Stranded with My Stepbrother Chapter 38: Moving Out

-Caleb-

“How is your steak, Caleb?” Hank asked as we sat outside on the deck. Hank was grilling steaks, and of course, my mother had made side dishes.

I must have looked pretty doom and gloom because Hank was frowning at me. “Steak’s great,” I said, trying to insert some enthusiasm into my response.

The truth was, I hadn’t slept more than a couple of hours in the last week because of nightmares. I was exhausted, I wasn’t getting any, and the work search wasn’t fantastic. Mainly because I had to hide it from my employer, Hank, and my mother.

“Good. I’m kind of a grill master myself,” Hank beamed. He cocked his head. “But you do look a bit… worn.”

“Working too much?” my mother chirped.

Of course, she was happy. She was probably getting it from Hank every night. I shuddered at the thought. “No, I’m fine,” I said through my teeth.

I would be fine. I would be just fine if I could have Jacey. I swore, when I got my apartment, we were having sex on every surface. And then I was going to cuddle her in bed and sleep for a year.

“Darling, it’s for the best,” my mother whispered when Hank’s focus was back on the grill.

I ignored her. If I didn’t, I was going to snap.

Jacey leaned over to pour me more lemonade, and I got a good look at her cleavage. My balls just got bluer.

She didn’t mean to flash me, I knew, but with tits like hers, it was hard to find shirts other than turtlenecks that completely covered the girls. Besides, Jacey’s were so nice, I would be salivating over them if she’d been wearing a heavy sweater.

My mother looked hurt that I didn’t engage with her and started poking at the salad on her plate.

“Jeanie, love? What’s wrong?” Hank asked my mother.

“Oh, nothing,” my mother said miserably. A good actress she was not.

“Is it the baby?” Hank asked anxiously.

My stomach clenched. I wanted to hold Jacey’s hand while Hank and my mother talked about the baby. We’d almost had one ourselves.

“No,” my mother replied with a watery smile. “Baby is just fine.”

“You should have Jacey help out more around the house,” Hank grumbled, giving Jacey a sharp glare. “You work too hard.”

“Jacey does quite a bit. Don’t worry about it.” My mother patted Hank’s hand.

Hank snorted. “Clearly not enough if you’re this upset.”

“It’s just… something between Caleb and me,” my mother explained, glancing my way.

Oh hell no. She did not just sic Hank on me.

“What did you do?” Hank growled at me.

Your daughter. “Nothing,” I said. “We just had an argument.”

“Well, whatever it was, I’m sure your mother was right, and you were wrong. You need to learn some respect,” Hank spat.

That was it. That was the moment. “I expect respect in return for respect. For instance, I’d like you to respect the fact my mother and I are having some trouble, and your nose doesn’t need to be in it,” I snapped.

Hank’s cheeks colored with rage. “As your father…”

“You are not my father!” I slammed my lemonade down so hard the glass cracked.

Jacey hopped up immediately with a napkin and carefully took the glass from me. I’m sure she was afraid I’d crush it in my hand and injure myself at that point.

And I would have, too.

“Damn right, I’m your father!” Hank snarled, “And you’ve got Jacey waiting on you hand and foot!”

“She’s just trying to help, Hank, sweetheart,” my mother said.

“If you live under my roof, you will respect me, young man,” Hank yelled. “And you will respect your mother.”

I stood. “Then maybe I won’t live under your roof.”

Hank was taken aback. “Excuse me?”

“I have a job. I can afford to live on my own,” I informed him.

“Oh, really? Well, good for you. I suppose you’ll be paying your own tuition, too?” Hank said with false sweetness.

I ground my teeth. “My father left me enough for a year or two of medical school. I don’t need your money.”

My mother coughed.

Hank just laughed. “Your mother and I used that money for renovations on the house. Hope you like the new kitchen.”

Jacey drew a sharp breath on my behalf.

I just stood, dumbfounded. “You… what?”

“Technically, it was our money, Caleb…” my mother started.

I rounded on her. “Dad intended for that money to go toward my education!”

“Well, with Hank paying your way, I thought…” my mother explained.

“Save it. Fuck it. I’m leaving. I’ll couch surf if I have to.” I kicked my chair out from behind me and picked up my plate, storming toward the kitchen.

“Caleb!” Hank called imperiously. “Don’t make decisions you can’t take back!”

Jacey followed me into the kitchen. “Caleb, what are you going to do?”

“Baby, I’m going to get an apartment, like I said, and a new job. I’ll stay with a friend for a while. You can come visit.” I made sure Hank was busy arguing with my mother, then kissed Jacey swiftly on the lips. “This won’t go on for long. I promise.”

“Okay,” Jacey whispered.

Then I went to my room and gathered up my things. I slung my pack over my shoulder and went to stand outside the sliding glass door. “Jacey, I hope to see you soon. I’ll call you. Mom, Hank, fuck you very much.”

“Caleb!” my mother wailed as I made my way to the garage.

“Boy, you will never get another red cent from me,” Hank informed me. “Think about what you’re doing.”

I rounded on him. “Like I said, I’m not your son.” I glanced past him to Jacey who looked stricken.

“Bye, Jacey,” I said past a sudden lump in my throat. I tossed my bag in the Prius and smacked the garage door opener.

“You’ll regret this,” Hank hissed.

“Probably not,” I retorted. Then I backed out and sped away from that house.

And my Jacey.

***

William Gregory McMillan Masterson III was a friend I’d made at Stanford. I was most of the reason he passed the pre-med program. So, when I showed up on the doorstep of his family mansion in Mankato, he was more than happy to let me in.

“You shouldn’t have gone home in the first place,” Will told me as the housekeeper set me up in a guestroom. “Hank always was a hothead and an asshole.”

“You’ve never met him,” I pointed out.

Will shrugged. “I didn’t have to. You told enough stories.”

“Well, I thought I could handle it, I guess,” I grumbled. I followed him out to the pool, and Will and I sat side by side on a pair of lounges.

“You should have stayed in California and gotten a job,” Will continued.

I inclined my head, almost agreeing with him. But then… “I’ve got a girl.”

“Oh! That changes things. She from around here?” Will asked.

Delicately, I cleared my throat. “She’s Hank’s daughter.”

“She… she’s what now?” Will gaped.

“It’s Hank’s daughter, Jacey. Jocelyn Collins,” I clarified.

“No way. No way you’re screwing the daughter of the guy who’s screwing you over. That’s, like, poetic, man,” Will laughed.

I grunted. “I guess. But it’s not really like that. I really like her. I love her.”

Will turned and looked at me. “Woah, man, that’s something. And I mean, even better. Just think how his brain’s going to explode when you marry her someday or some shit.”

“Already got her pregnant,” I said softly.

Will’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head. “You… but you’re like Mr. Condom.”

“I wasn’t when we were up North. Nah, man, we lost the pregnancy, and we’re going to be more careful now,” I replied. “I mean, she’s only eighteen.”

“And you banged her the second that mileage rolled over, didn’t you?” Will grinned.

I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling my cheeks flush. “Maybe.”

“Happy birthday to Jacey,” Will whistled. “Can’t wait to meet her. She must really be something to make you forget to wrap the package.”

“She really is,” I murmured. “I’m just hoping she can make it over here. Hank is overbearing as fuck. Which reminds me.” I took out my phone.

“Aww, you’re gonna call her. That’s sweet,” Will said, batting his eyelashes.

I grimaced. “Shut up, dickhead. You just wish you had a girl like her.” I found Jacey’s number in my recent calls and pressed it.

“You got me there,” Will responded wistfully.

The phone rang a few times, which was unlike Jacey and me, so it didn’t surprise me when Hank answered the line.

“Where the fuck are you?! Your mother is worried sick!” Hank bellowed.

‘D-A-M-N!’ Will mouthed from the sidelines.

“I’m at a friend’s,” I replied. “And last time I checked, this was Jacey’s phone.”

“You’ve got no business talking to my daughter. If you’re a part of this family, you’re a part of this family. If you’re not, you’re not. It’s that simple. Now get your ass home,” Hank growled.

I ground my teeth. “I’m not going back.”

“Well then, there’s no need to talk to Jacey, is there?” Hank said. “You two might have gotten close over that crap in Canada, but I forbid you to be friends. You hear me? I won’t let you give my little girl ideas.”

“Like… being independent and self-sufficient?” I asked sweetly.

Hank snorted. “You’ve got some cheek. If you’re so worried about Jacey, you should come home.”

“No can do. But give Mom my love,” I said. I disconnected the call and frowned, tapping the phone against my chin thoughtfully.

“So, now you’re kind of fucked, aren’t you,” Will voiced my thoughts. “I mean as far as seeing your girl.”

“Mhm.” I sighed. “Fuck.”

Will sat up and swung his feet to the ground. “Well, nothing to do but come up with a plan.”

“A plan?” I repeated.

“Heck yeah. Maybe we sneak her out her window in the middle of the night. Or stake out someplace she goes. Do you know where she goes? Does she have a job or something?” Will asked.

“She doesn’t have a job, and Hank keeps a pretty close watch on her. No wild parties. Nothing like that,” I said.

“Dude, if she didn’t start fucking you, she would have ended up in a Girls Gone Nuts video,” Will replied. “I’ve seen it. Good girl finally out from under Daddy’s thumb…”

I shook my head. “Jacey’s super grown up for her age. She’s kind of past the whole flashing-your-boobs thing.”

“Except for you,” Will winked.

I chuckled. “True.” I wracked my brain to think of a way I could see Jacey. And perhaps kidnap her.

“Does your stepfather’s house have security?” Will asked.

“Hank has a gun,” I grumbled.

“That sucks.” Will stared off into space, also putting his mind to the situation. “You don’t want to have to wait until she goes to college. That’s another two months.”

“It is.” Two months. Jesus, I was going to go crazy from insomnia, and my balls were going to turn black and die.

Not to mention my heart breaking and me becoming a pining mess.

“Guess we just have to stake out the house,” Will decided. “We’ll use one of my cars. I’ll bet Hank would recognize yours.”

“And he works during the day…” I nodded. “Yeah, that plan could actually work.”

“Good. Because I want to know if she has friends,” Will teased.

“Ha-ha.”