Fifteen seconds later, Calum flips the bedside lamp. Shadows fall over his face and top. He is wearing a black singlet that exposes his nipples.“Fine,” Calum says. “If you want to stay here, we have to talk about something else. Deal or no deal?”“Deal,” I answer but I have no idea what we can talk about. Well, I do but I’m not sure he will like to hear it. I cross my legs under me and he mimics my position. We sit, facing each other without saying a word. “So…” I draw circles on his bedsheet. “What to talk about?” “What’s your issue with seatbelts?” His fingers circle a spot on his knee. My chest tightens as he looks on in anticipation of a reply. “Your dad told me already but I would like to hear it from you.” I hear the sadness in his voice and I don’t want that. I don’t want Calum’s sadness or pity. When yo

In Jackson’s dictionary, later must mean the end of school because he’s waiting for me at the door of my last class. One look at him through the glass and I’m tempted to stay back in the class. The last student leaves. I follow suit. Jackson beams as he collects my backpack. It’s a sweet gesture that doesn’t feel so sweet right now. “Are you going for rehearsals?” he asks. We start down the noisy hallway with his hand hanging loosely around my waist. Every time I push his hand, he brings it back. Doesn’t he get it? Where’s Rose? I need her to get me out of here. “Yes, I am.” “Good. I’ll walk you.” I stop walking. “You don’t have to.” Jackson blinks down at me in shock. I seize the chance to grab my bag from him. Hurt registers on his face and I almost feel bad for him. But I already told him,

Calum is asleep on my return. At least I think he is. Watching him, my conscience pricks me. A ten minute stop turned into fifty minutes. I raise my hand to knock on the window but his eyelids flutter open. He stretches his arms and yawns. “Kinda creepy standing over there to watch someone having his beauty sleep.”I blush. “I wasn’t watching you, Cal.” A beep sounds from the car to signify he opened the passenger door and I bounce to the other side. Silence welcomes us in its familiar embrace. I fiddle with the hem of my shorts while working up an apology. We didn’t do much talking. By the time I left, Amelia was fast asleep. My hand wraps around the seatbelt fixed in its place. Calum breaks the silence first. “Well, that took so long. How did it go? Bad? Horrible? Awful?”  On a quick inspection of his face, I see that he is teasing. His lips quirk in that cute pout and my hea

Awkward is not enough to describe the days that follow after that ‘mistake’. Three days later and Calum is still leaving for school earlier than he usually does. At home, our conversations are a lull; polite and tentative. During rehearsals, he hardly glances my way and it’s infuriating. The past days have been a rinse and repeat for me. Since Amelia is out of her slump, she’s back to being my driver. Whatever happened in her room stays between us. After practice, I would hitch a ride with Rose and listen to her repeat the same question: Is everything okay with your stepbro? He didn’t say a word to you during rehearsal. And I would roll my eyes and say yes. For now, I need to focus on my chemistry class. On what Mr Andy is saying. I haven’t been able to pay attention since he walked in with a pile of sheets. Last week, we had a quiz. There was not enough time for me to prepare but I think I might come close t

Calum wants me. A man doesn’t look at a lady he doesn’t want naked under him the way my stepbrother is staring at me right now. Since I walked into his room, he has been staring. But he doesn’t act on his desires, neither do I. After the near-kiss incident, I’ll only follow his lead. His tongue wets his bottom lip and my resolve weakens. Telling myself to behave is one thing, doing it is another thing. With Calum in that tank top, it’s increasingly harder to keep my hands to myself. My back digs into the door as I scan the room for any form of distraction. None.“You wanted to see me,” I say at last.Calum jerks out of his daydream. “Yeah.” As he says this, he takes another step closer to me. I lick my lips. My heart is doing high jumps. He is too near. So close. “You’re off probation.”“That’s it?” comes out of me in a squeaky voice. I clear my throat. “