“Yeah, the crew.” Jared was still conversing with the guy I hoped was a figment of my imagination. “We worry with her up north and us down here. She doesn’t have anyone to watch out for her there.” Please, Jared, just shut up now. He made me sound helpless.
Caleb smiled charmingly and I noticed his subtle move to detach himself from the clinging girl. “No problem, anything for Gigi.” The tilt of his lips turned sarcastic when he aimed his grin my way. I so wasn’t okay with him calling me by my nickname. He’d no doubt turn it into a taunt.
Just great, now Caleb was best buddies with Jared? Someone could just kill me now. I rolled my eyes at them and stomped off to the kitchen to get a drink. Cece came up behind me as I pulled a wine cooler out of the fridge. “Gigi, your stepbrother seems pretty cool, not at all like you described him. Why didn’t you tell me how hot he is?”
“Huh, I didn’t notice,” I remarked dryly. “But I guess he’s hot, if you like the type.” Her disbelieving expression called me out on being a big fat liar. A girl would have to be blind not to take note of what genetic perfection Caleb was.
“So, you think I’m hot?” I spun around and there was Caleb leaning in the doorway, his face smug.
Running a hand over my wet hair, I said coolly, “That’s not exactly what I said.”
“No, but that’s what you meant.” he countered. I opened my mouth to say something else but he interrupted, “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend, Gigi?” He had an assessing glint in his gaze as he scanned Cece’s petite figure.
“Don’t call me Gigi. This is my best friend, Cece. Cece, this is my stepbrother, Caleb.” I gestured back and forth indifferently.
“Caleb! Gigi’s stepbrother!” Cece exclaimed excitedly, pulling a startled Caleb down into a hug. She added, “Welcome to the family!” Clearly caught off balance, his response was amusing.
“The family?” he repeated quizzically.
“Yeah, the gang. We’re each other’s second family. Well, actually, Jared really is my family because he’s my older brother. But then, you’re Gigi’s brother, also.” Sometimes Cece was too friendly for her own good. Sometimes even for my own good.
“Stepbrother,” Caleb corrected her, emphasizing the step part.
Cece waved her hands in the air and said, “Whatever.” As the notes of a new song filtered in from the living room, her face lit up and she danced off. “That’s my song!” Cece, gotta love her.
Caleb watched her leave in puzzlement. His focus turned back to me and I felt weird with him towering over me. He was much too close. “I think we need to have a little talk,” he suggested sternly. Before I could say anything, he grabbed my arm and pulled me out the back door.
Once outside, I shouted, “Let me go, Caleb!” I got ready to struggle, but he immediately released me. Feeling a bit deflated, I rounded on him defiantly. “What do you want?”
Something strange passed over his features, almost like confusion, before it turned into amusement. Disregarding my cutting tone, he crossed his arms over his chest and taunted, “Does your mother know what you’re up to every Saturday? Because I was under the impression she thought you went to ballet during the day and had a slumber party with Cece at night. I don’t think she’d be very happy to find out instead of sleepovers, you’re going to downtown clubs and parties.”
“No, she doesn’t know and you better not tell her!” If he tattled on me, it’d be all out war.
“And why should I keep my mouth shut? I think Julie has a right to know what her daughter is up to.” His mock concern only enraged me more.
Feeling threatened and more than a little panicked, I blurted out, “Because this is all I have! These are my only real friends! The only people who give a shit about me and who I can be myself with! Without this, I will go freaking insane!” To my embarrassment, my voice pleaded. “My mom wouldn’t understand and she definitely wouldn’t approve.” I tried to sound menacing as I finished with, “I won’t let anyone take this away from me.”
To my surprise, the look on his face transformed momentarily, softening. Then just as fast his smug expression was back and he shrugged. “I guess I could be persuaded to keep my mouth shut.”
“Persuaded?” I asked warily.
“Yes, persuaded,” he drawled in a voice I found disturbingly sexy. “Here’s the deal, Gigi. I keep your Saturday secrets and you do what I say the rest of the week.”
“You asshole, I’m not having sex with you!” I practically screamed at him.