Stepbrother Bestie (A Stepbrother Romance Novel) by Alycia Taylor Page B

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innate and while it made me feel slightly guilty, it helped direct my anger
over the situation that was playing out before me.
    When I came home one night, though, my mother
was waiting for me.
    “Hi, Mom,” I said as I moved into the
kitchen.
    “Hi, Valerie,” she answered, keeping in
step behind me, almost as though something was wrong.
    Feeling the strange sensation immediately
enter the conversation, I turned around and stared at her with concern. “Is
everything okay?” As I did so, I glanced at the clock, just to make sure that I
wasn’t late for curfew or anything, but could find no reason why she would be
upset with me.
    She nodded. “Everything is fine. I just
haven’t seen you in a while.” She put her hands up instantly and added, “Which
is fine. You haven’t done anything wrong, but I just wanted to make sure I
caught you, because I’m worried.” Her brow wrinkled as she said this and I
squinted my eyes at her, still slightly confused.
    “I’m fine, Mom.” I couldn’t help but
chuckle a little. “Why do you ask?”
    “Well,” she paused and shrugged before she
said, “Because of the conversation that we had…you know, about Shawn and
Zachary…”
    Sensing a serious conversation coming on,
I sat at the island in the kitchen and my mother sat across from me. I smiled
reassuringly. “Well, you know, things are good, mom… actually. I patched things
up with Zachary…it was a stupid fight, really and I don’t know what is going on
with Shawn, but he and I are not on speaking terms at the moment.”
    My mom seemed disappointed at that and
even though she didn’t say anything, her expression showed it easily. “Do you
see him in school? I thought you two had lunch together.”
    “We always have lunch together,” I answered
her, sighing with a heavy heart. I had tried all week to get away from talking
about this and now that I was backed into a corner, I was a little angry about
it. This was probably one of the last conversations I wanted to have right now.
It was late and I was tired. However, the look on my mother’s face told me that
I should probably do my best to assure her.
    She had always not only loved Shawn, but
worried about him as though he was her own. Since his mother was basically
useless, my mother had always stepped in to give him that little extra guide
and care; but in doing that, she had grown protective over him. I could
understand her wanting to know if he was all right, but this was just not the
week to be asking it of me.
    “Well, don’t you talk then?”
    “Honestly, I think you are on better terms
with Shawn right now than I am.” I shrugged.   “Besides, you’re the one who told me to give him some space…” At the
memory, I narrowed my eyes, as though demanding an explanation.
    My mother’s shoulders scrunched up and she
cringed slightly. “I know…I know and I still think that is what he needs, but I
miss him.” Her eyes grew wide as she added, “I miss the friendship that you and
him had.” She laughed slightly. “Even though you guys did your share of stupid
stuff together, I never worried about you two when you were together. The only
time I ever really worried is when you were off with strange children.”
    “What about when I am with Zachary?” I
asked as I thought, you know, Mom, the
wonder boy, but I didn’t dare say that. I knew that it would only make her
feel bad and that was the last thing I was trying to do.
    She nodded earnestly. “Yes, I worry about
you when you are with Zachary. I like him a lot, but he isn’t…” she stopped and
amended, “even though he might be, a long time from now, he isn’t family and
Shawn is.”
    I felt my face scrunch up with confusion.
“Okay, well…chances are that I am going to marry someone who isn’t family and
then you are going to have to trust me with them…”
    She rolled her eyes and sighed loudly. “I
know that and I feel comfortable with Zachary, but you’re missing my