This time, there was no hint of malice or anything dark in his grin.
The restaurant Andrew had chosen was really nice – inside was all reclaimed wood and low, dim lighting that made it look intimate and cozy, even though it wasn’t even noon. Andrew ordered lobster eggs benedict for both of us. I didn’t feel hungry, but looking at the menu made my stomach ache.
Everything felt different. I couldn’t believe that I’d slept with my stepbrother – that I’d had such raunchy, dirty sex. I felt like a different person. Kristin Calloway didn’t do things like this – had I become someone completely different overnight?
Andrew chuckled. “I know how you feel,” he said, breaking the silence at the table. “Trust me – I’ve felt like that before, lots of times.”
I nodded slowly. “What do you mean?” My cheeks blushed bright red. “How did you know what I was thinking about?”
Andrew snickered. “Your eyes are as wide as saucers, Kristin. Trust me – I know. It’s different, yeah, but trust me, it’s fine. It doesn’t mean anything about you as a person. It doesn’t change who you are in here.” Andrew tapped his chest, which I took to mean as a gesture towards his heart.
My blush deepened. “I don’t know,” I said quietly. “I feel different. I feel like I failed my mom, you know? She always told me…” I trailed off, feeling stupid. Andrew was looking at me like I was a little kid, and I was afraid that he’d judge me if I told him the truth.
“She’s wrong,” Andrew said firmly. “She doesn’t know that sex doesn’t really matter that much.”
I frowned. “What do you mean, it doesn’t matter? Victor’s your…your boyfriend,” I finished nervously, taking a sip of my lemon water.
Just then, the waiter arrived and placed two steaming plates down on the table. I bit my lip, not wanting to say anything else until after he’d gone.
“Victor’s a good friend, yeah, but he’s not my boyfriend,” Andrew explained. He salted his eggs, then took a neat bite on his fork. “We have sex, that’s it. We’re not in a relationship.”
My jaw dropped and my eyebrows shot up.
“Are you serious?” I narrowed my eyes. “But you seem…so…I don’t know…at home with each other.”
“We’ve been friends for a long time,” Andrew said. “But trust me – that’s all it is. It’s like a way to relieve stress, you know? We’re both into the same stuff, and we both understand exactly what it is that we’re doing.”
I frowned, taking a tentative bite of my lobster eggs benedict. I wasn’t sure that I understood. I’d never heard of relationships where people just had sex – I’d always thought that was some myth that showed up in movies.
“I’ve never really known anyone like that before,” I said slowly, picking apart my food with my fork. “I mean, I know that I’m sheltered. But I didn’t think I was that sheltered!”
Andrew laughed heartily, throwing his head back. When he saw my cross expression, he narrowed his eyes.
“I’m sorry,” Andrew said sincerely. “I’m not trying to make you feel bad. It’s just wow, yeah, you are that sheltered. Trust me, I know my dad. He wasn’t always like that, but together with your mom…” Andrew trailed off. “I know exactly what kind of rule they’ve been keeping you under.”
I frowned. I didn’t like to listen to anyone criticize my parents, even if I secretly agreed with them. It was unsettling – like hearing that everything I’d ever learned had been a lie.
“I know you probably aren’t ready to admit it,” Andrew said. “But trust me, Kristin. You’ll get there.” He narrowed his eyes and took a long sip of his mimosa. “I mean, how old are you, nineteen?”
I flushed scarlet. “Twenty-two.”
Andrew nodded. “Then it’s about time for you to start learning what it’s like to be on your own. I don’t know why Dad and Carissa treat you like you’re stil
l a kid, but you can’t keep letting them. You have to act like an adult and demand the respect you deserve.”
I slunk low in my feet, feeling awkward. I knew that Andrew wasn’t trying to make me feel bad, but I couldn’t help the sense that I was in trouble again – except it felt worse than it did with my parents, because it was Andrew.
“I don’t know how you do it,” I said slowly. “I mean, you broke away at an early age.”
Andrew shrugged. “I’ve always been like that, but I knew Dad wouldn’t listen to me unless I took steps to earn his respect. And he doesn’t respect me now, but he does know that I’m my own man.”
I frowned. “He thinks you’re gay,” I said slowly. “He’s upset about it.”
Andrew snickered. “I think you know for yourself that I’m not,” he said archly. “Or have you not been paying attention for the past twelve hours?”
I bit my lip as the image of Andrew between my legs flashed to the front of my mind. Inside my jeans, my pussy started twitching and gushing arousal. It was impossible to be with Andrew and not be turned on – he elicited the same kind of reaction inside me every single time.
“But seriously, Kristin,” Andrew said. “You’re welcome to stay here for as long as you want.”