Stranded with My Stepbrother Chapter 118

Will

I hated Hank Collins with every fiber of my being, and Jeanie not a whole lot less. My arm stayed around McKenzie until she finally decided she needed to use the facilities at the gas station.

“I’ll get you your chocolate, if they have it,” I told her.

“And Dr. Pepper?” she asked hopefully.

“Is there any other kind of soda?” I replied with a soft smile.

When she was gone, I reluctantly turned to Hank and Jeanie. “Need something?” I grunted.

“She’s being just awful,” Jeanie sniffled.

My eye ticked. “I mean from the gas station. Not a therapist. Though you could both use one. A good one.”

“Thanks for the opinion, son, but we’re really not interested in what you think,” Hank said. “Who do you think you are, anyway? Your grandpa is why we’re all in this mess in the first place!”

“I somehow don’t think my grandpa would care if Sam were gay, and he always thought Caleb and Jacey were cute together,” I replied. “Not that I like to sing my grandpa’s praises at all.”

“How are we ever going to have grand—?” Jeanie began.

“If you start talking about how you don’t already have a grandchild, I’m getting you both an enema to get your heads out of your asses,” I snapped.

Jeanie stopped speaking.

“You can’t talk to her like—!” Hank started in.

I shoved the bench seat out of the way so I could get to the minivan door, causing them both to squeal in surprise. “I’ll be back. You can get your own damn food.”

“Why you little—!”

I ignored Hank and went into the gas station. I couldn’t find McKenzie’s chocolate, but I got a bag of Snickers since I could already tell this was going to be a long ride, and chocolate would be necessary.

I was just pulling four Dr. Peppers out of the refrigerator case when McKenzie walked up behind me and wrapped her arms around my waist. She laid her cheek on my back, and I set the Dr. Peppers down so I could put my hands over hers. “It’s going to be okay,” I promised, though I hated to lie.

“Liar,” McKenzie sighed. “But it’s the thought that counts.”

“I’m sorry we have to ride with them,” I said. “I think Hoot’s sorry, too.”

“I like Uncle Sam,” she replied. “Riding with him is okay.”

I nodded. I tugged her arm so she came around in front of me, and I kissed her deeply, wrapping her in my strong arms. “I’m going to try my best to make it okay. How’s that sound?”

“I know you will.” She kissed me again.

“What the fuck is going on here?!” Hank bellowed.

Both of us looked up to see him standing in the gas station doorway.

Jeanie was right behind him and peeked around his shoulder to stare at us, a look of horror on her face. “Oh my God.”

Hoot came up behind them and shoved them both inside. The two gas station attendants just stared at us all. “Reckon y’all wanna be caught on camera. Figure this’ll make things easier for ya.”

Hank turned beet red and turned on his heel, storming out.

Jeanie made a grossed-out face at us and walked around the perimeter of the store, keeping as much distance between us and her as possible, as though we were a pair of rattlesnakes. “I just need to get a few items,” she said quietly.

“You do that.” Hoot grunted. He walked with us as we finished gathering up the items we wanted, frowning at Jeanie the whole time.

Jeanie came to the counter just as we were finishing checking out. She looked as though she wanted to throw up. “Greg didn’t leave his wallet….”

“Don’t worry. I’ll pay for you,” I said icily. I bought her pile of things, things I was sure neither McKenzie nor I would touch, then put my hand on McKenzie’s back and ushered her out in front of me, putting myself between her and Jeanie.

Of course, that put Hank in front of her, which was not part of my plan. He leaned against the side of the minivan, his lips turned down disapprovingly. “You’re sleeping with my granddaughter, aren’t you?”

It really wasn’t a question. “Yes, he is,” McKenzie replied before I could. “And I’m guessing you have a problem with that, now that I’m suddenly your ‘granddaughter.’”

“You know your mother is his mother, right? You are even more awful than your parents! You are sleeping with your actual brother!” Hank yelled.

“More footage for Masterson. I imagine he’s enjoying the hell out of this,” Hoot muttered.

“Mom isn’t his mom. We aren’t related at all. She was just his surrogate, if you need to know. They did a DNA test and everything,” McKenzie said defiantly, putting her hands on her hips.

“It’s still disgusting,” Jeanie added after a pause. “I mean, you both came from Jacey.”

“Eleven years apart.” McKenzie rolled her eyes. “And my parents aren’t disgusting! You’re disgusting!!!”

“I have to agree with McKenzie,” Sam piped up from the front seat.

“Shut up, you fag!” Hank growled.

Sam balled his hands into fists, and I knew if he didn’t punch his father, I was going to.

McKenzie beat both of us to it, however. She slapped Hank right across the face. “How dare you call Uncle Sam something so awful!”

“He told us himself that’s what he is,” Hank snarled, holding his jaw. He looked as though he might take a swing at McKenzie, his own hand balling into a fist.

I put McKenzie behind me and puffed up to my full muscular stature.

Hoot didn’t bother with posturing. “You either get the fuck in the minivan and keep your goddamn trap shut for the rest of this ride, or I’m leavin’ you and ‘Mindy’ here to rot.” His voice was so cold I wouldn’t have been surprised if Hank’s balls froze off.

Hank hesitated, but at least his fists relaxed.

“I don’t want to ride with them, Hoot,” McKenzie said softly.

“I second,” Sam put in his two cents.

“Motion carries, but we ain’t got no choice,” Hoot grumbled. “Family’s family. For the rest of today.”

Jeanie stiffened. “What about tomorrow?”

“Reckon I’ll drop you two at the motel and leave without y’all in the mornin’,” Hoot mused. “Now unless y’all want me to leave you here for Masterson to find, y’all better get in that minivan right now.”

I helped McKenzie into the back quickly so Jeanie and Hank could get to their seats.

“It’s not right,” Jeanie murmured while Hank shook his head vigorously, glancing back at us while Hoot started the minivan. “It must be bad genes.”

“Guess that’s all on you, then,” McKenzie responded with a scowl.

Jeanie shuddered and cuddled into Hank’s side.

Hank was blessedly silent for the rest of the trip.

But then, so were we all.

Animosity made the air thick, almost unbreathable. Sam stared mutinously out the window. Jeanie and Hank kept glancing back at us with grimaces on their faces. And Hoot? Hoot just seemed to be done with the whole thing.

We stopped at a motel long after dark. I was sure Hoot stopped only because he couldn’t keep his eyes open anymore. He wanted this over with more than any of us.

“Me and Sam’ll share,” Hoot said, getting three keys from the listing rental office. “McKenzie and Will, and Greg and Mindy.” He began passing out the keys.

Hank snatched ours away. “I’ll stay with Will, and McKenzie can stay with Jeanie.”

I growled deep in my throat.

Hoot glowered at Hank in the flickering, dying outside lights of the motel. “I don’t think you heard me properly. Will and McKenzie are roomin’ together. That’s what’s happenin’. I didn’t ask for your opinion.”

“It’s gross,” Jeanie said, wrinkling her nose. “I mean, they’re practically brother and sister.”

“I get the feeling you’ve said that exact same thing before to a different couple,” I replied with false sweetness. “Good thing that all turned out well in the end. For you.”

“It did for them.” McKenzie stealthily snatched our key from Hank. “They love each other very much. I only hope they’re okay. Not that you care.”

Jeanie burst into tears again. “Greg, do something!”

Hank hovered over McKenzie, who quickly tossed our key to me. “Listen here, you little bitch…”

That was it. That was the very moment I lost every ounce of grace I’d managed to muster for these people on McKenzie’s behalf. I pulled McKenzie back, and, just as I was about to set her aside and knock the stuffing out of Hank, Hoot stormed over and gave Hank a punch to the gut.

I could tell what Hoot had done could have felled thirty men. Concentrated just on Hank? The beer-bellied, balding bastard went down like a sack of potatoes, groaning and holding his stomach.

“We done?” Hoot asked dangerously.

I nodded, even though his wrath wasn’t even directed at me.

Hank managed a shaky wheeze while Jeanie knelt next to him and began to fuss.

“I’m takin’ that as a ‘yes,’” Hoot said. “Y’all go to your room when you can get him off the ground. Sam, you come with me. Will, McKenzie, y’all go to your room, too. I ain’t gonna stand out here all night refereein’ y’all.” He began stomping in the direction of his room, Sam trotting behind.

I took McKenzie’s hand, and we started toward our room, which was between Hank and Jeanie’s, and Sam and Hoot’s.

“Disgusting,” Hank coughed as Jeanie got him to his feet.

I stiffened and started to turn back, but McKenzie tugged my arm. “Just let it go,” she said. “Nothing will change their minds.”

“True,” I conceded. I still gave Hank a dangerous glare before sliding my arm around McKenzie and walking to our door.

After going inside, we stood for a long time in the dark, my arm around McKenzie. I could hear her sniffling and knew she was crying. But I also knew she didn’t want me to know. Probably because I’d go tear her grandfather apart.

Which I’d have been happy to do.

Finally, I just wrapped both my arms around her and pulled her against me, cradling the back of her head and letting her tears soak into my sweater.

“I’m sorry your grandparents are such a disappointment,” I said softly.

“They’re not my grandparents,” McKenzie replied wetly, but firmly. “No one that awful can possibly be related to me or my parents. I’m glad they never tried to find us. I’ll bet my parents never tried to find them, either.”

“I’ll bet they did.” I stroked her back. “Your parents are good people. They’d have wanted to know Hank and Jeanie were okay. And Sam.”

“If there were any justice in the world, some court would have taken Sam away and given him to Mom and Dad,” McKenzie whispered. Then she tilted her face up to look at me in the very low light coming through the curtains and cupped my cheek. “That goes for you, too.”

I turned my head and kissed her palm. “I’m okay with how things turned out. I really am. I mean, not what my grandfather’s doing, but… I’m glad I met you now. We wouldn’t have turned out this way if we grew up together.”

McKenzie nodded. “Will?” she asked tentatively.

“Yes, honeybee?” I replied.

She slid her hand down between us to press it against my cock, cupping me through my pants. “Put it in all the way tonight.”

I groaned and pressed my forehead to hers. Just that one small action, small sentence, made me painfully erect. “You’re sure, honeybee?”

“Yes,” she said, and kissed me.