Stepbrother With Benefits 15 (Third Season) (2 page)

"I may have changed my mind just now," my dad says.  "You still need a long term solution, but in the interim, I think kicking his ass is a great short term fix."

Aw yeah.  My dad's a badass.  Who knew?

"I like you, Dad," I say.

"Thanks," he says, grinning.

"Where are we walking, by the way?"

"No clue.  Is that an ice cream place over there?  Oh, wow, they have milkshakes?"

"Yeah, want to check it out.  They're good."

"Sure," he says, but then he pauses, staring.  "Ethan, is that..."

He doesn't point.  Pointing's rude, and my dad's sophisticated as fuck over here.  Billionaire businessman, don't you forget it.  He just kind of nods, and I look over, and...

Oh, yes.
  We stare.  Fuck.  My dad's a bad influence on me.  I'm the one who's supposed to be a bad influence.  What the fuck is even going on?

"Sideboob," I say.  "It definitely is."

"Huh," my dad says.

The girl looks over at us, then smiles and waves.  I nod and wave back.

"You know her?" he asks me.

"Yeah, she's a cheerleader.  I think that's her mom with her.  Want me to introduce you?"

"She waved.  It'd be rude not to introduce ourselves."

"Don't get any ideas, old man," I say.

"I'm being a respectable gentleman," he says.  "Who do you think I am?"

"Oh, yeah, sure..."

"I can remove you from my will and take away your trust fund," he reminds me, smirking.

I shake my head.  "Wow..."

We go up and introduce ourselves.  I have actually never had sex with this girl, so it's not even that awkward.  Her mom is nice, too.

"Hey, Ethan," she says.  "You're here early this year, huh?"

"Hey, Brittany," I say.  "Yeah, a little.  Just hanging out with my dad.  Figured I'd get a head start by moving in and signing up for classes before the last minute."

"Oh my!" she says, giving me a scandalous look.  "Ethan Colton being responsible?  Where'd that come from?"

"Hey," I say.  "I'm responsible as fuck.  I have tons of responsibilities."

"Do you?  Who's your
responsibility
this week?"

Her mom and my dad are just chatting about whatever the fuck, I don't even know, so it's just her and I standing in line for our ice cream or milkshakes or something.  I don't know if this is the right time or place to do this, but... I've got to start somewhere, right?

"Listen, uh... I know what you're talking about, and I get it, but I'm actually... uh..."

"What?" she asks, intrigued.

"I'm dating someone.  For real.  We've been dating for a couple months now."

She giggles.  Fuck.  Why is she doing this to me?  It's that sexy sort of giggle that you want to hear right before...

Right before nothing.  Calm the fuck down!  I'm just talking to this girl.  Get off my case.

"Is this a new ploy of yours?" she asks me.  "Does it work?  I admit I'm kind of curious now.  Can
the
Ethan Colton be swayed away from his girlfriend?  Hm..."

"Nah," I say.  "I bet you'd like her, actually.  She's, uh... she tried out for cheerleading in high school but they were kind of bitchy and scared her away.  She'll be here every other weekend to visit if you want to meet her?"

"Aww, why would someone do that to anyone?  Cheering is so fun!  I'd love to meet her.  You should tell her to transfer here.  I'll help her join the cheerleading squad if she's still interested."

Yeah, this girl loves cheerleading.  She's not one of those airheaded bimbo types, she's serious as fuck.  Also she's kind of amazing and too good for most guys, which is probably why I never screwed around with her.  Not that I'm not good enough, because... what the fuck, of course I'm good enough.

She just wouldn't put up with anyone's shit, and is probably just waiting for her Prince Charming to come sweep her off her feet.  That's not me.  Not for her, at least.  I'm not going to mess around with a girl who knows what she's worth and is willing to wait for it.  I don't have to help show her she's amazing, she already knows she is.

Also, I'm taken now.  Why are you trying to do this to me?  Fuck you.

"I don't know if she'd transfer," I say, but as soon as I say it...

Holy fuck, is that the answer?  If Ashley stops going to the same school as Jake, then...

"She's, uh... kind of smart?" I add, pulling myself back to the conversation at hand.  "Goes to some school for people with good grades or whatever.  Not stuck up, though, don't get the wrong idea.  I don't know.  She's cool."

"She must be impressive if she's managed to catch you," Brittany says, winking at me.  "I knew you'd find someone special some day, Ethan.  You're a really nice guy."

"Uh, what?"  I don't mean to sound surprised, but that's the first time anyone's said something like that to me.  Besides Ashley, I guess.

"I'll prove it!" Brittany says.  "Do you have your phone?  You two must have taken some pictures together.  Show me."

"Demanding much?" I ask, rolling my eyes at her.

"Do it, or I'll tell her everything I know about you and your past!"

"Blackmailing me now, too?" I say, smirking.  "Wow.  I thought we were friends."

"Oh, don't pull that.  I've seen the way you look at me when we're practicing.  Like a sad little puppy dog, Ethan.  You just want to cuddle and kiss, but all these girls keep throwing themselves at you and making you do dirty things to them.  Poor you."

I'm really glad that her mom and my dad are heavily engrossed in some discussion about advanced business marketing, because this girl is insane.  I kind of like her brand of insanity, though.  In a friendly way.  Don't get any wrong ideas here.  I'm taken.

I take out my phone and find some pictures of me and Ashley.  They're regular ones.

Brittany takes my phone and ignores the picture I showed her, flipping through to find more.  Flip flip flip, and then she stops.

"Ooh, what's this?" she asks, showing me.

I didn't even know that was on there.  Fuck.

I'm sleeping in the picture, and Ashley's cuddled up close to me.  She must have stolen my phone or something.  Our lips are touching, and I guess I'm kissing her in my sleep.  It's cute as fuck and not the sort of picture I'd ever want to show to someone else.

"See?" Brittany says, as if her point is now absolute fact.  "You're adorable together, and now you aren't a sad puppy dog anymore."

"I'm pretty fucking sure I was never a sad puppy dog," I say.  Sometimes you need to stand up for yourself and what you believe in, and now is definitely one of those times.

"Alright," she says.  "I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, and I'll offer you a chance to prove it."

"I'll do it," I say.  "Not that I have to," I add.  "Because I don't."

"Oh, right, of course," she says, sticking her tongue out at me.  Whispering, she adds, "Here's the deal.  My mom is leaving after this.  Word has it that you've got a room to yourself this year, right?  You and I will head back to your room privately, and you show me exactly what all the other girls have talked about.  I've always been kind of curious, to be honest.  Are you as good as they say?  I'll even give you as many chances as you want.  With or without condoms.  I'm on birth control, and I don't do this for just anyone, so it's safe.  I won't tell anyone, either.  An entire night with me, Ethan.  I'll even make the deal sweeter and let you take full control.  We can do whatever you want, however you want, wherever you want..."

"And that's it," she says, whispering softly, sultry and seductive.  "No one has to know.  You can go back to your girlfriend after, too.  What do you think?"

Fuck.

Going to be honest here and say that Brittany is really flexible.  Like... cheerleader plus gymnast, but high quality at both, flexible as fuck.  And the sideboob, which is currently grazing against my arm while she's waiting after whispering to me.  And...

Fuck.

"Cut it out," I say.  "First off, I don't think you're like that.  Yeah... you're attractive, Brittany, but you're too nice.  I don't think you'd do it.  Even if you did do it, I think you'd regret it."

"Oh, you're thinking about me now?" she asks, amused.  "Don't put words in my mouth, Ethan.  Answer for yourself."

"For myself?" I ask.  "Easy.  The answer is no.  I love Ashley.  She's fucking amazing.  Yeah, the sex is great.  More than great.  But there's more, and even if no one else would ever know, I'd know, and if I did something like that, I wouldn't be the right person for her anymore.  It's like... I get that this sounds stupid coming from me, but you can't
just
find the right person to be with, right?  You need to find them, but you also have to be the right person for them, too.  That's how this works."

"I agree," she says, kissing me on the cheek.  "That's also why you're not a sad puppy dog anymore.  I'm kind of jealous, actually.  Maybe I should have snatched you up for myself while I had a chance!"

My dad and her mom look over at us.  It's the kiss, isn't it?  It's just a kiss on the cheek!  That's a friendly thing, right?  In Europe or whatever they all just kiss everyone on the cheek or something.  We're just being European.  Stop giving us that look.

"Are you two alright?" my dad asks.

"Ethan was just telling me about his beautiful and amazing girlfriend," Brittany says.  "I got excited.  He's such a nice guy, and I've always hoped he would find someone perfect for him."

"Aww," her mom says.  "That's wonderful.  I'm happy to hear it."

"Ethan?  Nice?" my dad asks.  "
Huh!
"

Wow.  Thanks, Dad.

––––––––

I
just need some time alone.  It's kind of a luxury that almost no one has in college, though.  Everyone always talks about how exciting college life is, how you can meet new people all the time, go out and have fun, party, socialize, and all of that.  Yes, it's true that you
can
do those things, but...

What if you just need to be alone for a little while?  Where do you go?  What do you do?  The library is quiet, but it's not exactly a place where anyone is alone.  There's usually plenty of students studying there, or else people find places far in the back away from prying eyes in order to make out.

There's a coffee shop by the campus that's mostly nice and quiet, but there's still people coming in and out all the time, and there's other people sitting at tables and enjoying the relatively silent atmosphere, too.  You can sometimes find a common room in the dorms that's not occupied, but it's unlikely, and even if you do, more often than not someone will come in soon enough.

You can never be alone for long, but I just really need to be alone right now.  It doesn't help that I feel really lonely, too.  I don't know why, because my mom's still here.  She's back in my room, helping to unpack some of my things.  My roommate, Jacky, and her friend, Kevin, the guy I went to school with are there bringing more of Jacky's belongings up.

That leaves me with one weird spot where I know no one will be right now.  School doesn't start until tomorrow, so it's not like there's any classes, no late studying, no secret trysts.  I hope not, at least.

I head across campus towards the lecture halls.  They might be locked, though.  I'm not really sure, to be honest.  I try the main door, but it's locked.  Ugh.  Really?

I don't know what to do now.  I walk around the building, aimless, heading towards the back.  No one's here right now, but I can hear people nearby.  This isn't exactly private, and there's people walking around the streets and past the classroom area towards the dorms.  I make it to the back of the building and try the back door, not expecting much.  It's unlocked, though.  Yes!

I open the door and step inside quietly.  Now that I'm here, I don't know what I'm going to do.  I guess I don't really know what I'm supposed to do, either.  I step lightly down the halls, but it's too quiet.  My footsteps echo and everything sounds louder.

I walk down a side hall that leads to the women's bathroom.  I mean, that's going to be quieter than anywhere else, right?  I hope so...

I go inside, and no one's there.  Quickly, I head into one of the bigger stalls in the back, then just kind of crouch in the corner, my back against the wall.  This really isn't how I expected to spend my first day back at college.

It's just... I need to see it.  I don't know why.  I think this is a bad idea.  I know there's nothing I can do right now, and maybe it'll make me feel more angry or embarrassed than I already am, but it's just something I have to do.

I brought my phone with me, just carrying it, clutched tight in my hand.  I put it on my lap, then stretch out my legs and reach into my pocket, pulling out a folded up piece of paper.  Slowly, I unfold it, then stare at it for a second.

It's one of the flyers Jake plastered all over the dorm walls.  It's bad, too.  The flyer is bad, but the amount of them is just...

I don't know.  They're everywhere!  Ugh!  I saw them every few feet on my floor, though after awhile they kind of vanished, taken by unknown students.  On my way down to the ground floor, I stopped at a few other floors to look and see if there were more, too.  And... yes... there's plenty. 
How wonderful.

It's not as bad looking at it on my own.  I actually really like this picture.  I think it's sexy.  I wish I'd sent it to Ethan before I deleted it, but I was too embarrassed after what happened with Jake.  I like the picture, but it's not like I want everyone else to see it, you know?

This isn't about the picture right now, though.  It's about the website mentioned under it.  The website address makes me cringe.

Ashleyisaslut.com

I unlock my phone and open up a browser, then carefully type in the website address.  I pause before tapping the "go" button.  The website takes a second, then fully loads, and...

Here I am.

It's my image, front and center, but there's more, too.  I scroll down, and there's pictures of the text messages that I accidentally sent to Jake, as well.  They were meant for Ethan.  I was trying to be dirty and naughty.  Our parents were home, but we had decided to keep going.  That was when it was just supposed to be for a week.  It's been a lot more than that now, and there's so much more to our relationship than what this little snapshot of a text message shows.