Stepbrother With Benefits 16 (Third Season) (3 page)

"I don't like that you did that," I say.  "I don't like that she did that, either.  I'm upset."

Ethan pauses, presumably unsure how to take this.

"Yeah," he says, agreeing with me.  "I don't fucking like it, either."

"What are we supposed to do about it?" I ask him.

"Uh... what?"

"I don't know.  I don't know how to have an argument with you," I say.  "Not a real one, at least.  It's fun to play argue with you sometimes, but... I mean, you said it was an accident, right?  And then she was just doing it back as payback?"

"Yeah," Ethan says.  "I didn't think she'd grab my cock, though.  I had pants on.  We were in the common room.  It's not like we were naked.  It was like... two seconds.  Listen, I swear she's fucking crazy, Princess.  She grabbed Caleb's crotch earlier, too.  Caleb was trying to sneak a peek at the, uh... shit... you know... the website..."  He says the last part very hushed.  "Scarlet was glaring at him, telling him not to do that, asked if he liked it, but he denied it, so... yeah, she checked.  Weird as fuck if you ask me."

"So, Caleb and Scarlet have seen me naked now?" I ask him.  "Great..."

"Yeah, but if it makes you feel better, Caleb didn't get a hard-on from it," Ethan says.

"Actually that doesn't make me feel better, Ethan.  That kind of makes me feel worse."

"Well, it's Caleb.  He probably gets hard from stupid shit like flowers and unicorns."

"He does not!" I say, laughing.  "Shut up.  That's not nice.  He's our friend."

"I think he just needs to get laid," Ethan adds.  "Scarlet, too.  They just need to go at it together, fuck the shit out of each other, and then they'll be fine.  That's the real problem here, Princess."

"You just think sex can fix everything, don't you?" I ask him, smirking.

"Nah," he says.  "Blowjobs can fix some things that sex can't."

"I think blowjobs are basically like sex," I say, shaking my head at him through the phone.  "Sex things happen during blowjobs."

"Whatever," Ethan says, grumbling.  "Maybe you're right.  I don't know.  Scarlet seemed weird earlier, like she was trying to... fuck if I know.  Prove herself?  And Caleb's been weird the entire time, so I don't know if he's weirder now or what."

"You're changing the subject, you know?" I tell him.  "You still need to apologize to me for grabbing Scarlet's breast on accident and then letting her grab your crotch."

"I didn't let her!" Ethan says, defiant.  "But... yeah... fuck.  I'm sorry.  It really was an accident, Princess.  I don't know why this shit keeps happening to me."

"Because you're cute," I say.  "And handsome... and you're fun, and funny.  You're very attractive.  But you're mine now, so..."

"Damn fucking straight," he says, practically growling into the phone.  "You're mine, too.  Don't go letting guys cop a feel on you or anything, alright?"

"Ethan, I don't think that sort of thing happens to anyone but you," I say.  "I have actually had absolutely no accidental 'feel coppings' happen today.  Um... my roommate and her friend saw me in my bra and panties, though.  My mom just opened the door randomly when I was changing and they were outside, so..."

"Whoa, and you're just now telling me?" he asks.

"It was embarrassing!  Before that they came in the room after we...
you know
... on the phone?  And I was naked under the blankets, so... they didn't see anything then, but they knew what I was doing.  Today's just been horrible."

"I know what you mean," he says.  "I'm going to try and help, alright?  My dad said I should let you tell me what you want to do, though.  We need to knit this thing in the butt, whatever the fuck that saying is."

"Nip it in the bud," I say.

"Oh," Ethan says, contemplative.  "Like weed?  Marijuana?"

"What are you even talking about?"

"Bud?  Listen, I don't smoke the shit, but I know words, Princess."

"You better not be smoking anything," I tell him.  "It's not that, though.  It's like flowers, I guess?  I don't know.  It's just a saying."

"Yeah," he says.  "Makes sense."

We're quiet after that.  I can't remember the last time we were randomly quiet while talking to each other.  It doesn't seem like a thing that can happen, but I guess it's happening right now.  Usually we fill our silence with cuddling, or smiling at each other, little quick kisses, or even just some nice eye contact.

Now, though... I don't know.  There's just nothing.  It's quiet.

"Ethan?" I say.

"Yeah, Princess?" he asks.

"After the shower, when I hung up with you and I was finishing up on my own, Jake called me.  I thought it was you at first, so I picked it up and was about to tease you, but then, um... it was him."

Ethan sounds angry, which I can definitely understand.  "What the fuck did that asshole want?" he asks.

"I don't know.  He was just being a jerk like always.  I yelled at him and hung up on him.  It really bothered me, you know?  Why is he doing this?"

"Fuck if I know, Princess," Ethan says, soft.

Ethan's rough and hard most of the time, but he can be soft and gentle when he wants to be.  I like that.  I think it's good that he knows when to be a bad boy and when to be a boyfriend.  They aren't mutually exclusive or anything.

"I can kick his ass if you want," Ethan says.  "Just say the word."

I laugh.  "I know you can," I say.  "I just... I don't know if that's enough."

"Yeah," he says.  "My dad and I were talking about it, and I can see how maybe kicking his ass isn't the best solution."

"Did you really just say that?" I ask, giggling.  "What kind of bad boy are you?"

"Hey, listen, Princess," Ethan says, authoritative.  "I'm not just a bad boy anymore.  I'm your stepbrother
and
I'm your boyfriend.  With benefits, too.  That's a lot of stuff, and they're all a little different.  Bad boy solutions are cool and all, but stepbrother solutions and boyfriend solutions are a little different sometimes.  There's like... finesse and all that, right?"

"Finesse," I say, rolling my eyes.  "Right.  Of course."

"Don't get me wrong, I'll kick his ass if you want, but I think he deserves more than that.  A lot more."

"I think so, too," I say.  "I just don't know what yet.  I... maybe this is dumb, but I don't want him to hurt anyone ever again.  It's not just about me.  He's already done it to me, and it still hurts.  It's embarrassing and humiliating, but I don't want anyone else to have to deal with that, either."

"Yeah, I get it," Ethan says, somber.  "No one deserves to be treated that way, and if the little fucking ass-penguin thinks he's getting away with it now, he's probably going to do it again to some other girl in the future."

I frown into the phone, trying not to laugh.  "Can you come up with a different insult?  I really like penguins.  They're cute.  Jake isn't as cute as a penguin.  He's more like, um... maybe he's a buffalo.  Ass-buffalo."

"Whoa, what the fuck do you have against buffaloes?" Ethan asks, teasing me.

The door opens, or it's been open.  I've been kind of distracted talking to Ethan.  My mom stands there, smiling at me.

"Who's an ass-buffalo?" she asks me.

"Jake is," I tell her.  "Ethan says he likes buffalo, though.  We need another animal."

"It's not like I love the fucking things, but buffalo burgers are pretty damn delicious, Princess."

"What about a mosquito?" my mom asks.  "Jake can be an ass-mosquito, because he's a pain in the butt and a pest."

"What about ass-mosquito?" I ask Ethan.  "My mom suggested it."

"It doesn't really roll off the tongue, but I like it," he says.  "Let's swat that fucker down."

"Alright," I say, grinning.  "Deal."

"Sounds good," Ethan says.  "You going to bed soon?  Your mom is back?"

"Yup, um... we can talk for a little more if you want, but I'm getting kind of tired."

"I get it," Ethan says.  "Don't worry.  I wish I was there to cuddle the fuck out of you, though.  Sorry, Princess."

"Is that all you'd do if you were here?" I ask him, blushing at my own words.

"Nah... I'd do a lot more than that, Princess.  I just don't want to get you too worked up since—"

"Ashley, need I remind you that I'm your mother and I'm in the room with you right now?" my mom says, shaking her head at me.  "Really!"

"—Yeah, that," Ethan says.  "You go to sleep, Princess.  I'll talk to you tomorrow, alright?"

"Alright," I say.  "Good night, Ethan.  Sweet dreams."

"You too, Princess.  I love you."

"I love you..."

I don't think either of us hangs up the phone.  I know it's silly, but I don't want to hang up the phone first.  I just listen, waiting.  I hear him breathing on the other end, and I think he can hear me, too.  I sit there, blissful and happy.  I like listening to Ethan breathe.  I guess that might seem weird, but it's nice.

When we used to sleep together, basically all this summer, I liked waking up to the sound of him breathing, or falling asleep to it.  It was comforting.  It reminds me of everything we have when we're together.  We still have it now, we just... we have to be apart for a little bit.  It's actually kind of a lot of time apart, but we'll see each other often.

Right?  I want to believe it.  I do believe it.

My mom takes the phone from me and smiles.  "Good night, Ethan," she says into it before hanging up.  She hands it back to me with a knowing nod.

"Thanks for being here for me, Mom," I tell her.

"Of course, dear," she says.  "Tomorrow you're going to have to hang up the phone on your own, though."

"That's not what I meant!" I say, laughing.

"I know.  I'm just teasing you.  You and Ethan are cute together.  Keep being cute together.  That's how relationships work, honey."

"I think there's a little more to it than that," I tell her.

"Maybe a little," she says, winking.  "Not much more, though."

––––––––

I
'm pretty sure the agreement with my mom was that she'd sleep on the floor.  I remember her adding "or we can share a bed" at the end of this, but when we all decided to go to bed, my mom was definitely on the floor.

It's not like I forced her to do it or anything.  I helped her set up a nice and cozy spot down there, too.  I gave her my best blanket!  She had a pillow and everything.  It should have been good.

Why, then, when I wake up in the middle of the night to something stirring beside me, is my mom pushing her way into bed with me.  I grumble, because it's not like this is a huge bed.  It's just a college dorm room, so the beds are intended for basically one person.  I wouldn't mind sharing the bed with Ethan, but that's more because we'd be cuddling and cuddling makes it easier to sleep in a small bed.

I don't even mind, I guess, except we had a deal.  It was an agreement, Mom!

At least she brings her pillow with her and doesn't try to steal mine.  I make a loud noise, like a harrumph or an ugghhh, or maybe both, and she just laughs.  My own mother is laughing at me while stealing half of my bed.

"Oh, shush," she says.  "Can you move over a little, honey?"

"Ugh," I say, but I scoot to the side, too.

She settles into bed next to me, and it kind of reminds me of when I was little and it used to rain and thunder.  I would tell my mom I was scared of the sound and the lightning, but I wasn't really.  For some reason, I used to think maybe she was scared of them, but she wouldn't tell me.  I don't know why I thought that.  It seems kind of silly now.

My mom's always been wonderful and nice, but I remember when I was younger and she used to stare off at nothingness for a couple of minutes at a time.  She only did it when she thought I wasn't looking, but I saw her now and then.  She looked lost and alone, like she needed a friend or some company or...

She'd brighten up whenever she saw me, though.  I don't think it was because she thought she had to.  I honestly believe it was because she felt less alone when I was with her.  I still think that, too.

I can't always be with her, though.  I'm glad Ethan's dad is with her when I'm not.  It makes me feel better.  I want my mom to be happy.

She'd laugh at me when I snuck into bed with her during thunderstorms, but she always seemed happier then, too.  Sometimes before we both fell asleep, she'd switch on the TV and we'd watch cartoons together, with the rain and the thunder crashing all around us.  It was like our own little safe haven, protected from everything, the two of us, together.

It's quiet in my dorm room again.  We're supposed to be going back to sleep.  I turn around quick and sneak over to give my mom a quick kiss on the cheek, though.

"I love you, Mom," I tell her.

She smiles at me.  "I love you, too, Ashley."

"Just don't steal my blankets, though," I tell her, sticking my tongue out.

"Oh, I wouldn't dare!" she says, grinning at me.

"Good!"

We settle down again and it's quiet once more.  It's warm and nice, even though my mom stole half my bed.  I close my eyes and drift back to sleep.

––––––––

T
he next day is kind of a blur.  I guess I never really thought about it before, but there's a lot to do at college.  Or, I should correct that and say there's a lot to do at college that precludes having a boyfriend.  I'm pretty sure college isn't exactly about having a boyfriend, so this makes sense, but...

Now that I have a serious boyfriend, I am distinctly sensitive to just how much time away from him I have to spend.

My mom and I wake up a little early to go get breakfast in the cafeteria.  It's nothing fancy, but it's nice to have a hot meal before starting the day.  They have pancakes today, but I decide to go with eggs and sausage instead.  I love pancakes so much, but I'm pretty sure they can't make them as good as Ethan does, so...

"Do you have a busy day planned for today?" my mom asks.

"The first day shouldn't be too bad," I tell her.  "It's more about settling in and setting up a plan for the rest of the semester."