Series: Peach State Stepbros Series by Riley Hart
Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78418 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78418 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“Well…something like that was bound to happen,” Colin says.
“I’m sorry. It does feel like we’ve been in our own little bubble. I probably should have said something about holding hands in public.”
Colin glares at me. “What?”
“I just want you to do this at your own pace. You shouldn’t have to be out before you’re comfortable.”
He moves closer. “Ash, I’m very comfortable letting the world know how I feel about you. And it’s about time we talked to our parents about us…unless you don’t want to talk to them about it.”
“It’s not a conversation I want to have with them,” I confess, “but I knew that’s where this was all leading.”
He smirks. “It will be a weird conversation.”
“You think they’ll wonder about those sleepovers we had when we were teenagers?”
Colin laughs. “Probably.”
It’s finally our turn in line, so we order wings and a funnel cake. As I grab extra napkins, Colin says, “That whole interaction made me realize that we do need to have a serious conversation.”
A serious conversation?
When I turn to him, his expression is so intense, it’s making me nervous.
“If I’m holding your hand, Ash, you don’t pull yours away. That’s gonna be a big Step Don’t from now on.”
And he’s got me laughing again. “Yeah, that’s a good Step Don’t.”
“Also, no hogging the funnel cake.” He grabs for it, but I pull it out of his reach.
“Now you’re pushing it.”
We share a smile and another kiss.
“Mmm,” I say. “Well, maybe it’s good that we ran into Mrs. Raeger. Guess it’s time to have this conversation. Now everyone will know I’m yours and you’re mine.”
“Yeah, they will,” Colin says, his lips tugging into a gentle smile—the sort of smile that soothes my concerns about sharing this with our parents. Awkward as it may be, I want everyone in the whole goddamn world to know how I feel about this guy.
And how he feels about me.
24
Colin
Ash and I have been living in this perfect bubble, where it’s either just us, or us and our friends, now that they know about us. It felt safe telling them, and I’d shout from the rooftops that Ash is mine, but seeing Mrs. Raeger was a wake-up call. I want to step out of this bubble we’re in. I’m ready for our parents to know, but I don’t want them to find out from someone else, not only because it’s not fair to them, but because there’s nothing wrong with Ash and me being together. Not telling them makes me feel like we think there is.
I make my way downstairs on Sunday morning.
Ash is sitting with Lance, Payton, and Marty in the living room. Frat Cat is on his lap in the armchair. I nuzzle Ash’s neck from behind. “I’m jealous. I think Frat Cat loves you more.”
“Aw, he loves his Daddy Colin.”
“Oooh, that’s hot. Say Daddy Colin again,” I joke, earning a snicker from Ash.
“Please don’t. I’m begging you not to say that again,” Payton says from the couch.
“Go see Daddy Colin.” Ash hands Frat Cat to me.
“Good boy,” I tease, cuddling the kitten to my chest. Ash gets up from the chair, and I follow him into the kitchen. “What are you doing today?”
“You, I assume.”
I chuckle.
“Though I’d rather you do me.”
“That can definitely be arranged.” I sit at the counter while Ash pours himself a glass of orange juice. I snag it and take a drink. “Oops.”
“That was for you.”
“That’s sweet.” He knows I like my OJ in the mornings. “My boyfriend is the best.”
“Obviously.” Ash walks around the counter and wraps his arms around my shoulders. “You can always tell me again, though.”
Another laugh slips past my lips. “My boyfriend is the best.”
Ash leans in and kisses me. “What are we doing today? Besides each other. Tomorrow is a busy day since we both have school and work.”
“I have a Zoom with Mom in, like, an hour. I was hoping you’d want to join me so we can tell her about us, like we talked about. We can plan when we’ll tell Dad and Lauren after that.”
Ash nods, but then asks, “You’re sure you want me with you? I don’t mind being there. I just want you to be sure.”
I frown. “I always want you with me.”
The smile that stretches across his face is breathtakingly beautiful. It’s wild to me that I can make him feel that way, but it’s also the best feeling in the world.
“I guess we’re lucky I feel the same.”
“Come on. Let’s get ready.” I grab my glass of OJ and take it upstairs with us. We take a quick shower, get dressed, then hang out for a while, waiting for it to be time to meet with my mom. Frat Cat runs around the room like someone slipped him catnip.
“Are you nervous?” Ash asks.
I shake my head. “Nah. It’ll work out. Everyone knows how close we are, and really, our parents just want us to be happy.”