Good Stepbrother (Love #2) Read Online Free

sweet smile on. “I’m not feeling so well. I think I ate something bad at lunch.”
    “Oh, no!” she simpered, pressing her cool hand to my forehead. “You are awfully warm, let’s get you upstairs. Maybe we should postpone dinner, Ed?”
    “No, you two go out to dinner,” I interrupted. “I’ll just go lay down.” I ran upstairs, tears streaming down my cheeks. Opening my door, I slipped inside my room and slammed it shut. I threw myself across my bed and wept. I’d never felt more alone.

Chapter Three
     
    By my seventh grade year, my parents were falling apart and the wreckage was massive. I was one of the casualties of their love affair exploding. Neither of them had time for me, and I was left to fend for myself. I was a fledgling plant in the family garden and I was soon choked out by weeds and left to fester in my own mess. I rebelled like any other teenager in my position. I drank. I played with drugs, little white pills that Jameson would slip me after football games.
    “It’s just E, babe, it’s nothing heavy,” he’d whisper as he’d kiss me. I don’t know where he got the E from, but he always had a ready stash. All the older kids were taking it to party, so I thought it was okay for me to take, too. I’ll spare you some of the darker details, because I’m not proud of who I used to be.
    I did things no teenage girl should’ve done, with too many people. I loved being loved. It felt good. It made me feel alive when nothing else did. My grades plummeted to just above failing. I did just enough to skate by and nothing else. My mother did notice the bad grades and continued to have Carter come over on Saturday mornings. I wanted so desperately to tell him what was going on with me, but that would’ve involved having feelings, and I established long ago I never wanted to have those again.
    “Carter, we’ve been at this for like two years. I cannot spell. I suck at it so bad!” I tugged my hair in fake frustration. I knew how to spell all of the words. I just didn’t want to do anymore work.
    “It’s not so bad. You’re getting better,” he reassured me, his warm hazel eyes shining sweetly. I knew he loved me. Everyone loved me for one reason or another, but Carter? He loved who he believed I was. I had to break that image and make him stop caring about me. How could I have someone so wonderful care about me when I hated who I was?
    Taking in a deep breath, I set to breaking his heart. “Mom’s just glad I’m not failing,” I sighed and tossed down my pencil. “But I have to make a B on this next spelling test or I can’t go to the eighth grade dance with Jameson.” Looking over at him from the corner of my eye, I saw his face pale and he gritted his teeth.
    “You’re going to the eighth grade dance with Jameson?”
    “Yeah, we’re dating, you know that, Carter. I’m the only seventh grader to be asked to the dance. It’s like a freshman being asked to the senior prom! I have to go. I have this gorgeous blue dress that will look amazing with Jameson’s tie he’s got picked out, and I want to go so much. All of my girlfriends are completely jealous.” I rambled on, my heart twisting slightly as I wounded him. I’m so sorry, Carter .
    “Your dad’s okay with you dating?” he asked softly, his throat working as he swallowed.
    “Mom and Dad are having issues,” I smirked. “He’s too worried about losing Mom to worry about me. They’re talking about a divorce, but you didn’t hear that from me,” I laughed airily. “It’s perfect for me. Jameson is such a catch. No other seventh grader has an eighth grade boyfriend. I’m moving up in this world.” I hated every single word that tumbled from my glossy lips.
    Carter looked down at his paperwork and his shoulders slumped. “I see,” he said softly. “I need to go.”
    “Why? I thought you were going to help me study!” I knew then I’d hit the mark and he’d never be back. I’d done what I felt was right.