Falling For My Stepbrother

"Of course, I'm considering it," I roll my eyes.

"Not that you need any money," Aaron grins. "But we'd pay for your master's degree."

"My dad is upset I want to choose you instead of him," I admit. "I'm not really sure which company I'd rather work for. Obviously, I'd have awesome perks at my own company. But working with you would be fun as hell."

"Well," Aaron raises an eyebrow and looks over his shoulder in my direction. "What if I give you an internship instead?"

I perk up instantly, "Wait seriously?"

An internship isn't permanent. I know a lot of people struggle with getting good internships and jobs. I haven't really been looking around and I guess it's because I've never been too worried about it. Not because of my name or connections, simply because I don't care enough. I never thought I'd be this far on.

"Why not?" Aaron shrugs it off slightly. He treads farther on the water, making sure not to paddle too far away from me. "Are you doing anything this summer?"

I smirk, "No."

I haven't even thought of the summer. I know I'm graduating which I suppose means I have to find a job. Apply to graduate schools. The whole works. I just...haven't really gotten around to anything except the graduate school part.

"Why don't you come here for the summer?" Aaron asks. "I expect I'll be traveling but you are more than welcomed to stay here and basically work in my name. How does that sound?" "Are you kidding?" My eyes widen slightly, "Work with Cole Parris? You know I met his brother, right? Blake's daughters dance ballet at my dance studio right now. I see him almost weekly." "Blake is an interesting man," Aaron says with a smirk. "But you need to meet Cole. He's the kind of boss that demands respect in his presence but later you go out to drink beers with." "Have you met Shawn Parris?" I ask curiously. I think it's so cool that Aaron works with one of the Parris Triplets. They-along with their stepsister-are some of the biggest, richest, and amazing celebrities in the world.

Aaron laughs, "Briefly. He gets distracted quite easily. I've also met Miss Linean. Tori sang at one of the Cole's banquets."

"God that's so cool," I shake my head.

I hadn't thought much about moving here for a summer. But now that I'm her and looking around it wouldn't be so bad. Sur would probably love the beach. I'd take him to the dog parks and on weekends we could venture out on the water. I didn't ever study abroad in college. Maybe this is my opportunity to go somewhere new. Even if it's just for the summer.

I guess the great thing about having connections is my flexibility to find internships and what not. Both Aaron and I are very incorporated in the world of celebrities and wealth. Jarrod is too but in a totally different way. I think only Mason finds social gatherings more awkward than anything else.

"I'll talk to Mr. Parris about the internship," Aaron stops paddling for a second. He turns his body towards me. "Now that you seem to be enjoying Miami, why don't you tell me exactly why you came here in the first place."

I internally groan. Aaron used to do this in high school too. Getting me to open up always started with coaxing me into a simple harmless conversation. It was a way to get my guard down and to relax before getting into the meaningful stuff.

I take a deep breath looking forward to the small island Surfer Dude told us about. Without a doubt we were going to stop there, but right now I just didn't want to talk. Even with Aaron. Opening up to him is probably one of the easiest things in the world. I'm not sure how a guy in his early twenties can have the wisdom of an eighty-year-old, but he's also amazing at comforting people. Which is odd considering he doesn't look like it.

"I want you to be serious with me Logan," Aaron turns his head in my direction. "The truth. All of it."

Aaron is one of the few people that calls me by my full name. For years I tried getting him not to, but he would never listen. Because he's Aaron and always has to be just a tad bit extra, he now belongs to that small circle of people.

My stomach sinks slightly. I focus my effort on swiftly paddling and maintaining my balance as we near the small island. The ways now taking us towards the shore. Aaron turns down the volume of the music.

"Ordinary guys don't usually get deep into their feelings," I counter pathetically.

Aaron smiles, "I guess it's a good thing we're extraordinary then."

I roll my eyes just as Aaron hops off his paddleboard into the water. He walks towards the shore

of the island pulling it behind him as he trudges through the water. I follow after, stepping into

the cold water before settling on the hot sand. Aaron places his backpack on the sand, pulling out a few drinks and snacks along with two towels.

He pushes his sunglasses through his wild hair and leans on his side facing me. Chewing a protein bar, he says, "I want to hear the full story Logan."

I'm sitting up on my towel, enjoying the sun overhead. I glance at Aaron over my shoulder and see that he's staring at me intensely. In high school I could never look Aaron in the eyes and being in front of him reminds me how daunting and empty they are. Even on the happiest of days it looks like a war is happening behind them. They're two little blackholes filled with pain I don't think I'll ever experience.

I instantly look away and shrug. A sad smile spreading on my lips, "It's honestly my fault."

"I doubt that," Aaron smirks. He lays all the way back, closing his eyes and placing his hands behind his head. He changes his gaze in my direction and raises an eyebrow in question.

I take a deep breath and start telling him what happened between Harper and I. The attraction, the incident at my family's banquet, and then when she came to my place. Naturally, I had already hinted everything to Aaron over texts and messages. But telling it in person is completely different.

Aaron frowns when I start talking about what happened the last few days. How Harper ignored me. How I saw her with Vincent. The whole nine-yards. I told as much as I could and Aaron didn't bother interrupting me once. He simply listened, occasionally handing me a drink to make sure I stayed hydrated in the sun.

When I finally conclude, I sigh out. "So yeah," I say sullenly. "Th-that's what happened." Aarons first words are, "Sounds to me, you're complete opposites."

I frown slightly. There's no way Harper and I are complete opposites. We both like the same things. When we hang out we enjoy the same activities. Hell, we both dance and go out with the same friends. It doesn't make sense. We're not opposites.

"What are you talking about?" I ask Aaron sincerely with the same frown playing on my face. "Being opposites doesn't mean you don't have anything in common," Aaron adds. "Both the north and south pole are cold, but they're found at the opposite sides of the earth."

I shake my head, "That's not Harper and I."

Aaron sits up, raising his eyebrow in the most questioning manner I've ever seen. I can already tell he doesn't believe me. "Really?" Aaron scoffs. "The selfless with the selfish? Sounds like opposites to me."

I begin to defend Harper, "She's not selfish-"

"Logan," Aaron says sternly. He places his hand on my shoulder and shakes his head. "Shut up." My shoulders sag down. I bow my head at the sand, nervously grabbing handfuls and letting the grains slip through my fingers.

"Do not drive yourself crazy over this girl," Aaron coaches me through. His tone hasn't changed at all since high school. It's the way he used to speak to me whenever I was feeling down. "You did everything you could not to get in the way of her relationship. I know you too well Logan. Do not blame yourself on something that is not your fault."

"But it is Aaron," I snap quietly. Finally, I meet his eyes, searching for answers to try and make myself feel better. My mouth feels dry like the sand and the words get stuck in the back of my throat.

I feel a new wave of desperation hit me. This is why I didn't want to talk about it. This is why I came here in the first place to get away from my feelings. I want time away from the thinking and overanalyzing. Sometimes I wish I was more like Aaron in that sense-impulsive. But being impulsive is what got me into this situation to begin with.

"It takes two people to have sex Aaron," I finally spit out.

Aaron looks at me sadly, "It only takes one to break a heart."

I look away again, feeling the urge to scream. Pushing my fingers through my hair and turning

my face away. I don't know what to feel or do anymore. It's a combination of anger, disappointment, self-pity. But of all the pain in my chest.

"I opened up to her Aaron," I say metallically. My throat lumps up and I gulp down. "I just thought she'd be the one, you know?"

"Well now you just sound like Ted," Aaron mutters quietly. I give him an odd look before he quickly adds, "Sorry. Parker's favorite show is...never mind."

I smirk, shaking my head. For a few seconds we don't say anything. Aaron never talks much but when he does it's always something...meaningful? I guess he just never says stupid things. He's very aware of what comes out of his mouth and when. I don't think I've ever heard him say anything remotely dumb.

"Logan you're not the bad guy," He finally adds. "You're right, it does take two people, but you didn't do anything wrong except love a girl."

"But-"

"Stop it," Aaron snaps angrily. "Stop making excuses to defend this girl. You didn't lie to her. She lied to you. She's the one that cheated, the one that decided to break your heart. I know you Logan and you always do this. You always find ways to blame yourself because you're too selfless and compassionate."

I smile softly, "That's not true."

"Bullshit." Aaron gives me his half smile just as he whips his Ray-bans back into place. "If we were being held at gunpoint you'd sacrifice yourself for me."

"Only because I know you would do the same," I say with a small grin.

"That's the different between people that care and don't." Aaron starts packing up the wrappers and bottles back into his backpack. "People who care will jump to keep you out of harm's way. People who don't will do anything to save themselves. Harper didn't sacrifice herself for you. She did everything to make sure she'd be the one to come out of this situation ok."