Side Swiped By My Step Brother Read Online Free Page A

married just seems to add a whole extra layer of unnecessary catastrophe.
                  “And some people just work better as a couple,” Mum continues. “Your father was always saying that. Problem with him was that he wanted to be part of more than one couple. I’m sure the next Mrs. Carter will figure that one out in no time.”
                  “So, it can’t really be considered bad manners to not attend a wedding that you know is doomed to fail then, can it? Even if you are the son?”
                  “Oh, Jai,” she says. “You should go; you’re already there. I know it will mean a lot to your father.” Inwardly, I scoff. I doubt he will even notice if I’m there. “And it’ll be over soon enough,” Mum continues. “I do hope you’ll manage to have a bit of fun while you’re out there.”
                  I glance at the clock on the bedside table, green numbers aglow. That “bit of fun” is actually about five minutes late.
                  “I’m going to try,” I say.
                  “Good. That’s all I ask.”
                  I chat with Mum for a few more minutes, but then get off when I hear something out in the hallway. Or think I hear something. I toss the phone down on the bed and pad quietly over to the door. Female voices. They’re whispering. Wait a minute…
                  “I can’t.”
                  “Yes you can.”
                  “No, I can’t. This is stupid. And shh! Keep your voice down. He’s probably standing there on the other side of the door, listening.”
                  I smile. One of the girl’s laughs. “Bullshit. Just knock. I won’t let anything bad happen. If he’s awful, we’ll go get drinks and laugh about it.”
                  “Megan, I can’t.” Her voice is muffled, but I can hear a shakiness, like she’s about to cry. Hmm. This wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. I’ve only actually met a few girls online, but they were all ready and raring to go. None of this standing outside the door, ready to cry.
                  And then they’re gone, it’s quiet out in the hallway, and I figure it’s off. Well, well, well. Shouldn’t come as that big of a surprise, I suppose, should it? Easy enough to hop back online, though I could also just mosey on down to the bar and see what sort of trouble I could rouse up there . . .
                  No sooner does this thought enter my mind when her text comes through, asking me if I’ll meet her at the bar. So she hasn’t chickened out, not completely. I respond and tell her I’ll be down in five, even though I’m ready and could head down right now. Don’t want to seem too eager.
                  Except I am, which is a bit nutty, if you want to know the truth. I blame it on the fact that I’m here, in this foreign place, forced to participate in a debacle that I have to pretend to be excited about. I need a distraction, and nothing does the trick better than a good fuck. I go into the bathroom, splash a little water on my face. I could use a shave actually, but if I go down there with a face as smooth as a baby’s bum, well, that’s certainly going to seem far too eager, and that is not the image I am trying to perpetuate.
     
                  Once I get down to the bar, it doesn’t take me long to find her. Even though she’s sitting down, I can tell she’s taller than I thought she’d be, and not plastic at all, thank goodness. She’s seated at one of the small tables, the girl next to her completely camouflaged in big sunglasses and a zany head wrap. They’ve got half-finished glasses of white wine in front of them.
                  “Hello,” I say, realizing that I don’t actually know her name, only her screen name. I extend a hand. “I’m Jai. Figure we should get the