Stepbrother Inked(59)

Flor nodded once, a sharp militaristic movement that made me want to  roll my eyes. The man talk was starting. But all I could really do was  smile. I felt the expression pull my lips apart in a grin. If my dad was  lecturing Florian, then maybe that meant  …  we could be a family again? A  different kind of family, maybe, but still a family.

"So you accept us?" Flor asked and I saw my dad's lips purse. He looked  to River for help and I watched as she finally turned her gaze to me.

"We love you," she said, "both of you." Her emphasis of the word didn't  escape me as Flor squeezed me even tighter against his chest. "The  acceptance part we'll have to work on." She held up a hand before anyone  could speak. "This is not a commentary on you or your relationship,  although that will take some getting used to, but a process, journey. As  a family, we'll have to make it together." River took another deep  breath and adjusted the flawless aqua top she had on. She pretended to  smooth out a wrinkle although I didn't see one.

"Mom," Flor said, his voice cracking a bit with emotion, "you're doing the shrink shit again."

My dad gave him a sharp look, but I broke from Flor's arms before he  could say anything, and I hugged him like I hadn't done in years,  wrapping my arms around him and squeezing tight enough that he grunted  and carefully tried to untangle me. My dad was never that good with  displays of affection, but he'd been there for me, that was more than I  could say for most people's parents.                       
       
           



       

"No intimacy in the house," he grumbled, glaring at Flor the way most  fathers probably glare at their daughter's boyfriends. I didn't clarify  what he meant. Obviously, it wasn't kissing he was worried about. "And  don't disrespect your mother. I won't stand for it anymore now than I  did before."

"Whatever," Flor said, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and sliding one  between his lips. Nobody else might've noticed, but I'd been studying  Florian for most of my life: his hands were shaking and the pulse in his  throat was pounding a mile a minute. We stared at each other as a  strangely peaceful (although somewhat awkward) silence descended on the  kitchen. In that look, I saw a million unspoken truths, a few  understandable fears, and a whole hell of a lot of love.

I moved towards him, deciding that it was better I test our parents'  declarations now than wait till later, and pulled the cigarette from his  lips so I could press my own against them. Flor took me in his arms and  kissed me until my father's growl sounded suspiciously close to  something a demon might make on its way out of hell.

"And I've decided," River said, trying to break the awkwardness in the  room by drawing all of our attention over to her. "That Art and I aren't  going to try for another baby. If it'll make it easier for the two of  you, I'd do anything."

I turned to look over at my shoulder at Florian and saw not a smirk, but a smile. A real smile.





Three years later  …



"Twenty-one is a big birthday, Abi. I'm not letting you wear jeans from Ross Dress for Less."

Addison tossed a short, sparkly dress at me, and I made a face. It  didn't matter how hard she tried or how much she pushed, I would never  be a fashionista.

"There's nothing wrong with ten dollar jeans," I mumbled, pretending I  didn't see her plant a hand on her hip and toss a 'mom' look my way.  Even Patrick admitted that narrowed gaze was terrifying. Addison was so  good at it, she could soothe Max and Rhonda's baby without breaking a  sweat. Personally, I was just glad they'd welcomed Flor and me back into  their lives. At this point, the hurt feelings and the awkwardness were  long gone. Max and Rhonda had a baby, Flor's old place to themselves,  and two of the infamous dumpster kittens. And we, we had each other and  that was all that mattered. Well, maybe that and our two cats. Bets, the  older one, the true love of his life and the only girl that I still  feared giving me a run for my money, had just peed all over Addison's  Alexander McQueen knit dress, so I guessed I really shouldn't complain  about today's outfit. If Addi'd really wanted to, she could've given me  something pink to wear.

I curled my fingers around the fabric and ran my thumb across it,  wondering what Flor would think of me in the dress. Flor. It didn't  matter how long we were together or how many times I got to kiss him, it  never got old. His eyes cut straight into my soul and his hands were  like fire, his lips like flame.

"Abi."

My friend snapped her fingers in front of my face.

"We're gonna be late if you keep spacing out."

I rolled my eyes and stood up, turning around and changing quickly into  the dress. Underneath, I had a very sultry set of red lingerie on, you  know, just in case. Oh, who am I kidding? Flor was a sure thing. That,  and I'd found my old shrine box in the trunk of his car. I'd been  looking for a jack and hadn't expected to see it, but there it was. And  inside, there were more than just pictures and an old hair clipping  (God, I'm a creeper); there was a ring.

No need to wonder what that was for. I sucked in a deep breath and shook  out my hands, trying not to get too excited about the prospect. I would  save that for the actual moment.

"Theo and Yuu reserved us a table. We're practically royalty, okay?  What's the rush?" I turned back around and held my arms out to the sides  like a mannequin. Addison looked me up and down once and then nodded,  reaching over to adjust the silver locket that I never took off. I  sighed again, but I knew better than to argue with her. Besides, I was  spending my twenty-first birthday at a drag club with two of the most  fabulous hosts the world had ever seen. It was doubtless that I would be  dragged up on stage for some sort of humiliating something or other.  And I would have to endure it all in heels. Best I look good doing it.

I groaned when Addi pushed a box over to me with her foot and leaned down to open the lid with tentative fingers.

Crap.

Red heels.

I knew she was serious now.

"Little black dress, cap sleeves, knee length hemline. A little sweet,  but still sexy. Now, pair it with a burst of slut on your feet, and all  eyes will be on you."

"I don't need all eyes, just Flor's."

Addison shook her head at me and fluffed her head of pink curls. Yes,  she was sporting a pink Afro and looked pretty awesome doing it. That  bitch.                       
       
           



       

"Just put the damn shoes on and let me touch up your makeup. Patrick's waiting in the car."

I did as she asked. After all, our friendship had managed to survive and thrive while I dated Flor. I kind of owed her for that.

"God, Addi, your head looks like a fucking clit with all that pink. I liked it better blonde."

Okay, so I owed her big time for that. Especially now that she had to live with him.

"Screw you, Florian," she said, rolling her eyes as she sashayed out of  the room in three inch purple heels. I stood stone still, nervous with  anticipation as Flor moved toward me and wrapped his arms around my  waist, leaning in close enough that I could feel his breath on my lips.  My blue eyes found his green ones, searching his expression to see what  he thought of my outfit. If the glint in his gaze meant anything, he  approved.

"Your dad texted me a picture of his new shotgun. I'm not really sure  how to feel about that," Flor said and I grinned. It'd taken a whole  hell of a lot to convince River not to make me a birthday dinner at home  for my twenty-first. I think she and my dad were still irked about it. I  was terrified to see what he'd do when Flor proposed to me.

"You should be afraid. Very afraid," I said, trying really hard not to  think about the time my dad had walked in on me and Flor doing it in the  living room. That was his own fault for not knocking. It was still  technically my apartment. Anyway, I was just glad that Flor wasn't dead  yet. It certainly wasn't easy dating your stepbrother; if I hadn't  thought family dinners could be anymore awkward, I was wrong. I think  the worst part was when River had tried to talk to me about condoms.  Shudder. "But don't worry, I won't let him hurt you, even if you're an  asshole."

"But I'm your asshole," Flor said and I laughed. But then his lips  brushed against mine and my entire body felt like it was coming apart at  the seams. Flor kissed me like he'd never let me go. Good thing, too,  because I knew I'd never let him go either. "And I love you," he said  again, making my entire body tingle from head to toe. There were some  things in this world that you just never got tired of hearing. "Happy  birthday, dope."