Stepbrother Bastard Read Free

all rooted to the ground while my
mother drifted up, up and away; shoring up the moon and stars as we looked on
with wonder. But since Dad has been gone, the rest of us have scattered to the
wind.
    And
the thing is, I ’ m starting to think that
we ’ re
actually better off that way.
    “ At
least you have a new mission to distract you from all the family drama, ” Allie points out,
wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.
    “ Yeah, ” I laugh, “ Maybe
I ’ ll
be thanking you for this little dare by the time I get back. ”
    “ We
shall see, ” Allie
says smugly, “ We shall see. Hey, when are you
shoving off? ”
    “ As
soon as this little wine buzz wears off, ” I tell her, “ I
really should have left right after work, but I wanted a little hang session
with my best friend first. ”
    “ And
I ’ m
sure that has nothing to do with not wanting to spend a few extra hours with
your family tonight, right? ” she teases, nudging me playfully.
    “ Why,
I have no idea what you ’ re talking about, ” I say, widening my blue
eyes with mock innocence.
    “ Sure.
Right. I totally believe you, ” Allie laughs. “ Well,
I hope you ’ ll at least try to have a good time.
Maybe the whole thing will surprise you. ”
     “ Maybe …” I allow, “ Though
whenever my mother is involved, any surprises that crop up don ’ t
tend to be particularly good. ”
    “ Good
ol ’ Robin, ” Allie says, shaking her
head, “ I
can ’ t
wait to hear what shenanigans she ’ s
got cooked up for you out there. ”
    “ That
makes exactly one of us, ” I reply, polishing off my wine.
    After
a bear hug and a reminder of my hookup-related marching orders, Allie hits the
road. Now there ’ s nothing standing
between me and the impending family reunion besides eight hours of driving
split up by one night in the cheapest motel I could find along the way. How ’ s
that for a luxurious getaway?
    As
soon as my buzz has faded, I steel my resolve, grab my gigantic suitcase, and
bid adieu to my shoebox of an apartment. My iPod is loaded up with Florence and
the Machine, Muse, and Bruno Mars. If I have to face the music, it may as well
be the kind I can belt out on the highway.

 
     
    Chapter Two
     
    The
aged, blue-haired motel receptionist looks at me skeptically as I do battle
with my gigantic suitcase, trying to get the damn thing through the front door.
Smiling through my embarrassment, I finally roll the behemoth up to the counter
under her heavy-lidded gaze.
    “ Hi.
I ’ m
just checking in for the night, ” I tell her, “ The
name is Porter. Mad —”
    “ And
how many of you are there? ” she cuts me off, crossing her round arms.
    “… Pardon? ” I reply, taken aback.
    “ How
many of your little friends are waiting out there to sneak in the second I turn
my back? ” she goes on huffily, “ I
wasn ’ t
born yesterday, you know. I know how you young people try to take advantage,
sneaking around when my back is turned. We charge by the person, not just by
the room —”
    “ Um.
It ’ s
just me staying here tonight, ” I tell her evenly, choosing not to be
offended by her assumptions.
    “ Uh-huh, ” she drawls, unconvinced.
    “ Ma ’ am,
I ’ m
really just stopping here to sleep, ” I press.
    “ And
what ’ s
a sixteen-year-old girl doing on her own. In a place like this. At midnight.
With a suitcase full of god knows what? ” she asks, narrowing her
eyes. “ Answer
me that . ”
    Ah ha . That ’ s
what ’ s
going on here. By now, I should be used to it. Despite the fact that I ’ m
24, my 5 ’ 3 ” height and petite figure
tend to give people the impression that I ’ m
a teenager. Most of the time, I ’ m mistaken for the
youngest Porter sister, rather than the oldest. But hey, I ’ m
sure I ’ ll
get a kick out of that someday. Without another word, I take out my driver ’ s
license and slide it against the sticky counter.
    “ This
should put your mind at ease, ” I say briskly, “ And
as for