Stepbrother Forbidden (Stepbrother, Where Art Thou? Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

Same thing goes for drinking. If nobody ever teaches you about the risks you won't know how to stay safe, and you'll end up drugged, or getting your stomach pumped because you didn't know you can't drink vodka by the pint. You know what I'm saying?"
     
    "No, not really," she snapped. She was in too much pain to be condescended to by Ryan. "I don't think I'm in the mood for lectures, and especially not from a guy who was brought home by the cops last night, wasted. You know what I'm saying?"
     
    Ryan looked away, embarrassed. "Yeah, that was pretty dumb, but I... y'know, there was a reason I was drinking. I don't think I need to tell you what it was."
     
    Sophia felt bad for lashing out at him. "Yeah. Yeah, I know. Sorry."
     
    "Don't worry about it," he replied, entirely unconvincingly. He stared at the carpet for a moment, as if steeling himself for what was to come. "So, look... I've decided to head out to Notre Dame a little earlier than expected. The coach has been bugging me to spend some time in training over the summer, and I thought it might be a good idea. Y'know, I gotta work on my fitness, and it'll give me a chance to, like, get to know the campus before classes start. It just makes sense."
     
    Sophia didn't know how to respond. She didn't know if she could respond. She'd spent most of the last couple of weeks wishing she was anywhere but a wall away from Ryan, but right now... she didn't know what to think. The idea of there being a few states between them was just too much to take in.
     
    "I don't want you to go." Her words came out almost a whisper, and she found herself reaching out for Ryan's hand.
     
    He took it, and clasped both hands around hers. "I don't want to go either." He looked as if he was fighting with all his strength to hold back his emotions, and failing. "I don't want to be anywhere you're not, Sophia. I want to be with you." He squeezed her hand and looked deep into her eyes, and she had to fight to pull away from his gaze. She felt as if one more second would wash away her resolve.
     
    "I want to be with you too, but you know why we can't be together." Her voice cracked a little as she spoke.
     
    "No, I don't," Ryan forcefully replied. "I really don't. I don't care that our parents are getting married. I don't give a fuck that people might think its wrong. I just don't care, and I don't know why you do. I love you, Sophia. That's all that matters to me."
     
    Sophia just couldn't find the words to express her feelings. Nothing seemed appropriate. There was nothing she could possibly say that would make Ryan understand... understand that her mother's happiness was more important than her own. That she couldn't do anything to hurt her. That the family was more important than she was, and that it always would be.
     
    "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I just can't. I love you, but I can't." She knew her words meant nothing, but they were all she had to offer.
     
    Ryan stared at the carpet, clutching her hand as if the moment he let go she'd vanish. "I have to go now," he said. "It's for the best."
     
    He stood from his chair, but Sophia held onto his hand. "Please stay," she pleaded, terrified that this would be the last time she saw him.
     
    "I can't," he replied sadly, gently pulling his hand away. "I'm sorry."
     
    With those final words he walked out the door, leaving Sophia staring through tearful eyes at her hand, wishing harder than she'd ever wished for anything that she could feel his touch once more.
     
    *

 
     
     
    The afternoon sunlight reached its fingers through the side streets, and as the cab passed out of the shadows at each intersection Sophia winced at the sudden stab of pain in her head. The Ray Bans Sara had lent her did little to help, even after a few more hours of sleep since Ryan had left, but they did hide her red-rimmed eyes.
     
    "I just realized I haven't thanked you for last night," she said, turning to Sara. "I really appreciate it. I don't dare think