Anti-Stepbrother

“Caden.”

“What?”

“Who’s the chick in there?”

A couple guys snickered, adding, “Yeah. We want to know so we don’t make a move on your territory.”

“Fuck off.”

A few more chuckled, and I heard them moving aside. Marcus stepped back into me, purposefully herding me farther into the room. Caden appeared. I could see him above his brother, and his eyes found mine. A hand slapped him on the shoulder. “That’s why you’re going to be president next year. Good job, Caden.”

As soon as he was clear of the door, Marcus shut it and leaned against it, folding his arms over his chest. His looked from Caden to me, his smirk deepening. “This is new and exciting.”

“Fuck off too,” Caden said.

Marcus laughed. “I’m hoping. You already got yours tonight. I still need to get mine. I should feel blessed. It’s like the Fraternity God has bestowed his wisdom to me.”

Caden flexed his hand. “I just got warmed up. My hand’s not even hurting.”

I thought Marcus had been joking, but their exchange had gone sour real quick. I stepped between them, clearing my throat. “Okay, I don’t know what’s going on, but go to your separate corners.” I pointed at Marcus. “Go find Avery. Treat her right. Have fun tonight.”

His nostrils flared, and I braced myself for a second round. I was ready, but he didn’t say anything. I didn’t think I was the only one surprised, though I didn’t look at Caden.

Marcus jerked around, flinging open the door and stalking out. “Right. Fine.”

The hallway was empty this time.

I shut the door and looked back. “What was that about?”

“Colton,” Caden grunted, going to his bag. He changed his pants, pulling on jeans and then a shirt. He tugged it on, shoving his head through the hole before grabbing socks and shoes. The last thing he picked up was a baseball cap.

I’d never seen him wear one before. When he tugged it down, it covered his eyes, leaving only that strong jaw, perfectly kissable lips, and cheekbones that had me salivating. It also gave him an angry look, and I stifled an internal sigh. That just made him even hotter.

“So…”

His jaw clenched and his gaze skirted away. “Look, this has nothing to do with you, but I’m in the mood to drink tonight. Heavily.”

“I see.”

“I’m fucked-up right now. I want to be with you tonight, but I shouldn’t be around you right now. I don’t want to snap at you. You don’t deserve that.”

“So it’s not me, then?” I clutched the ends of my shirt in a tight fist. “I didn’t do anything wrong?”

A savage curse slipped from him. “No. No way. You’ve been the one good thing about tonight, last night, this morning—all of it. I’m just in the mood to fight, and I need to change my tune real quick. I’m afraid I’ll say the wrong thing to you. That’s all.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Okay.” I nodded. “I’ll see you down there.”

His shoulders relaxed, and he crossed the room to kiss me on the forehead. “Thank you.” His hand grazed mine as he left. “Find me in an hour. I’ll be in a better mood by then.”

“Sure. Yeah. Be right there,” I said to myself as the door closed.

I stared at our emptied bed. The sheets were still messed up.

CADEN

Summer thought I was going to drink. Good. She didn’t need to know where I was really going.

As I got to the main floor, I moved through the crowd. These were my guys. I didn’t run the house. I wasn’t their president. That job was reserved for a senior. But I was their unofficial leader, and everyone knew it.

It wasn’t something I wanted. I hadn’t chosen this. Colton had, and just thinking about that made my fire burn hotter.

I saw Marcus, and I zeroed in.

He was talking to Avery and two other girls. I didn’t recognize them, and I didn’t care to. I was closing in. Fifteen feet. Twelve. Ten. Marcus looked up, a beer in his hand and a wary look in his eyes. He saw my baseball cap, and his eyes widened. He knew what the hat meant. It was my way of hiding. I wore it when I wanted to fight, when I wanted to be the bad guy lurking inside of me, and he started looking around me.

He wanted Summer to be here.

Too bad.

He knew she calmed me. She quieted me. She made the anger go away, most of the time. But not this time. And I closed the distance. Eight. Six. Four.

“Hey.” He held his hands up, along with his beer. “Truce, okay? I’m sorry about what I said up there.”

I shook my head. “Not a chance.”

I took the beer and thrust it at Avery. She took it, and I clamped onto my brother’s shoulder and shoved him in front of me.

“Where are we going? What are you doing?”

I didn’t say a word. He fucking knew what we were doing.

“Caden?” Avery called. “Marcus!”

I stopped. “Tell her to stay.”

The blood drained from his face. “Why? What are we doing?”

“Marcus!” Avery yelled again.

“Tell her.”

“Where’s Summer?”

“She’s in the room. I asked her to give me an hour.”

He studied me. “Why?”

“Why do you think?”

“This is about Colton?”