Page 21 of The Stepbrother 2: Noah

“Creed,” he called after me, his tone grave. “Your grandmother had a heart attack an hour ago.”

My heart dropped. Unlike Jason, I knew my father would never lie about something like that. Without a word, I turned back around and walked toward him. I would put my anger aside for now, for my grandmother.

But once she was healthy again, it was still going to be "fuck the rest of them."

The fact that the next day would be the anniversary of my godfather’s death didn’t escape me.

Noah-

Sunlight poured through the living room curtains, but it didn’t do much to lift the heavy atmosphere hanging over us. The room was silent, everyone avoiding Creed. The looks she was giving said everything—she was still furious, barely holding herself together for her mother’s sake. I stayed off to the side, trying to ignore Ashley’s insistent questions. She kept trying to piece together what had happened earlier between Creed.

Part of me wished I’d never gotten involved with Ashley. After Creed left, I’d convinced myself that what I wanted with her—was impossible. Ashley felt safe. Normal. I’d thought that was enough to replace Creed. But lately, Ashley’s toxic positivity, and her tendency to follow Maine around like a shadow… it grated on me in ways I could not put into words.

My mind was stuck on what Creed had said earlier. She now had me imagining her belly, round with my child. I knew I shouldn’t even let myself think that, but I couldn’t shake it.

Suddenly, the door banged open. Scarlett walked in, and the room snapped to attention. Her eyes were bloodshot, her expression strained, and Troy hovered right behind her, ready to catch her if she fell apart. We’d all been waiting for her, desperate for any news. Her voice was shaky, but she was doing her best to sound strong.

“My mother’s had a heart attack. It’s serious,” she said, pausing to compose herself. “She’s in a coma, but the doctors say she’s strong, and she has a good chance to pull through.” Scarlett’s gaze swept over the room, heavy and tired. “I know after everything that’s happened, you’d all rather be anywhere else, but I need you here—yes, even you, Devon.” Her eyes lingered onhim, making sure he knew he wasn’t off the hook. “DJ needs a father, and he needs his entire family on his side.”

Finally, her eyes landed on Creed, who stood stiff and unreadable in the corner.

“We need to stick together, Creed.”

For a moment, I thought Creed was going to respond, maybe explode with everything she’d been holding back, but she just clenched her jaw and looked away.

Her anger was understandable. We’d kept a huge secret from her, something that affected her entire life. I’d meant to tell her, hand to God, but after she ignored what felt like my thousandth call, I’d given up. A part of me had thought, "Fine. Let her find out on her own." But I never thought she’d actually get engaged to Devon. My eyes drifted down to the ring on her finger.

She hadn’t taken it off. I didn’t even want to explain to myself why that bothered me.

“Creed, honey,” Scarlett said, “I think you should stay in the guest house for a bit. Give yourself some space. Devon, you can take the basement.”

Creed just nodded, her face blank.

Scarlett turned to me. “Noah, can you help her move her bags out there? I need to shower, take a quick nap, and get back to the hospital.”

Devon stood up from the sofa, looking like he wanted to step in. “I can do it,” he volunteered. Every glare in the room became fixed on him. His shoulders sagged, and, he eased himself back down, without another word.

“I got it,” I said, grabbing Creed’s Hello Kitty suitcases from the corner. She’d had the same ones since she was ten. Creed led the way out, both of us silent, but I could feel the tension radiating from her.

As soon as we got into the guest house and I clicked the door shut, she was on me, mouth hard, hands rough. She gripped my face like she was trying to mark me, fingers digging in skin, her tongue forcing its way between my lips. The kiss was all teeth and anger. I barely had a second to catch my breath before she yanked my zipper down, her hand sliding into my boxers.

I pulled back, breathing hard. “Creed, you’re not in your right mind. Let’s just focus on what’s happening with your grandmother, and then we can figure out...whatever this is.”

“I know exactly what I’m doing,” she said, her eyes hard. “I’m ovulating. I’m going to get pregnant, then get the hell away from all you lying motherfuckers. My grandmother won’t be affected by what we do.”

“Do you even hear yourself?” I asked, frowning.

“Yes,” she replied, reaching for me again.

I sidestepped, raising my hands. “Creed, I’m with Ashley now.”

She gave me a cold smirk. “I don’t give a damn, just like she didn’t give a damn about my relationship. And you didn’t either.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I’m sorry, Creed. I wanted to tell you. But maybe if you’d answered my calls once, I could have. But I’m not playing this game.”

Her finger drove in my chest. “You will, or I’ll go out there and tell everyone exactly what we were doing all summer during Maine’s graduation.”

I dragged my palm over my mouth, shaking my head. “You’d do that? Now? With everything that’s going on?”

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