Stepbrother Undefeated: An MMA Romance (3 page)

I decided to go into town and visit my best friend Kayla. She had spent the summer working at "Bras N Things" so we hadn't spent a lot of time together lately.

"Willow!" She shrieked dropping a box of panties to the ground and running over to me with her arms open wide, ready to hug me.

"Hey Kay," I said hugging her back.

"Oh my God! You are a saint. I am going out of my mind here!" She exclaimed boldly. I had known Kayla my whole life and she was the most out there person in Altria. She was 5'9" with long platinum blonde hair and luminous golden skin. To say she was gorgeous would be an understatement - she was super model material.
 

"So am I!" I replied looking around the store, "I almost wish I'd gotten a summer job to save myself from boredom, I've literally done nothing all summer," I sighed walking over to a lacy red lingerie set that caught my eye.

"Sexy, huh?" Kayla said referring to the set.

"Ya huh," I replied picking up the price tag. Not in my budget.

"For Caleb?" she said winking at me, "I can get you a discount!"
 

"For myself?" I said laughing, "really? how much of a discount?"

"50% yo!!" she said, "try it on!!"
 

"Wow., okay I will," I said walking to the fitting room.
 

I took off my sports bra and tried on the bra, pushing up my B cup breasts. The bright red stood out against my pale skin, for the first time in my life I actually thought I looked sexy.

"Can I see?" Kayla said from behind the curtain.

"Sure," I said letting her come in.

"Oh Em Gee!!!" she exclaimed, "you look insanely hot Willow!"
 

"Really?" I said turning around in the mirror, I never owned "sexy" lingerie before since I was a virgin and all it wasn't like anyone was going to see me in it.

"Yes. Really!" Kayla said, "you have to get it!"
 

"Hmm I dunno, I'll think about it. I don't really have anyone to wear it for," I told her.

"Uhh..What about Caleb? When are you gonna put that sexy man out of his misery and let him have all of you?" Said Kayla.

"His misery!?" I exclaimed knowing she was just teasing.

"Oh you know what I mean Willow, sorry to sound all un-pc but jeeee-sus girl aren't you horny as hell" she said in her usual over the top voice, "if Caleb was my man I would be all over that twenty-four-seven."

I laughed nervously. Lately I had the desire to go further...even all the way. It was just that it wasn't Caleb I desired to do that with.

"Yeah well...we'll see," I said trying to change the subject. "How's the family?" I asked.

"They're good! Bradley's in town for a couple of weeks." Kayla told me. "Speaking of brothers Brad said he saw Logan at the gym. You never told me he was back in Altria"

"Oh, didn't I?" I said nonchalantly. Of course I didn't tell Kayla about Logan's return, I didn't want to talk about it to anyone, not even my best friend. "Anyway I better get going. Do you want to join Caleb and I at the diner tonight?" I said changing the subject.

"Yeah sure, I'll catch you two there later," Kayla said.

CHAPTER FIVE

I was straightening my hair when I heard a knock at my bedroom door.
 

"Yeah?" I called out expecting it to be Mom.

"Can I come in?" I heard Logan say.

"Uh..Just a second," I said putting down my straightening iron and walking to the door. I took a deep breath and opened it to find Logan standing there. Our eyes met and it felt like a bolt of electricity suddenly shocked through my body.
 

"So I was wondering if you wanted to hang out?" he asked me casually.

I wasn't sure what was going on in his head, was this some game he was playing with me or was he seriously trying to act like we were regular siblings.

"Sorry, I have plans," I told him.

"Oh really?" he asked. "What plans would they be?"

I looked up at him. He towered above my petite body.

"I'm meeting Caleb and Kayla at the diner," I told him trying to keep cool.

"Well it wouldn't be a problem if I joined too," He said, it wasn't a question as much as it was a statement.
 

Was I being a total bitch right now? I almost wanted to tell him to get a clue and he wasn't welcome. The truth was I liked the idea of hanging out with Logan like old times, I was just scared of what it would do to me. I was trying to move past my feelings for him and the only way I could see that happening was if we stayed away from each other.

"So you and Caleb Dryer?" He asked. His expression was blank and I couldn't tell what was going on in his head. Why was he asking about Caleb?

"Yeah, he's my boyfriend, he's a great guy," I told him staring right at his face trying to gage his reaction.

Logan took a step towards me so we were inches apart. My heart began racing and heat prickled my cheeks.

"I'm glad you're happy Willow," he said in a breathy voice. He lifted his hand to my face brushing the loose hair behind my ear. I closed my eyes to the soft touch of his fingertips caressing my cheek.

Commotion downstairs took me out of the moment. I could hear Mom talking with Caleb.

"Caleb's here," I said pulling away from Logan. What the hell was Logan playing at?

I went to my room grabbing my purse and marched downstairs. I wasn't sure if Logan would still be joining us, I wasn't sure what to make of the moment that had just taken place between us.
 

I arrived to find Mom and Caleb talking. Mom really liked Caleb, I know she was rooting for us to work out.
 

"You look nice Willow," Mom said to me.

"Thanks Mom," I said smiling back at her.

"She always does," Caleb said winking at me.
 

Logan came down the stairs now standing in the entrance with us. I shot him a look but decided to play it cool. Maybe I was overreacting.

"Cay, you remember Logan right?" I said to Caleb while gesturing in Logan's direction.

"Yeah, hey man...Long time no see," he said to Logan extending his hand.

"Hope you don't mind if I tag a long," Logan said to Caleb.

Mom smiled at me, she was probably happy to see us hanging out again. If only she knew the bigger picture.
 

"That's cool," Caleb said putting his arm around my shoulder. I looked at Logan to gage his reaction but as usual was left with nothing.

The drive over was a little awkward so I was thankful it was just a short distance. When we got to the diner, Kayla was already there playing on her phone and drinking her usual strawberry thick shake.
 

"Heyyyy!!!" She squealed when she saw us.
 

"Hey Kay!" Caleb said taking a seat next to her.
 

I slid in the opposite booth and Logan sat beside me.

"Wow Logan I didn't expect to see you!" Kayla said grinning at him. I could tell what she was thinking, I could tell what any girl was thinking when they looked at him - he was panty melting hot.
 

"Yeah.." Logan said. "How have you been? You look good,"
 

Ugh. Kayla blushed a little as they made flirtatious banter. I stared at Caleb trying to show him how uncomfortable I was but he didn't seem to get it, instead he joined in their conversation.

"No way! You're going to SOCU too? Willow never said anything," Kayla said looking at me.

"Oh...yeah, well I only just found out," I said.

We ordered our food and I watched as the three of them acted like old friends, chatting away.
 

I was half way through my burger when Logan asked the question.

"So Caleb, what will you do when Willow moves to Cali?" Logan said looking straight at Caleb.

What the fuck!? What business did Logan have asking a question like that. Caleb finished his mouthful of food and looked at me. I could tell he didn't quite know what to say so I acted quickly butting into the conversation.

"We're still working that out," I said "Caleb's got his shop here, he's doing really well," I tried to make it sound as positive as I could.
 

Caleb, Logan and I sat there awkwardly finishing our food while Kayla ranted on about a thousand things. Talking about nothing was her speciality and she loved being in the spotlight.
 

When we finished our meal Kayla pulled out a paper bag and placed it on the table top.

"What's that?" I asked pointing to the bag.

"A present!" She squealed sliding it over to me.

I peeked in the bag and saw what it was - the lacy red lingerie set.

"Oh my gosh! Kay!" I said looking at her.

"What is it?" Logan asked.

"Oooh just some sexy lingerie for some lucky man!" Kayla said in an overly excited girly way.

"Oh really?" Caleb asked looking at me and smiling. I smiled back, I could feel my cheeks turning red.
 

"I'm out guys!" Logan said, "it was nice seeing you all," he tossed some money on the table.

"Bye Logan! We should hang out again" Kayla called after him. "Oh my God! He is hot!" She exclaimed after he was gone.

"He's a bit odd" Caleb said. "Why'd he take off all of a sudden?"

"That's just Logan" I said. "He does what he pleases."

CHAPTER SIX

Caleb was silent as we drove to my place.
 

"What's up babe?" I asked trying to figure out why he suddenly had nothing to say to me.

He stared at the road not looking over at me.

"I can't handle this Willow," he said, finally breaking the silence.

Handle what?! I thought to myself although I had a fair idea where he was going to go with this conversation.

"I'm freaking out here...You're just so....You're so hot and cold, I don't know what's going on between us anymore," Caleb exclaimed. I kept quiet, unsure what to say. "I love you Willow. I fucking love you. I just don't know if that counts for anything, I mean - you can't even say it back," he said as we pulled up outside my house. We sat in silence for a minute. Caleb rested his head on the steering wheel.

"I'm sorry," I finally said, not sure what else I could possibly say right now. He was right - he was this amazing man who loved me and what I was doing wasn't fair to him, I needed to let him go.

"So what? It's over? Just like that?" He asked in a scrambled voice.

I didn't know what to say, I'd never done anything like this before. I didn't want to hurt him - I cared for him so much, I loved him even - I just wasn't in love with him.

"You deserve more than this Caleb," I finally said.
 

"Fuck," he said looking at me, his eyes were glazed over, "Why Willow? Why don't you love me?" He asked. I felt my eyes fill with tears, "I'm sorry Willow..." he said putting his arms around me. I began sobbing. "Fuck.." Caleb said pulling me close.

I felt like a selfish idiot that in this situation Caleb was the one comforting me. We sat in his car for twenty minutes embracing each other in silence. I finally composed myself enough to get out a sentence. This was good bye, it had to be. I pulled away from Caleb taking one long last look at him.

"I never wanted to hurt you Caleb. I'm sorry," I told him. "I have to go...Take care of yourself," I said opening the door of the car.

"Yeah...Do what you have to do. Goodbye Willow," Caleb said.
 

I went inside with tears streaming down my face.
 

CHAPTER SEVEN

I got up early the next morning and went out for a run. I needed to do anything to clear my mind. Even though I wasn't in love with Caleb it still hurt like hell ending things with him. The biggest feeling I felt was guilt. I was guilty of stringing him along and I didn't even realise what I was doing until it was too late. I knew once Logan returned that my relationship with Caleb only existed to mask the pain of losing Logan - the only boy I ever loved.

I came back dripping with sweat. The first thing I saw when I opened the front door was Logan. He was shirtless as usual showing off his muscular body and six pack abs. He had his gym bag on him and looked like he was on his way out. Our eyes met and I quickly looked away, I didn't want him to see that I was upset. Too late. He put his hands on my shoulders to stop me walking past him.

"Hey?" he said softly, "what's wrong Will?"

I shook my head grabbing at his wrists to take them off my shoulders. I couldn't do this, not here, not now, not with him. He stepped back releasing me, instead blocking the stairwell so I couldn't go to my room. All my pent up anger took over me, I was enraged. How could he lead me on all those years just to cut me out when he pleased, and with no explanation.
 
I looked up at him spying the tattoo on his chest. "Marilyn" I read it again.
 

"You!" I said poking the tattoo.
 

He backed away covering the tattoo with his hand. He looked shocked.
 

"You're what's wrong Logan. You. You. YOU!!!" I raised my voice. Every feeling I had suppressed for the past year, my sadness and rage was burning through me like wild fire. I tried to fight back the tears but I couldn't stop them. I was at breaking point.

"It's not what you think Willow," He said. I could tell he was trying hard to compose himself.
 

"Why couldn't you just stay away forever! You ruined me! I can't do anything, because of you! I can't have a boyfriend, because of you! I can't love anyone, BECAUSE OF YOU!" I yelled, "and now, now you're going to SOCU. Why!? Why couldn't you just leave me be, why can't you just leave me alone so I can forget about you!" I fell to the ground.

"I'm sorry Willow." He said walking to the door, "I just wanted to make it right," he stared at me shaking his head, his jaw clenched, "I just can't ever seem to get it right."

He walked out the door leaving me in tears. It wasn't the first time.
 

CHAPTER EIGHT

The next two weeks went by painfully slow. I had, had little interaction with Logan since our incident and Caleb hadn't contacted me at all. I put all my energy into getting ready for college. I had packed all my belongings and we were due to be driving cross state tomorrow - just Logan and I. He had bought a new car and it was a nice one too, my car was wrecked and wouldn't survive the trip so I had to leave it behind. I wondered where he got the money for the car but since we weren't exactly on speaking terms I didn't ask.