Page 68 of Don't Say You're Sorry

It’s Christmas Eve. My last Christmas as a high school student living at home. Next year, Easton and I will be away at college, living in an apartment off campus together. For weeks now, I’ve been spamming his phone with pictures and reels of interior decor ideas. He makes fun of me, but he’s just as excited as I am to live together. We can’t wait to have our own space and be free to do whatever we want with it. Free to touch each other whenever we want without fear of being caught…

Tonight, Axel and I are in the living room watchingHome Alone, just like we do every year. Michael and our mum are in bed already, and Easton disappeared upstairs about ten minutes into the movie. I’m itching to go find him and see what he’s doing up there, but I force myself to stay put.

Axel’s been quiet since he came home from college last night. Too quiet. I’ve caught him staring at me a few times. Watching me. Watching Easton. Watchingus. It’s the first time my brother’s been home since Easton and I started seeing each other, and I think he’s onto us.

I feel his eyes on me again, and I casually munch on some popcorn, pretending to be really into the movie. Maybe if I don’t look at him, he’ll forget I exist.

“You’re fucking Easton.”

Fuck. I knew it.

Forcing a confused look, I turn my head toward him. “What?”

“Holy shit. Are you?”

“No.” Technically it’s not a lie. I’m not fucking Easton. He’s the one fucking me. In every position. In almost every room in this house. We did it on the sofa cushion he’s sitting on a few days ago. I had to wash the pillows because they were covered in my cum.

“Bloody hell.” Axel shakes his head. “What are you playing at? He’s our stepbrother.”

I narrow my eyes. “I said I’m not.”

“You’re lying.”

“How do you know?”

“Because you’re smiling, dipshit. And I don’t just mean right now. You’ve been smiling like a dumbass all day. You’re…happier. It’s weird.”

“It’s weird that I’m happy?”

“No, it’s weird that I know what your face looks like when you’re…satisfied. I’ve never seen you like this before. Does he have a magic dick or something?”

I lift a shoulder. “I have nothing to compare it to. But yeah, his dick is pretty magical.”

Axel drops his face into his hands. “Jesus. You let him take your virginity?”

“Will you keep your voice down?”

“Why? Are you afraid he’ll hear me?” He sneers in the direction of the stairs. “I’m gonna kick his brother-fucking ass.”

I snort. “Okay.”

“This isn’t funny, Adam. He’s taking advantage of you.”

“First of all, fuck you for thinking it couldn’t possibly be me taking advantage of him. And second of all, it’s not like that. We’re not just fucking. We’re…together.” I can’t help but smile again. “I like him, Axel.”

He throws his hands up. “That’s even worse! Have you even thought about what this would do to Mum? You have to end it before she finds out.”

“She’s not going to find out.”

“What if you’re wrong?” he pushes. “What if she does? It’ll be the second marriage of hers you’ve torn apart.”

I rear back as if he struck me. My stomach bottoms out, and I swallow the lump in my throat. Is that really what he thinks? Still? After all these years?

He curses. “Adam, wait?—”

Shaking my head, I leave him to watch the movie alone. I pause near the doorway but don’t look back at him. “You won’t say anything, will you?”

“Of course not,” he mumbles.