Page 67 of Puck My Stepbrother

He smiled widely again, and it reminded me of what I liked about Jeff in the first place.

Then I stopped and thought about it. Did I think IlikedJeff? By now, I should’ve said Ilovedhim. It should’ve felt natural. After all, I’d been crazy about him from the start. Sure, our first time naked in front of each other couldn’t have gone worse, but sex wasn’t everything. You know, unless you’re Levi Dunn.

I should love Jeff. He was right for me.

You know why you don’t love him,my inner voice told me.It’s because you’re in love with Levi Dunn.

I nearly tripped thinking about it. Love? Levi Dunn? That couldn’t be right. I could barely stand the guy. Yes, he was as gorgeous as ever. Yes, he was a sex god. And yes, we’d had a fewnice moments together fully clothed, but that could hardly be considered love.

“So do I have to get all dressed up for the wedding?” Jeff asked.

“Probably. You’ll be sitting at the head table with me.”

“Seriously?”

“Uh-huh. My dad asked me to be the best man.”

“Wow, that’s really an honor.”

“It is, but it’s hard. You know, because of my mom.”

He bowed his head in acknowledgement.

“You know,” he said, “there’s one thing we’ve still never really talked about.”

“What’s that?”

“Whether or not we’re going to become an official couple.”

I stopped so suddenly in the middle of the sidewalk that the couple behind us slammed right into me.

“Woops, sorry,” I said.

They flashed me an ugly look before heading on their way.

I stared down at the sidewalk, not answering the question.

“So,” Jeff said, “what do you say?”

“Say about what?”

“About us? You know, becoming official?”

“Oooooooh, now I know what you’re talking about.”

But I stopped myself again, not knowing what to say to him…or just not wanting to say anything.

“We’ve been dating a while,” he said, “and I’m fine with taking things slower. It’s just that I was wondering…”

“If I’m going to shit or get off the pot?”

A laugh sputtered from his mouth.

“Sure, if you want to put it that way,” he said.

I looked straight ahead, still not answering. I wasn’t worrying about Levi showing up to ruin this, but I still had my stepbrother-to-be on my mind.

“Aren’t you going to answer my question?”