Page 14 of Katie 2

We may be monsters, but she’s eager to have us and that’s what really matters.

“Well, then we’re no longer step-siblings,” I note.

Carter rubs his jaw. “No, we’re not.”

“And I’m not your stepdad anymore,” Dad says while rubbing Katie’s jaw, making her look at him. He strokes over her bottom lip with his thumb. “How do you feel about that?”

“Doesn’t it make things easier?”

“Less taboo,” Carter says with a shrug. “Not that it stopped anything before. Just slowed things down at the start.”

“I still want the three of you, as much as I can have you,” she says.

I watch the three of them talk about her mom, what this means for us, how hard things might be and all that while staying quiet. After a bit, Katie looks over at me. She slips free of my dad’s arms and rubs my chest.

“Brad?”

“Yes?” I ask, my voice hollow.

Her eyes drop, and I sigh. I can’t be rough with her… after being rough with her. I hug her and hold her against me. I won’t rub her like my dad did or kiss the top of her head, but I can be gentle.

“I’ll still be in your bed when you wake up,” I say simply.

She nods and relaxes against me.

We’ll all be fine. We’re good at that. Plenty can change, but Katie… Katie is ours, and I’m not letting her go just because the title has changed. From stepbrother to boyfriend. It’s simpler and easier on her. That’s what matters.

But first, I need to make sure everyone knows to stay away from her.

Starting with that tool who thought he could talk to what’s mine.

Chapter seven

Katie

Ihead to my next class, adjusting my books in my arms. I wish I could fit them all in my backpack, but that’s just not possible with my laptop, notebooks, and my purse. Thankfully, today, I only have my psychology textbook and my pre-law textbook.

With one earbud in my ear replaying the lecture I recorded from the last class, I’m ready to dive into class. I’m confident about the mini-essay I’m turning in, as if I’m defending a client, and I feel satisfied after last night.

I’ve nevernotfelt satisfied after having all three of my boyfriends in a day.

Boyfriends now.

Not stepbrothers. Not stepfather.

Am I a homewrecker? No. I’m not. I mean… technically, there’s gray area with Henry, but I didn’t go out of my way to seduce him. I just… let it happen. I let myself enjoy him. I try to shake the thought and focus on getting to class on time.

The hair on the back of my neck pricks and I pause, then try to glance behind me as inconspicuously as possible. I’m sureit’s Brad. Ithasto be Brad because no one else would linger in shadows instead of coming right out and speaking to me.

It’s not like Henry’s ever been the kind of man to follow me around school or anything like that. It’s Brad specific. I shudder slightly at the thought. I’m dressed appropriately today. Leggings and a white knit sweater that slides off my shoulder, but it doesn’t reveal anything. It’s more cute than hot, and there’s no way Brad can be frustrated with that.

Shaking my head, I dismiss it. If he wants to keep creeping in the shadows, I’ll let him enjoy the game. I have to focus on class. Pre-law is a mess of half-understood sentences and students interrupting until I don’t remember the point.

So I stay a little later after class and talk to Dr. Morrison. She nods. “I know today was a hard one, Katie. But you know this material.”

“It makes more sense when you provide examples, and this chapter seems too simple. I understand it and I can recite it all back to you, but I don’t think I could put it into practice with the previous chapter,” I explain.

She takes a slow breath, then looks up a few things. Her eyes slant to mine. “I won’t do this for every student, but since class was a mess, I’ll send you some court cases that clearly show this. Also, if I remember right, you’ve been attending Carter’s lectures.”

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