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Sawyer is tall, making it impossible not to notice her in a crowd. Especially her pretty green eyes. They’re such a light shade they’re almost iridescent, soft but infiltrating at the same time. That’s not the only bold contrast. Light skin with chocolate brown hair, thick brows and lashes on an otherwise delicate face, and a smattering of freckles on her nose and cheeks that make her look younger than her curves suggest. The combination of her features is so striking it’s hard not to stare. She’s that beautiful. It’s not a glamorous type of beauty though. It’s natural, something I don’t think she’s even aware of, which makes her that much more attractive.
I know I'm not supposed to notice these things, but I always notice, because I can't keep my eyes off her.
It’s not just her looks that appeal to me though, it’s her attitude. Sawyer may be a few years behind me in school, but she acts much older, more like a woman than a girl, and that’s a nice change from the frivolous classmates I’m used to. It makes our conversations more real. Meaningful.
“Yeah, we’ll be news for a bit. How do you want to handle it?” I pull out of the drive and head for school.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, we obviously live together, but do you want to tell people our parents are dating, that you guys are family friends staying with us for a while, what?”
“I guess I assumed we’d go with the dating thing since that’s what’s happening.” She stares absently out the window.
“Up to you." I lift my shoulder as I cast her a quick glance. "I wasn’t sure how much you wanted people to know about your mom’s dating life since they know all about your dad’s.”
“Ugh, don’t remind me.” She lets her head fall to the headrest.
“Sorry. I didn’t want you to be caught off guard.”
“I know.” She fiddles with the strap of her backpack.
“Is that why you don’t like people talking about you? Because they talk about your dad all the time?”
Sawyer chews on her lip for a minute before answering. She looks so pained and vulnerable. I have a sudden urge to hold her hand, but I keep mine firmly gripped on the steering wheel so I don’t actually do it.
“It’s more what theysayabout my dad,” she answers. “To my face guys talk about what a great athlete he is but behind my back they idolize him for all the women he dates. Girls pretend to be offended but then whisper about how hot he is. Everyone assumes my mom was one of the random women he dated and not actually his wife. It’s so hypocritical. And wrong. And I can’t believe people don’t have better things to talk about.”
Not for the first time, I find myself angry at her dad, which sucks because I’ve always admired him as a ball player. I’m also pissed at all the people who engage in that gossip, because Sawyer’s the one who suffers from it. It’s going to happen again today, simply because we’re in the same car. She’s tough enough to handle it, but that doesn’t stop me wanting to protect her.
I hate what comes out next, because saying it aloud makes her further out of reach, but I know it’s the right thing. Hopefully, it will stop at least some of the gossip about her parents.
“Let’s say step-siblings. I know it’s not official, but be honest. You think it’s going to happen the same as I do, right?”
I chance a look at her from the corner of my eye and see her chewing her bottom lip again as she considers this. I force my eyes back on the road before I get lost in thought about how soft and pink that lip is.
“Yeah, I think it’ll happen,” she says softly.
“Okay then, future step-sister.” I smile with more humor than I feel. “Let’s go make headlines.” I park the car and watch the heads swivel in our direction as we climb out.
Sawyer
“Breathe.”Weschucklesaswe make our way to the front door.
I’m overreacting a bit, but my dad’s rotating door of women has made me the subject of conversation more times than I care to admit. Even though what’s going on with my mom and Wes’s dad is totally different, it’ll still raise some eyebrows. It’s a lot for someone who doesn’t like to be the center of attention.
I nod and offer a weak smile, grateful I don’t have to do this alone. I’d prefer not to do it with the hottest boy in school, because I’d rather indulge in the fantasy that he’smyhot guy and not my future stepbrother. But it’s significantly easier to face the day knowing he’s got my back.
“Yo, Wes.” We both turn toward the sound of his name ringing through the parking lot. “Who’s your girl?” a beefy guy asks as he shuffles to us.
“Jen’s daughter, right? I’m Ryan,” says a shaggy blond with a build similar to Wes’s. “We met at your Mom’s flip this summer.” He gestures to three other guys with him, all varying degrees of imposing. I vaguely remember meeting them at the job site of my mom's summer investment project, but at the time I’d been distracted by the x-rated video they’d been watching of her and Anthony. Fortunately, they still don’t realize who they were looking at.
“Hi,” I muster.
“You remember Carter, Bennet and Will, receiver, guard and center.” Wes points at each of them in turn, landing on the beefy guy last. “Ryan’s another receiver.”
I smile and nod, having nothing to contribute to the football talk.
“Guys, you remember Sawyer. My future step-sister.” He slings his arm around my shoulder and pulls me in for a side hug, causing my temperature to rise even as my limbs freeze.
