Page 10

Chapter Ten

Micah

Jace wasn’t supposed to have gone over to Willow’s side of the house, but he insisted on putting a note on her damn door and hadn’t expected her to storm out of her room. He was excited she did, though, as he has been dying to hang out with her. Jace is like a damn puppy when he gets excited about something.

“If I looked like you, I wouldn’t care what people thought either, but I don’t.”

Zac brings his hand down on the table with a bang, and I glare at him when Willow jumps. Sometimes he gets in his feelings and doesn’t know how to process them, so he is quick to anger.

“There is nothing wrong with the way you look,” he declares vehemently.

He isn’t wrong, though his execution could have been better.

“I didn’t mean to scare you,” he adds with a slight wince.

“It’s okay. But it’s just hard to believe what you say about my appearance when I was teased throughout middle school and high school for being fat, or flat chested. Then my own family is always telling me to dress for my size. And men never say I’m sexy or hot. It’s always ‘you have a cute face’ or ‘you’re pretty for a bigger girl.’”

Zac balls his fists—it seems he’s grown attached to my stepsister. “You are fucking hot, and your body is sexy as fuck. I have wanted to meet your family for so long, but I’m reconsidering that right now.”

Willow blushes. Oh, this is going to be fun.

We have one day and two nights before our parents arrive, and we have agreed to tell Willow everything before then. We will lay our cards on the table and see what she wants to do next. I feel so shitty about deceiving her, but Willow would never have believed we wanted her. Her self-confidence is shit, and I wish she could see herself through our eyes. She has curves some women would die for. I love the thought of being able to dig my fingers into her flesh and grab a handful of her ass.

“Thank you for the confidence boost, Zac. I have been really trying to see myself in a different light the last few days.”

“You know what you need to do?” Jace adds. He is full of useful advice, though he rarely follows it. “Look in the mirror every day after your shower, and instead of looking at your flaws, find something you like about yourself. It might be how sexy your lips look, or how nice your skin is, but make sure it’s something different every day, and eventually you will have trained your brain to only see the things which are good. Everyone has things they don’t like about their bodies—you should see my toes,” he says, lifting his foot to the table and ripping off his sock. “Look at these monstrosities.”

Willow giggles. “They almost look like fingers.”

“I hate that my tooth is slightly crooked,” Zac says, pointing to his bottom tooth, which is angled in the wrong direction.

“Oh, and Micah has really weird nipples. Like why are they so flat?” Jace jokes, and I grin, lifting my shirt. “When he is being a dick, I call him pepperoni nips.”

We all laugh, and Willow seems to relax. “I really hate my stretch marks.”

This is kind of the opposite to where I thought Jace was going with this. Willow stands and pulls her pants down a little to show her stretch marks on her hips.

“See? Everyone has something, no matter how they look. We are all human and have flaws, but I think it’s best to find the things you do like about yourself and celebrate them. Like I have a really nice co?—”

“Jace,” I snap. “Be respectful.”

“Shit, sorry. I don’t think before I speak sometimes. Words just come out of my mouth.”

“It’s fine, you can say cock around me,” Willow interjects. “I’m not twelve.”

Zac gets up and collects the plate with the steaks, but I grab his wrist as he walks past, stopping him. He looks back at me and winks, letting me know he’s okay. Releasing him, I watch as he walks over to the grill.

“Cock, cock, cock, cock,” Jace chirps, and I shake my head at him. I swear sometimes he does have the mental maturity of a twelve-year-old. So many times, I have woken up to him putting his balls on my face. No idea why, besides the fact that he thinks it’s funny.

Jace asks Willow a million questions as I sip my beer and tune out, staring out at the lake. It’s weird... just last year when I was here, I couldn’t wait to leave and get home. Yet right now, I could imagine spending our weekends here and one day moving here full time. I love my job, but one day I would like to raise a family out here where it’s quiet .

“I wish I could live out here. It’s just so peaceful.”

The sound of Willow’s voice mirroring my exact thoughts pulls me back to the conversation. “Why don’t you?”

Willow’s eyes meet mine, and I can tell she isn’t sure if I’m being serious. “I have a house and a job.”

I smirk at her. “Your job is online. Plus, you’re the third wheel at your house, and you know it.”

“Shit, Brookie, tell her what you really think,” Jace throws at me, and I realize how bad it sounded.

“I didn’t mean it in a bad way. But your roommate’s boyfriend has dropped so many hints—I don’t know how you haven’t figured it out.”

Her brows furrow. “How would you know what he thinks?”

“Finn is the bartender at the bar we drink at. He is very vocal about wanting to settle down with his partner and live alone.”

“Just great,” Willow says, her eyes watering. “Of course, just when I think my life is on the right track, shit goes south. I can’t keep a boyfriend because I’m too needy, my best friend’s boyfriend wants me gone, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I get fired next.”

Jace wraps his arm around Willow and pulls her into his body, placing a kiss on her head. “Everything happens for a reason. If your stupid ex didn’t leave you tied to a chair, we might not have met, and I’m glad we did.”

“I wasn’t joking about you living here. It sits empty most of the year.”

Willow wipes her eyes and smiles at me. “I couldn’t impose on you, and I know you lease this place out for events and stuff.”

“Why doesn’t she move in with us at the house? We have more than enough room.”

All three of us look at Zac, who is cooking the steaks, so I add, “That is an option, I suppose, if you wanted to live with us.”

Willow looks back at me, pure confusion washing over her face. “I thought you didn’t like me. In all the years we’ve known each other, you’ve barely interacted with me.”

Jace laughs. “Babe, you read that completely wrong.”

Zac brings the cooked steaks to the table and returns to his seat, his focus back on Willow.

“I need to talk to Bray before I do anything,” she hedges. “He might not even want to live with Finn. From my understanding, he isn’t ready to take the next step... I’m only hoping it’s not because he feels sorry for me. Does anyone want another drink?”

Willow stands and we all nod. As she walks inside, I realize this is what we’ve been missing the entire time. Pushing back my chair, I get up and then head inside to help her bring the drinks out. She’s in the fridge when I walk into the kitchen, and I step behind her.

“You know I don’t hate you, right?”

A little squeak slips out of her, and she turns with our beers in her hands.

“You scared me, and how would I know that? For years you have avoided me.”

I chuckle. “Willow, I avoid you because you do things to me, and my dick shouldn’t get hard over my stepsister.”

“Have I entered a parallel universe?” she mumbles as she pushes her way past me and places the beers on the counter. I move behind her again and trap her between my arms.

“Hate to break it to you, Willy, but this is the same universe. I’m just sick of trying to please our parents. I want you, Willow, and have for a long time.”

I need to gauge how she will react to finding out we are her masked men. If she is repulsed by me, then it might be best to leave it as her fantasy and never mention it again. I move my hand to her stomach and slide my fingers beneath her pants, waiting for her to tell me to fuck off. When she doesn’t, I lean in and kiss her neck.

“Micah,” she whispers. “We can’t do this.”

“Why not?” I ask, pushing my erection into her ass.

“Because your men are outside, and it’s not fair to them.”

I chuckle against her neck. “They won’t care, but I respect that you do.”

It takes everything in me to push back and give her space. I want her to know it’s us, and I plan to make sure she knows by tomorrow.

“I will be outside in a minute,” she says with a slight hitch in her voice.

She doesn’t turn to face me once she’s spoken, so I take the hint and grab the beers, making my way back outside.

“We need to tell her,” I say as I place the beers down on the table and sit back in my chair. “I knew this would open a can of worms. I wasn’t ready for it, but now that it’s open?—”

Jace cackles like a fucking hyena, and I kick his shin under the table.

“What did you do to her?” Zac growls out, and I follow his line of sight until I see Willow walking toward the glass door. She looks like someone kicked her puppy.

Willow slides the door open and walks outside with the fakest smile I have ever seen .

I don’t reply to Zac, but Jace intercepts Willow and makes her laugh with some dumb story. I almost wish her stupid ex never left her tied to that chair. Then I wouldn’t be here, questioning my fucking morals, wondering if what we are doing is right. Deep down, I know it’s messed up and I feel like a piece of shit.

After we finish eating, Willow asks if we need her help to tidy up. I tell her we will sort it out, so she excuses herself. The second she is out of sight, I take the last sip of my beer while Jace and Zac stare me down.

“What happened inside?” Jace asks.

“I might have made it known I want to fuck her.”

Zac runs his hand down his face and Jace shakes his head. “You’re an idiot. How have you known her so long but still know nothing about her?” Jace snaps. “Did you really think she would fuck you in the kitchen while we were sitting outside? She gets nervous just talking to me while you’re not around.”

“I know I screwed up. I forget she doesn’t fully understand our situation. Most women simply don’t care.”

“What do we do now?” Zac asks. “Do we come clean, or do we give her one more fantasy in case this all goes to shit?”

“I have an idea,” Jace says with a smile. “A way to come clean, but you might not like it. ”

If this all blows up in my face, I only hope she realizes I did it for the right reasons. I want her to know how fucking beautiful she is, inside and out. Someone like her deserves the world, and I would do my fucking best to give it to her if I had half a chance.