Mom hadn’t mentioned anything about David having kids, and I hadn’t prepared myself for the possibility of having a brother, or maybe even brothers. They’d all been sitting around a little table, playing some card game as wed approached. Now, as I tried to snap my jaw into place and throw on a casual look, they were all watching us. I instantly felt my cheeks grow hot, and I reflexively looked down at the ground.
“Katya, wave and smile,” mom scolded me.
She’d always been this way, expecting more from me than I did from myself. I had been a shy kid, rarely speaking in public situations. No, I’d always preferred to meet people one on one. Crowds made me uncomfortable. I lifted my head, and my hand. Putting on a forced smile I tried my best to look at ease. They all waved back, before turning away. I watched as they leaned in, all of them talking softly now and occasionally looking back at us as we walked onward. I imagined that they were talking about us, or more specifically, about me. I shook my head, letting the thought go. I had a habit of overthinking things, and more than likely they were just as curious about me as I was about them.
The next few years were like hell for me. The boy’s I had seen that day, it turned out, were all my new stepbrothers. They took a real liking to torturing me for being different then them. They were rich. I don’t just mean rich like their daddy had some money and they were spoiled. No, these boys were born and bred rich. They had money that went back generations and they each stood to inherit over ten million dollars when they reached 18, and the rest of the fortune would be divvied out in their fathers will. All in all the family was worth one point three billion dollars, at least, that is what David constantly bragged about.
It was still hard to believe that we’d managed to fall into a world like this, my mom and I were poor, and I mean dirt poor. Before we met David we were eating Ramen Noodles and living in a studio apartment. My mom was beautiful though, and she had a warm heart and lively soul. I knew exactly why David had pursued her, she was pure, honest, and didn’t care about the money. She’d be happy living the way we had, and even now she was the most modest billionaire’s wife I’d ever met.
Despite the sweet pleasure of luxury, the money only made things harder. David had made it clear when he married my mother later that year that he wouldn’t give her a penny. She signed a prenuptial agreement and if they ever split up or he died, she would stand to inherit nothing. Perhaps that was his way of ensuring that he was marrying a woman full of love rather than greed. For me however, the ultimatum had been made on my eighteenth birthday. David and my mother would help me until I turned 20, more than I should have expected, but then the money would be cut off. Then, it was up to me to make a life for myself. After having been spoiled so completely, I dreaded the end of each day that brought my 20th birthday closer.
—————
The boys had long since moved out, but they were coming home for Christmas, and as my mother busied herself with decorations and gift-wrap I tried filling out a college application. It was now or never, and I had to get things set up or I’d be out on my ass in less than six months.
I couldn’t help my mind from straying to the boys. I hadn’t seen Matthew or Eric in almost two years. The last time I saw Conner was on my birthday in August. He’d been home visiting and it’d been the first time that I’d really had a chance to get to know him. I mean, we’d lived together for years, but when my stepbrothers were together it was different. They’d all have their own private jokes, usually at my expense, and none of them ever opened up to me. Conner had seemed different when we were alone, and he’d grown up to be a handsome man. I’d found it difficult not to notice just how attractive my stepbrother had become.
Connor was the first to come home, and as I saw him there through the window my heart skipped a beat. I flushed with embarrassment as I realized that I was actually excited to see my step. I sat still and pretended not to notice as he walked in and greeted my mother and stepfather.
“Hey there Sis, aren’t you going to give me a hug?”
I looked up, my cheeks instantly red as I thought about pressing myself up against his body. He’d filled out more than the last time I saw him, and his muscular frame showed through the tight shirt that clung to his tanned skin. I jumped up from the couch and stretched my arms out welcoming him in for a hug.
“Damn sis… You’ve really turned into a woman…” He said quietly into my ear, only loud enough for me to hear.
I quickly released him and went back to my seat while he wandered off with his father. Did that really just happen? I wondered to myself. And if it did, what exactly did he mean by that. Was I imagining that he was being a little bit…naughty?
I tried to put the thought out of my mind. He was my stepbrother and he probably meant nothing by it at all. Despite that, I couldn’t help but wish that he’d come back and spend some time with me before the other guys got here. Unfortunately for me, that just wasn’t the case. Instead of alone time I was bombarded by the whole troop an hour later Conner, Matthew and Eric came in laughing and talking in some man-code that I wasn’t privy to.
“Hey there Katya!”
“Hey Sis.”
They all greeted me brightly, and each of them made their way over for hugs, including Conner who winked at me as he pulled me into his arms.
“We’re going to dinner, why don’t you come out with us… We’re buying.” They all laughed, at my expense as usual.
“Really guys, you don’t have to pay me to spend time with you, you’re not that bad…” I retorted, trying to get a jab in myself.
On the way to dinner I had a chance to get a good look at all of them. They had become men since the last time I’d seen them. Each of them with dark hair, blue eyes, and a hint of a beard that was just damned sexy. As we walked through the restaurant I could see the women in the place turning to stare at my stepbrothers. The way the women looked at them, and then at me made me want to laugh. A Plain-Jane like me here with a couple of hunks—I could easily see why they were all gawking.
“So how have you been Katya? Tell us about the last two years!” Conner said, invitingly.
The dynamic between us all had changed. Perhaps it was for maturity, or for simply having been apart for so long, but it seemed to me that each of them were looking at me in a way I’d never seen before. We laughed, we reminisced, and we shared. It was so different than before.
“So are you seeing anyone Katya?” Eric asked.
His eyes wandered down to my breasts, making me look at Matthew as I attempted to not notice. Unfortunately Matthews' eyes were also staring down at my chest. I looked down, wondering if I’d spilled something on my shirt that would explain things… The boys started laughing all at once.
“What?” I cried, suddenly embarrassed.
“It’s just… You’ve really grown up.” Matthew said, jutting his chin out at my chest.
“Ya Katya, it’s hard not to notice your curves, you’re not just a skinny kid anymore.” Conner added.
Oh god. I thought, feeling instantly ashamed of my body. I had changed and I knew that, but I hadn’t expected my own stepbrothers to point it out.
“So… Are you?”
I looked at Eric blankly
“Dating anyone? No, I’m not seeing anyone. You know dad won’t let me date anyhow.”
“That’s what we thought.”
We? What did he mean? Had they honestly been talking about whether or not I’d been seeing anyone? Things were suddenly feeling awkward. Three sets of blue eyes were staring at me deviously as I nervously flittered glances between my water glass and their deep blue eyes.