Rock Hard: A Stepbrother Romance Page 0,6
most of the time, but it was easy to ignore. Still, it would have been nice not to have to deal with a sullen adult all the fucking time.
“You look incredible,” Becca said.
“Thanks, dear. I feel perfect.”
“Seriously, are you in better shape now than you were before the cancer?”
Mom laughed. She’d never admit it, but she loved the compliments. “No, not even close. But I appreciate that.”
“Don’t be modest, Mom. Aren’t you running a 5k in two weeks?”
She nodded. “Sure am. But any asshole could do that.”
Becca laughed. “Still, you’re amazing.”
I sipped my beer and smiled to myself. What an adorable fucking reunion.
“I’m going out,” I said suddenly.
Mom looked at me. “In this?”
“It’s letting up. Just going for a short walk.”
She paused. “Take Becca with you,” she commanded.
Becca put her hands up. “No, really, that’s okay. I don’t feel like getting wet again.”
“Nonsense. You just got home, you should get out there again. Get to know how things have changed.”
That attitude was typical of people in our town. Everyone thought the forest was magical somehow. You just needed to go out into the forest if you weren’t feeling good, get some fresh air.
“Mom, if she doesn’t want to come, she doesn’t have to,” I said.
Becca looked at me for a second and I thought I saw something in her eyes. “Actually, I’ll come. Just a short walk?”
I nodded. “Just around the property.”
“Let’s go.”
I gave my mom a look and shrugged, heading back out the front door. I slipped my wet boots back on but grabbed a dry parka from the front closet. Becca laced up her boots and threw the hood up on her sweatshirt.
The rain had slowed down to barely a drizzle as we moved back out onto the property. There was a path that wound its way between the trees and circled the woods, skirting the thin metal fence Jack had put up years ago to discourage bears from wandering into our backyard.
“Looks the same,” Becca said.
I downed my beer, crushed the can, and slipped it into my pocket. “Yeah. Not much changes around here.”
“I’ve only been gone a year this time.”
I nodded. “How was school?”
She shrugged. “Fine.”
“Ace all your exams? Actually, what am I saying, of course you did.”
“I did fine,” she said, giving me a look.
I grinned at her. “Come on, college girl, we all know you’re a little genius.”
“Starting that already?”
“Can’t help myself. You’re too damn easy to rile up.”
She sighed and looked ahead. I watched as the rain damped down her hair slightly, and I loved the way she reached up to stroke it back out of her face.
All at once, the memory in the van came rushing back. It was one year ago almost exactly, but it felt completely fresh, like it had happened a day ago.
She swiped the wet hair from her eyes and laughed. We were cramped together in the back of my van, and she was looking around like it was the most amazing thing she had ever seen.
“This is crazy. I can’t believe you put this together.”
“Took a while. But you know how it is out here. There’s lots of time.”
“Lots of time for people that don’t work.”
I laughed. “You know I work. My job just isn’t a nine to five.”
“How is the climbing, anyway?”
I shrugged. I hated lying to her, hated lying to everyone, but I had to keep my story straight. “Got a competition coming up over near Seattle.”
“Far away,” she commented absently, looking at the books.
I shifted myself, moving closer to her. There was enough room for two people to lay comfortably with space to spare, but the damp air had brought a chill and it felt better to sit closer.
“I go where the money is.”
“Decent books.” She took one out and looked at the spine.
“Surprised that I can read?”
She shook her head. “Surprised that you like to read Jonathan Franzen.”
I snatched my copy of Freedom from her hands and tossed it across the car. “He’s fine. The self-sufficiency thing works for me.”
She laughed. “You’re basically a wild man.”
“That’s what the ladies tell me.”
“Good one.”
I moved closer to her. “You’re actually the first person I’ve showed this to.”
“Why? I mean, why me?”
“You know why. We’ve been doing this for way too long.”
“Reid.” Her lips parted slightly as I reached up and took her chin in my hand.
“You know what I want.”
“I’m afraid.”
“I’m not.”
I pressed my lips against hers. She kissed me back, and for a few seconds the world was right.
Until she pulled away. “I’m sorry,”