When I don’t answer, she turns and stares down at me. “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Maybe I have. He might not be close, but I don’t need to be to know what color his eyes are. They’re a toss up between blue and gray. His jaw is constantly covered in a light shade of stubble and he’s got the biggest, softest lips. His body is large and muscled and his voice is rugged and rough, and so damned sexy I’ve never forgotten it.

“I think I have,” I whisper.

Melanie finally realizes something is really wrong and reaches over, grabbing my shoulders. “Jesus, Ari, what’s wrong?”

“It’s him, Mel,” I cry, throwing my face into my hands.

“Who?”

“What’s-his-face.”

“Wait,” she says, shaking her head in confusion. “What? What’s-his-face is your step-brother?”

“Oh God.”

She gapes. “How did you not know this? Surely you’ve seen pictures of Jack’s kids.”

“No,” I groan. “Ripley doesn’t have pictures of his family on Facebook, just a thousand selfies and I have only been to Jack’s house once and I didn’t pay attention. I just didn’t…show any interest.”

God, it’s so bad. All this time I never knew his name. If I did, this wouldn’t have happened. But no, we thought it would be sexy and fun to leave it a damned mystery.

Melanie gasps and lifts her head up to stare again. “Holy shit, you fucked your step-brother.”

“Stop,” I cry, suddenly feeling ill. “I didn’t know at the time, and I didn’t pick it after. He and Jack, they don’t . . . look the same. Not really. Oh shit.”

Oh my God, I fucked my step-brother. I think I might vomit from the shame.

“This is bad. What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know,” I cry, rubbing my face furiously. “If Mom found out . . . God, Mel, she’s so excited about this trip.”

“She doesn’t need to know. I’m sure he’s not going to tell her.”

“I feel sick,” I groan. “I’m going to sneak out the back. I can’t face this now.”

Melanie lifts her face. “You might want to hurry; they’re on their way.”

“Shit.”

I reach down, grabbing my shoes, and then I charge out the back door. I slip around the side of the large patio and run down the back steps that lead to a walking trail through the woods. I run down it, my heart pounding, my body shaking. I run down until I reach a seat that overlooks the lake, and I flop down, dropping my head into my hands.

This is bad. This is so bad.

I can’t believe something so horrible would happen to me. My step-brother—oh God. Mom will flip. It’ll upset her so much. It doesn’t matter that it’s not really taboo, considering we’re not related; it’ll still destroy her. Imagine what people would say? She’s spent her life listening to people jabber about her; she doesn’t need stories like that. It’d crush her and Jack. They don’t deserve this. Not to mention the excitement Jack felt about having his boy’s home. This could destroy everything.

I can only hope he will keep his mouth shut.

How am I going to go back there and face him? Will he even remember me? Oh my lord, what if he doesn’t? What if this is all for nothing and he doesn’t even recall who I am?

One way or another, I’m going to find out. I can’t hide down here for the next month. Oh shit, a month. Can I do it for a month? Maybe Mom will let me leave early. That’s starting to sound like a really good idea now.

I push to my feet, and walk the entire trail, letting my mind go over every horrible scenario. When I come back to where I started, I know I have to go and face the music because I can’t hide in here all night. I’ve been gone for at least an hour, and I don’t want to raise suspicion. With a sigh, I turn and face the way home.

I force my legs to move and slowly take me back towards the house. I don’t know how this is going to go down; I can only hope it’s smoothly. When I reach the back patio, I hesitate. I could pretend I’m really sick and need to go home, or maybe he’ll see me and leave. Who am I kidding? Nothing is ever that easy. So many emotions swirl in my chest as I force myself up to the house.

I basically haven’t moved on since my weekend with him and now that feels so . . . wrong. It’s wrong to want someone like him when you’re in this position. Whether or not I like it, the relationship we had would be considered forbidden. People would turn their noses up at it. People would gossip. It’s not normal and it’s certainly not widely accepted. Mom couldn’t cope with that kind of drama.

Which means I need to get over it, fast.

I think I am over it. I have to be. Ugh, he’s my step-brother. Holding onto hope about a dream boy an hour ago was one thing, but now, now that I know, I just can’t want it. I can’t want something so . . . wrong. I reach out with trembling hands and curl my fingers around the door handle. The sounds of laughter flow out as soon as I push the door open. I take a deep breath and step inside.

“Aria, there you are,” Mom cries, rushing over. “Is everything okay?”

“Sure, Mom,” I squeak. “I was just taking a walk.”

She smiles and turns us towards everyone. “Well, your brothers are here.”

Why does she have to call them that. Why? They’re not my brothers. They’re only married into my life because of our parents. That’s it.