Whew.My dad was amazing when I was younger, and he still is, though a little hit or miss in some spots, but I couldn’t imagine him having a baby with his new wife at the age of fifty-one.
“Sofia and I both decided that we’re past that stage in life. I have you, and she has Cross.”
Wait, what?
“Who’s Cross?” I whisper.
“That’s what I forgot to mention. You’ve been away, and with the wedding planning, and picking you up at the airport last minute…” The music shifts, and everyone stands. “Cross is Sofia’s son.”
“So I’ll have a stepbrother? How old is he?”
How could my father forget to mention that?
He doesn’t answer. Instead, he stares down the aisle, his jaw slacking. I almost forget about the whole mention of my new stepbrother as I stare at his profile. Happiness blankets his expression, his eyes crinkling at the sides as he smiles. I can’t remember a time that my dad has ever looked so content before. Maybe he used to look at Mom like this–something I’ve likely forgotten over the years. Either way, he seems so at peace that I can’t even be angry about the whole ‘you have a surprise stepbrother’ thing.
It’s not that big of a deal, anyway. I’m hundreds of miles away most of the year, with the exception of major holidays.
With everyone’s attention directed down the aisle, I pull myself back to the present and do the same. But instead of focusing on Sofia dressed in white, it goes to someone else–the person walking her down the aisle.
My entire body seizes. I blink several times, trying to right my vision.
I pray that the guy walking Sofia down the aisle isn’t my new stepbrother, but with the same flawless deep-tan color of skin, I don’t know who else it would be. He has the same shade of dark-brown hair too, though his is perfectly messy, paired with a jawline that is edged with way too much sex appeal. The closer he gets, the more I observe. He has to be close to my age and–why is he staring at me like he wants to rip my head off?
He hands off Sofia, pulling his scowl away from me at the last second and smiling at my father. I don’t know the guy, but even that seems forced.
“Thank you, Cross,” my father murmurs.
Ding, ding, ding.That’s definitely my new stepbrother.
After Sofia and my father assume their rightful positions, I lean slightly to the left to get a better read on Cross. The muscles in his temples flick, like he’s grinding his jaw. Is he angry? Does he not like my father or something? Maybe he is protective over his mother?
Cross quickly jerks his gaze to me, catching me red-handed as I eye him. I freeze, my entire body filling with shock. He narrows his eyes, appraising me. Apparently, I don’t pass the vibe check, because he loses interest fast. His attention slides away, leaving me fuming.
My teeth clamp together.
Excuse me?
I shoot him a dirty look, although I have no idea if he catches it.
Two can play that game, jerk!
Sofia may be kind and warm, but her son? That’s a totally different story.
[ 1 ]
CROSS
SIX MONTHS LATER
“Thank you for meeting with me.”My advisor ushers me into her office. “Are you all squared away on your classes for this semester?”
I take a seat across from her and kick my legs out. “I am. Your email sounded urgent…”
“Right.” She lifts the glasses hanging around her neck and puts them on then directs her attention to her computer screen. It’s at an angle, so she still has line of sight on me, but I can’t see it. I do, however, see the reflection in her glasses as she clicks around painfully slow.
She is probably the oldest employee in the financial aid office, so the lack of technological skill is…understandable.
Her emailwasurgent. She listed off times for today and tomorrow that she had available, saying that we needed to resolve a matter before classes start on Wednesday.
