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)
“She’s a badass lawyer. A so-so mom,” I say.
Ash nods. “She is. I’m damn proud of all her accomplishments.”
“As you should be, but if you ask me, you’re even more badass.” I wink, and Ash shakes his head as if I’m being ridiculous, but I know how much he loves it. Giving him that makes my insides tingle. Makes me feel…important?
“I’m lucky I have you,” Ash says.
“Truth,” I tease, both of us snickering.
We don’t talk about anything important the rest of the ride. We pull into the driveway of their gray house—the front done with a lot of expensive stonework. Both Dad’s Beamer and Lauren’s Lexus are in the driveway. Ash and I have grown up privileged, something we both acknowledge and which inspires us to give back.
Dad opens the door, giving a goofy wave like he hasn’t seen us in years. It’s so him. We’re similar, he and I.
“Hey, boys! Glad you could make time for us!” he teases, pulling me into a hug.
“It was hard, but we managed.”
Dad snickers, then hugs Ash. “Hey, bud.”
I don’t know why he calls Ash that. It’s not something he says to me, and clearly, Ash isn’t a kid, but my dad has always done it.
“Hey, Steve.”
Lauren steps into the doorway next. She has the same dark hair as Ash, only hers reaches her shoulders. She’s wearing a pencil skirt and a nice blouse, looking like the shark she is.
She tries to emulate my father, but the hug she gives Ash is stiff and unsure, closer to a pat on the back than comfortable affection. “I got your favorite. General Tso’s.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Dad wraps his arm around her and squeezes her shoulder as if to say good job and make sure she knows he’s proud of her.
“How is school going?” she asks as we file into the house. We settle in the living room, Ash talking about his classes and his internship. Lauren glances at her phone from time to time like she worries she’s going to miss something while also trying to stay in the moment.
We make small talk for a while. Ash finally had a chance to catch up with his dad about his adventures in Japan, so he shares a little about that.
When dinner arrives, Dad rushes to say, “I’ll grab dishes!”
“I’ll scoop everyone’s plates!” Ash adds.
“I’ll…” Fuck. What will I do? “Damn it!” I hate being the last one to offer to help.
“What…?” Lauren’s looking at the three of us like she’s not sure what’s going on.
“It’s just a silly game, dear. The last one to offer to help has to do the dishes.” When she frowns, maybe wondering how she missed out on that, Dad adds, “We don’t do it all the time. It’s pretty random.”
“Oh.” Lauren shifts uncomfortably.
“Looks like it’s me and you for cleaning up,” I say, to pull her into the game with us.
Dad grabs plates and silverware, and we head into the dining room. Dad and Lauren have chairs at each end of the table, Ash and I across from each other.
Ash begins opening the containers and adding a serving spoon to each. Just as we’re about to sit down, Lauren’s phone buzzes. Everyone goes quiet. Her gaze darts toward it like she wants to answer, like it’s killing her not to, but she knows she shouldn’t.
“You can get it before we eat,” Ash tells her. He knows she wants to, and he likes to pretend it doesn’t bother him. He begins adding chicken to my plate first.
“Five minutes. Then no more interruptions. I promise.” She swoops up her cell and leaves the room.
“Anyone want to hear about my new book?” Dad asks.
“Absolutely,” Ash tells him, and Dad rambles the way he does—and, okay, maybe the way I do sometimes too—but I can’t stop worrying that Ash is disappointed his mom chose to take the call.
I pull my cell phone out, keeping it beneath the table. I remember him saying he liked it when he saw how much the guys wanted him. I’d seen it before he told me, felt it in the pulse in the room, and I want to make him feel good again.
Me: Is it weird that we’re at our parents’ dinner table and I can’t stop thinking about what you look like when you shoot your load?
It’s true. Maybe part of texting him right now is for Ash, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit it’s for me too.
“One of the characters is a law student.” Dad turns to me.
“Oh really? What happens to him?”
I shoot a quick glance at Ash, see him look down, checking his phone. Dad keeps talking, oblivious to what’s going on around him. I nod and ask questions, leg bouncing beneath the table in anticipation of Ash’s reply.
“I’m back!” Lauren sits down just as my cell vibrates. “Let’s dig in!”