Falling for my Stepbrothers

PART ONE; CHAPTER TWELVE

RESENT DAY; RETURNING HOME

CHAPTER TWELVE

ERIK

“I missed you, kid,” I said into the top of her head, enjoying the warmth of her body pressed up against mine way more than I should. I can't believe she's home after all this time. We all missed her so damn much, she was gone way too long. The past four years have been absolute hell while she's been gone, and if I had anything to do about it, she wouldn't be leaving again. I haven't exactly figured out the details of that, but that's what I have to convince the rest of the guys about.

"I missed you too," she says softly, looking at me awkwardly, then looking away.

Wondering how long it was going to be before she cracked, and that night was brought up. "The truck is parked over here," he stated, picking up her suitcase and walking in the direction that he pointed in.

Walking ahead of me, I notice the dress she's wearing, which barely covers her ass. Growing, I say. "What happened to the rest of your clothes Alex, pretty sure there should be more fabric to cover your ass"?

“What? It’s not my fault if you can’t handle it," she smirked, but silently loving that he noticed her dress. The girls were right, suggesting this dress be the one she'd seen first.

“What happened to that sweet little girl who blushed the second one of us said a bad word or showed you a dirty magazine, the one who'd only wear a bikini if you had a cover-up to put over it?” I whisper, barely able to believe, the girl we sent off to college, is now the woman standing before me now, not believing they are the same. Alex was innocent, we could all tell, she could never hide that particular detail about herself, although she always tried her best, walking around the house practically nude, but not in public, if there was any chance of anyone, other than us, seeing her body, she wanted to cover herself up. Thinking back smugly, this girl has always been ours for the taking.

"That girl is long gone. She grew up, she kind of had to, don't you think Erik?” she says, making a little absentminded gesture with her hand.

She says it lightly, and with a smile on her face, but I see the deep pain in her eyes, that those words drag up.

Unable to stop myself, I drop my eyes down the length of hers, as my thumb brushes along my bottom lip. Wanting to lighten the mood, and be a little playful with her, my voice lowers, and I say, “So you have. Tell me Alex, how many guys do I have to warn away from you?” Already knew everything about her, thanks to her living in one of Mike's apartment buildings, which we conveniently made sure was covered with cameras and bugs, that she was never aware of. We know more about her four years away than she thinks.

Eyebrows shooting up, she places her hands on her hips. “Um… none. I am a strong, independent woman. I am more than capable of fighting off guys who don’t give me flutters in my tummy.”

"Flutters in your tummy?” I asked, but when her eyes lit up with mischief, I realize my mistake. “No, never mind, don’t answer that.”

"Erik, I hate to break it to you, but I'm not the annoying little girl that left for college four years ago," I see the hurt flicker across her eyes, but a second later she blinks it away, managing to hide it. "What I want, isn't found in children's fairy tales, but it should still give you flutters in your tummy" she continues softly.

"I know you've grown up, Alex. I just can't say that we are all quite ready for that." I said, wondering if she wore that dress as a way to show us just how grown she was.

My last comment was not commented on. Instead, the rest of the drive home was done pretty much in silence. We chatted about college and the friends she made while she was gone. The subject of the event that took her away from us for so long never came up. However, I'm not delusional, I know it's going to be discussed, it just doesn't need to happen first thing upon her arrival. At some point, somehow it will be brought up, not that I'm looking forward to that conversation.***

Lunch is the first order of business, as I'm starving. We end up stopping at a local place, excusing myself to go to the bathroom to freshen up and make a call. Calling the girls, after Erik and I separate, to let them know I've arrived OK, is second on my list of things to do. Before lunch, as I was starving and airport food wasn't cutting it, I decided to chat with them on speakerphone. After all, they are my very best friends and I tell them everything. They're my sounding board, if they say it's OK, then it most likely is, and I'm not insane. Of course, we are talking about Mary and Tina.

"So, how was the reunion?" she asks as I'm putting on my eyeliner and getting ready for lunch.

"About as fun as expected, I imagine, it was just Erik. To be fair, we're not home yet. Only Erick came to the airport to pick me up, the others were off doing more important stuff I guess, than welcome me home after how many years?" I say gruffly, dropping the eyeliner back into my makeup bag. "I'm sure it'll only get better once the others come home," I say absentmindedly, but completely sarcastically as well.

"You at least saw Erik. How was that?" Tina asks

"It was....." The interaction with him ran through my mind as I was trying to come up with a suitable but honest answer. "Interesting to say the least."

"Interesting? You've been back how long? You should have juicer tea to spill besides that."

Shrugging at myself knowing they can't see. "Today was... Awkward, if I had to put a word on it. The subject of why I went away was never brought up. I've got to run, will call soon, love your chicks." I said. Hanging up to resume finishing my makeup

Erik decided to take me to my favorite BBQ spot, Cecil's Texas-style BBQ. I missed that place. Out of all the BBQ joints around, Cecil's is the best.

Arriving home after lunch, sitting in the truck just looking around, taking in all the changes that had been made to the property, hoping coming home wasn't a mistake, or wasn't too soon. Looked towards the house, saw the lights inside, and knew they were probably all in there. I stayed put, putting off opening the door.

"You ready to go in"? He asks quietly, seeing my hesitation.

"Not really" I respond solemnly.

"I never took you for a chicken s**t Alex, they aren't here right now, it's just you and me. They'll be back soon though. We didn't want to crowd you or spook you. Let's go in and get you settled. You look tired. Why don't you take a shower and get some sleep? Tomorrow is another day". Hoping to alleviate some of her anxiety. She hasn't been home in four years, since she left for college, and spooking her is the last thing any of us wants. The reason behind her leaving kept her away; she never even came home for holidays. So, if any of us wanted to see her in person, we'd have to go to her. A few times a year, she'd get a visit from one or a few of us. However, it was just a matter of turning on the app on any of our devices, if we wanted to know exactly what she was doing, which we guiltily have done a few times. OK, several times, the girl never put up a shower current that would cover her, and the camera in the room she had in that apartment faced her bed, and a perfect shot to zoom in on to see a close-up, of her wet p***y as she m*********d, always crying out one of our names. Looking at her, knowing how much I loved her, how much I couldn't survive if she left again, I had to convince her, and the rest of the guys, that as unconventional as it would be, it was worth it. No one has ever been able to wipe her from any of our minds. I'm done trying, and I think the rest are too.

Looking up shyly, she replies, "OK, let's go in"

***