My Stepbrother
CHAPTER 4
Kim's POV
Jason's brow lifted. "You don't?"
He handed me a drink, and I sipped it quickly, maybe too quickly.
"You should stay away from Jett," he said suddenly, his tone darkening. "Trust me—you don't want to get tangled up with him."
I blinked. "What?"
Jason never talked to me or noticed me at the college, yet here he was, warning me now that I had started getting close to Jett?
"You heard me," he pressed. "Stay away from my brother—or he'll ruin you like he ruins every other thing. Just be careful."
I gave him a tight smile. "Of course, thank you."
But inside, I was rattled. Why was Jason badmouthing his own twin? And why did I care so much about Jett than what Jason thought?
The drinks kept coming. My laughter was a little too loud, my head too light from all the alcohol. And then Jett appeared again, holding his hand out towards me.
"Dance with me."
"I shouldn't—"
He didn't wait. He pulled me close, and suddenly we were moving to the rhythm of the music, my head spinning, not just from the music or alcohol, but from him.
We danced for a few minutes, and strangely, I enjoyed it. His hand guided me, his presence overwhelming. Then he steered us toward a quieter corner, his palm resting on my waist. My breath hitched. And then—he kissed me.
I kissed him back. God, why was I kissing him back?
His lips were fire, his hands steadying me when my knees wanted to give way. I didn't stop him. I didn't want to.
When he finally pulled back, his gaze searched mine, almost like they were demanding answers. I looked away, my heart pounding.
"I should go," I whispered.
But he caught my hand again.
"You're in love with my brother," he said quietly. "So why did you kiss me?"
I didn't answer his question. I couldn't. I had no answer.
So I did the only thing I could—I walked out of that party, clinging to whatever scraps of dignity I had left.
I couldn't explain why I kissed Jett. I wanted to. I didn't want to.
But then the beautiful morning sun poured through my window, reminding me I could start all over again. Maybe today, I could forget the Travolta brothers.
Just as I walked out, a sleek and familiar car pulled up outside the dorms. I ran towards it, knowing very well who would walk out of it.
The next instant, the door opened and my mother stepped out of the car, beaming like she was walking a red carpet… hand in hand with a man.
And seeing him, I froze.
It was none other than Mr. Travolta. Our college hockey coach. Jett and Jason's father.
"You've got to be kidding me," I muttered under my breath.
"Kimberly!" Mom chirped, waving like she was starring in her own parade. "Honey, we've got news!"
I climbed into the back seat without a word, putting on my shades and wishing I could somehow disappear.
"We're married," my mom announced, all sunshine and rainbows, like this was some fairytale and not my personal nightmare.
"Keep it down, you didn't tell me you'll be showing up this soon," I groaned.
Mr. Travolta chuckled. "You should be happy to see your mother. My boys already know we're married. They're excited. Said they'd love to welcome you as their sister."
Sister? The word made my stomach churn. I had just decided not to get myself involved with them—and now this?
"You left the college for weeks to meet my mum?" I turned to Mr Travolta, who clearly wasn't reading the room.
"Yes, I did," he said, all too casually. "I had to pick her up, and we didn't want to make a scene, so we had our marriage in New York."
"Right." I nodded vaguely before shoving the car door open and walking away without another word.
So Jett knew. He knew our parents were getting married—and he still kissed me.
Such. A. Jerk.
Back in college, something felt off the moment I stepped in. All the eyes were trailing after me, and they were definitely whispering, staring and murmuring.
Mitchell found me instantly. She grabbed my arm and tugged me into the hallway.
"What the hell happened?" I whispered, my chest tight.
"Just come," she muttered, pulling me along. We slipped back into the class, and I immediately felt the weight of everyone's gaze on me.
Jett was already in class, lounging back in his chair, legs stretched, like he didn't have a care in the world.
Mitchell pulled out her phone and turned the screen toward me—
I gasped.
Photos. Of me and Jett. At the party. In that dark corner. Hips lips on mine. It was unmistakable.
Everyone in the class was glaring. It wasn't the photos that cut the deepest; it was the captions. Cruel, sharp-edged, designed to humiliate. I couldn't speak, and Jett obviously hadn't seen it—or worse, he had and simply didn't care.
Was that why Jason asked me to stay away from him?
"Kimberly, you sure are good at sharing two brothers," someone from the back mocked.
I froze. "What!?"
"You shut your mouth!" Mitchell snapped.
Before I could bolt, Jett stood up. He stretched lazily, his voice carrying across the classroom, loud and clear. "What are you all doing?"
They all stopped muttering, and the room went quiet.
He glanced at the photos and raised a brow. "So what? She's my girlfriend. Not Jason's. She kissed me—not him. You guys have a problem with that?"
The room erupted in murmurs. I nearly choked.
Then, Jett walked over, took my hand like it was the most natural thing in the world. My pulse spiked.
I yanked my hand back and stormed down the hallway. He followed.
"What the hell was that?" I hissed, turning on a heel to face him as we reached the stairwell.
"Damage control," he said with a shrug. "You want them calling you names all semester?"
"You pitied me?" I asked, jaw clenched.
"No." His voice was flat, sharp. "I was protecting my reputation, too. Now the other girls will back off and not bother me, after all, I have a girlfriend now."
I laughed, bitter and hollow. "No, you don't. I'm not your girlfriend. That was just an act to save face."
I turned to leave, but he caught my wrist.
"We're not done," he said, his eyes locking onto mine. "If we're faking this, we have to play it right."
I stared at him, heat rising in my cheeks.
"You knew your dad was marrying my mom," I said quietly. "You kissed me anyway. And now you're asking me to play your girlfriend? Jason was right."
