I gently pulled away from his chest and brought my gaze to his face.

“Steven, trust me, I know,” I said. “This isn’t a small thing. But I have to believe that our parents will understand or else I don’t know if I can go through with it. I realize that they may freak out at first, but like I said, it doesn’t matter any more.”

Steven nodded hesitantly. I was surprised at how nervous he seemed, especially since he was the one who had pushed the topic so much in the past.

“Okay,” he said. “We’re going to do it. I know we need to and I think you’re right...it’s better we do it before your pregnancy becomes obvious. So...when exactly were you thinking?”

I took a long, deep breath and then gently pulled away from Steven. Then I stepped over to the bed, taking a seat on the edge as I thought about it.

“Well, it is Saturday,” I said. “So that means that both my mom and William should be home. I guess today is as good of a day as any.”

Steven nodded slowly and then walked toward me, taking a seat next to me on the bed. He put his arm around my waist and then turned to face me.

“Let’s do it,” he said, affirmatively. “Let’s tell them today.”

A small wave of anxiety shot through me but I swallowed it back. We were really going to go through with it. Months of avoiding the topic with my parents and the moment had finally arrived when we were going to break the news.

“Let me text my mom just to be sure that she and William are home,” I said, as I pulled out my cell phone. “If they are, then we will go right now and get it over with.”

Steven stood up from the bed and began to get dressed. I sent my mom a text asking if she and William were home. She responded almost immediately.

“Hey, honey! Where were you last night? I know that you’re a grown adult, but I was worried sick! Anyway, yes, William and I are here. Why do you ask?”

I looked up for a moment, watching as Steven slipped on some jeans and a clean t-shirt. Then I brought my attention back to the phone, responding to my mom’s text with:

“Just looking forward to seeing you guys.”

I shook my head as I hit the “send” button. I hated to lie to her, but I didn’t feel like I had a choice. I mean I
was
looking forward to seeing them, but that obviously wasn’t the reason that I was making sure that they were home. But I couldn’t just tell my mom that I had something important to tell her and not give her the details. She’d be nervous as hell about it until I saw her. So I spared her the anxiety...at least for the moment.

––––––––

“S
o, are you ready for this?” Steven asked, as he looked over at me and placed his hand on my knee.

We were in his car, driving along the highway toward my mom’s house. I nodded slowly and took a deep breath, as I looked out the window, watching the trees go by.

“I think so,” I said. “I think I’m ready.”

My heart was racing, beating in my chest so hard that I could hear it. My initial confidence about telling them had started to fade, now that we were actually about to go through with it. But it didn’t matter. We were doing it, one way or the other.

I closed my eyes for a moment, drawing in a long breath and exhaling slowly. I started to imagine what my mom’s reaction was going to be. I pictured her turning pale and then passing out. Then I imagined her screaming at me, calling me some nasty names before making me move out of the house. My mother wasn’t a bad person, not by any means. But this situation was very unique and I had a feeling that it could bring out the worst in her.

And then there was Steven’s father. He was normally a pretty calm man, but I had seen him get upset a few times. And usually it was over something petty, like a football game or an argument he had with someone from work. But again, the news that Steven and I were bringing them was a whole different ball game.

“You okay, babe?” Steven asked.

I opened my eyes and turned toward him, swallowing back my nervousness. I didn’t want him to know how scared I actually was about telling them. I had to be strong for both of us.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said, as I placed my hand over his. “This will be easy, right? We just have to be strong. We are doing the right thing.”

Steven nodded and then flashed a warm smile.

“We are absolutely doing the right thing,” he responded. “There’s nothing to worry about. It is what it is and no matter what happens, we have each other.”

I squeezed his hand and then brought my gaze away from Steven and back out the window. I started thinking about how strange the universe was and the events that brought me to that point. I was happier than I had ever been in my life and yet, I felt like there was a price to pay for that happiness. It wasn’t free. There was a lot of anxiety and stress that went along with it.

But still, even with that extra stress, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. My man and my baby were all that I really needed and after this conversation with our parents, things were going to get a lot easier.

Or at least, I hope that things get easier...
I thought.

Suddenly, Steven broke me from my thoughts.

“We’re almost there, babe,” he said. “Take a deep breath and try to calm down. I can see that you’re nervous. Like I said, though, there’s nothing to be worried about. We got this.”

I nodded quickly and then looked forward as Steven pulled off of the highway and into our parent’s neighborhood. As we neared our parent’s house, I felt the butterflies of anxiety release inside of my stomach and the adrenaline began to fill my blood. My breathing quickened and a wave of dizziness came over me.

“Let’s get this over with,” I said.

Steven squeezed my knee affectionately and then pulled into the driveway, parking his car behind William’s. My mom’s car was in the garage and the garage door was open.

Well, they’re both here. I guess there’s no excuse not to go through with this.

“We have nothing to be ashamed of, Kelsey,” Steven said, as he put the car in park and turned off the engine. “Nothing at all. So there’s no reason to be nervous.”

I agreed with him, that we had nothing to be ashamed of. But something told me that our parents would feel differently.

“You ready?” he asked.

I nodded in agreement and we opened the car doors, stepping out into the driveway. I felt like I could have thrown up right there on the lawn. I was more nervous than I had ever been before in my life. I took a deep breath and began walking up toward the front door. In my mind, I began to recite what I was going to say to my mom and William, when suddenly Steven grabbed my hand, proudly marching toward the house.

“Steven!” I whispered.

He squeezed my hand and looked toward me, smiling.

“What?” he asked. “You’re my girl. I can hold my girl’s hand, right?”

My jaw dropped from shock, but he was right. We were about to tell our parents anyway. Why not hold hands on the way up to the house?

The front door was closed and the blinds on the windows were shut, but I knew that my mom and William would either be in the kitchen or the family room, where they spent most of their time when they were home.

We made it to front door and I slowly released Steven’s hand. Then I opened the door, at the same drawing in a breath in an attempt to calm my nerves.

Here goes nothing.

Inside the house, there was soft music playing in the background and the smell of bacon and eggs wafting toward me from the kitchen. I could hear William and my mom talking and I stopped in the doorway, looking over to Steven one last time before going any further.

“You sure about this?” I asked.

At that point, I was pretty much looking for any excuse that I could come up with to turn around and run the other direction. But Steven stayed strong, as he placed his arm around my waist, holding me close as he locked eyes with mine.

“I’m right here,” he said. “We’re in this together. Let’s do this thing.”

His confidence was undoubtedly contagious, but even so, it was hardly enough to make me feel excited about the whole thing. But I took a moment, swallowed my nervousness down, and finally nodded in agreement.

“Okay,” I said. “Let’s go.”

We stepped the rest of the way through the doorway, closing it quietly behind us. Then we walked up the stairs that led to the main area of the house. The kitchen was right around the corner and the sound of our parent’s voices increased in volume as we neared it.

They’re in the kitchen. Just a few feet away. Oh, God. This is crazy. I can’t believe we’re actually telling them.

My body felt like it was in shock. My legs and hands trembled furiously as adrenaline pumped into them. Imagine standing at a major crossroads in your life, except in this case, I had no idea where either road would take me. Our parents could either flip out on us or be totally cool about the situation and the fate of our family lied in their reaction.

I stopped at the top of the stairs, closing my eyes for a second, just listening. Steven grabbed my hand once more, intertwining his fingers with mine.

“Come on, baby,” he whispered. “Let’s do this right now.”

Then, without another moment of hesitation, Steven took a step forward. With his hand in mind, we stepped into the entryway of the kitchen. I brought my gaze forward, where I saw William and my mom seated at the small table at the opposite side of the kitchen. My mom was facing away from us and William had his newspaper lifted up, blocking his view. Steven and I stood there in the doorway, hand in hand, but neither of our parents knew that we were there. So I spoke up.

“Hey, guys,” I said. “We need to talk.”

My mom turned around at the same time as William set the newspaper down. Immediately, I watched both of their eyes go downward, locking onto Steven and I’s interlocked hands.

Their eyes widened and my mom’s jaw dropped slightly, her lips parting from shock. There was silence in the air. But it was a deafening silence. It seemed like even the birds outside stopped chirping and the morning breeze came to a halt. It was like the entire world took a deep breath and held it.

Steven finally cleared his throat, shattering the silence and bringing a bit of relief.

“Lisa,” he said, as he looked to my mother. “I’m in love with your daughter.”

Both my mom and William were silent for a moment. It was as though their brains couldn’t even fully absorb what was happening. I could practically see the wheels turning behind their eyes, as they attempted to grasp what was right in front of them.

“What the hell?” William said, as he glanced to Steven. “Is this a joke?”

Steven took another step forward, keeping his hand in mind the entire time.

“No, Dad,” he said. “It’s not a joke. I love Kelsey. I’ve been in love with her for months now but couldn’t find the right time to tell you.”

My mom faced us completely, but stayed seated.

“Kelsey, is this true?” she asked, with a bit of panic in her voice. “Is this really happening?”

I nodded my head and squeezed Steven’s hand.

“Yes, Mom,” I responded, as tears of emotion began to fill my eyes. “I love him. We’re in love.”

My mom looked over to William, who had confusion and anger written on his face. Then she brought her gaze back to me.

“Baby,” she said. “I just...don’t know what to say. I’m happy that you’re happy. I really am. But this...this is so...”

I finished the sentence for her.

“Weird?” I asked.

My mom nodded in agreement.

“I know it’s unique,” I said. “And I know that most people in the world won’t understand. Steven and I are stepsiblings, yes. But we aren’t related by blood, mom. We’re no more related by blood than you and William are.”

My mom stayed seated as she placed her hand over her mouth. I could tell that she was floored, but funny enough, she didn’t seem angry about it at all. Just surprised.

“So this isn’t a joke?” William asked once more. “You’re being serious, Steven?”

Steven nodded his head as he looked at his father.

“Dad, I’m being serious. And I’m not going to apologize for it. I fell in love with Kelsey the first time that I met her at your wedding. Her smile did something to me that no other girl had ever done. And from that point on, I’ve only fell more and more in love with her.”

William took a long, drawn-out breath and then leaned back in his chair as he crossed his arms.

“This is a bit shocking,” William said.

Then he paused for a few seconds as he looked back and forth between Steven and myself.