ACHING FOR MY STEPBROTHER

THANE

When Pops said I'd be meeting Sarah's daughter over breakfast, I didn't think much of it, another polite smile, another forced family introduction.

What I didn't expect was for her to be the same girl I had my hands all over last night.

Yeah. Her.

The short firecracker with the sharp mouth and the tighter-than-sin attitude.

She's not my usual type. Girls below my chest height normally don't get my attention, but damn, she made it hard not to look twice. Or want a third round.

Funny how life works. I thought I was getting a stepsister.

Instead, I got her.

I was ready to tease her just to watch her react when Sarah's head popped into the doorway, cutting through the whole mood.

"When did you get back, Thane?" she asked, wrapping me in a side-hug.

I flashed her a lazy, sheepish smile. The one she never sees through.

"Well, I couldn't help but rush down when I heard I'd be meeting my hot-" I paused, pretending to censor myself. "My step sister. I like her already."

Racheal rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might hit the back of her skull. Then she let out this dramatic exhale that was supposed to warn me off.

If anything, it just made something in me shift with curiosity, interest...something I shouldn't be feeling.

Sarah seemed to feel the tension, because she stepped in, straightened Racheal's shoulders like she was resetting a doll, and gave her a gentle push.

"How about you get changed, Racheal, and meet us downstairs for breakfast," she said with her soft smile. Then she turned to me. "Thane can drop you off at school afterward."

"What? Mum, seriously? I can take a cab. I don't need some random person dropping me off-"

Random. Ouch. She just called me random.

Sarah frowned. "Thane isn't a random person. He's your-"

"I get it," Racheal snapped, cutting her off. She crossed her arms. "Fine. I'll go with him. Happy now?"

Sarah grinned like she'd just solved world peace and sent me a knowing look.

Honestly? I wasn't planning on having breakfast when I walked down here.

But now? I'm definitely staying for it even if it meant a front-row seat to her attitude and all.

The moment we got downstairs, I did the gentleman thing and let my stepsister take a seat first. Naturally, I planned to sit right beside her.

But that didn't happen.

She slid into the chair next to my father instead, like she knew exactly what she was doing. Pops' eyes followed me the entire time, sharp and warning, like he could already smell trouble on me.

Not that he knew what kind of trouble. But if there was one thing Simon Adams hated, it was disorder, especially at his precious family table.

"Is there anything in your room you don't like?" he asked calmly. "I can have it changed."

Racheal didn't look interested in answering, but she still forced a smile.

Before she could speak, Sarah jumped in. "I told you I decorated it to her taste, honey."

She set the last dish on the table, glancing at Rachel. "Right, sweetheart?"

"Yeah," Racheal replied flatly. "Like I had a choice." she muttered under her breath, but Sarah caught it.

"Racheal," She snapped.

I almost smirked. So the little firecracker had already clashed with her mother. Interesting.

"Mum, he asked me a question," Racheal shot back. "I just answered it. Sorry if that pissed you off."

Her chest rose as she spoke, fast and sharp with emotion. I made a point not to look too closely, but I barely survived.

Pops gave Sarah a subtle nod, then turned to Racheal again.

"Look, Racheal. I know all of this is still new to you. I'm not rushing you. Just take your time, hm? I'm good at waiting."

She let out a tight breath. "I'm sorry, Simon, but you might want to wait for-"

"Can you just stop being like this?" Sarah cut in sharply, her tone rising a little. "I didn't raise you to be rude."

The table fell into a quiet so thick it could choke.

And me?

I just leaned back in my seat, watching it all unfold, already knowing this house wasn't going to be peaceful for long.

Not with my little sis. in it.

Racheal pushed back from the table slowly. Like staying one more second would make her explode.

She barely even touched her food.

Without looking at anyone, she dabbed her mouth with a napkin and said, "Please, excuse me."

Then she turned and walked upstairs. Just like that, the whole place turned into a damn graveyard.

Pops finally turned to Sarah, who now had her face buried in her palms. 

"Hey," he said gently, placing a light hand on her shoulder. "It's fine. I told you to give her time. She'll adjust."

Then his eyes dragged to me quickly. "You need to adjust your schedule at the office, Thane."

I frowned. Adjust... for what?

"Why-"

"You'll be picking Rachel up from school from now on."

I froze. For one full second, I honestly thought he was joking.

"You know how packed my schedule is," I said evenly. "That won't work. Drew can always pick her up."

The real problem wasn't the school run. It was the way that order sliced straight through my plans.

"Drop everything by five," he replied coolly. "Make sure you're not late."

I let out a short laugh. Seriously?

I saw Sarah reach for him, trying to soften it, but when Pops made a decision, it was already carved in stone.

I shoved my chair back. It screeched loudly across the floor.

"Alright," I muttered. "I'm heading out."

"And don't forget," he added calmly, "you're dropping her off too."

I turned at the doorway. "You don't want me to go wake her up and get her dressed too, do you?"

Then I walked out and slammed the door behind me with the last thread of patience I had left.