Chapter 1
That summer after senior prom, my stepbrother and the school’s hockey superstar Henry took my V–card.
Despite the pain, I lay awake all night with butterflies in my stomach, convinced that six years of secret crushes for my stepbrother had finally led to something real.
Then I heard his hockey teammates the next day in the locker room hallway.
“Dude, you hooked up with your stepsister, that Little Miss Violinist? That’s fucked up.”
My cheeks burning, I started to turn away when Henry’s dismissive response stopped me cold.
“Chill, man. I’m trying to get with Gianna – you know, that smoking hot cheer captain with like 30K followers? But she thinks I’m too fucking inexperienced. Just using Iris here to level up my game.”
I didn’t say a word. Instead, I logged into the college portal and switched my acceptance from UMN to Juilliard.
A thousand miles away from my asshole stepbrother felt like the perfect start.
Henry’s words hit me like a punch straight to the gut, knocking the air out of me.
My mind went blank.
Despite the sweltering summer afternoon, I felt ice cold all over.
The conversation in the locker room continued. His hockey teammates fell silent for a moment before someone spoke again.
“Seriously, Henry? You fucked your stepsister?”
“So what, she’s basically like his personal puck bunny now?”
Henry’s careless laugh echoed through the room. “Come on, guys. She did enjoy it. Besides, we’re not blood related or anything.”
Someone quickly agreed. “True that. Though she is kind of skinny compared to Gianna’s curves… all those hours with that violin instead of
hitting the gym.”
Henry threw a textbook at him, cutting him off mid–sentence.
“Look, we were both caught up in the moment. And she seemed pretty… eager.”
The guys exchanged knowing looks and started teasing him.
“Who knew Little Miss Juilliard Prep was so thirsty?”
“Guess she’s been dying to get her hands on her hot stepbrother, huh?”
“Can’t blame her–our boy Henry’s got game on and off the ice. Might she couldn’t wait to get you since your parents got married.”
The laughter in the room grew louder.
I bit my lip hard, my hands clenched into fists.
It took everything I had just to stay standing outside that classroom door.
Footsteps echoed from the end of the hallway.
Chapter 1
I snapped back to reality and fled, stumbling into a bathroom stall to hide.
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Tears of heartbreak and humiliation streamed down my face.
Henry’s words echoed in my head, each syllable destroying what was left of my self–worth.
If I hadn’t heard it myself, I wouldn’t have believed the guy who’d passionately made love to me last night could be the same person. I guess you don’t need love to be intimate. Even in those moments of intense passion, lies can still fall from your lips.
What I foolishly thought was the start of something real was just a joke to them–just another conquest for the hockey star who happened to be my stepbrother.
The more I cried, the worse I felt, trying to muffle my sobs as my body shook.
After what felt like forever, my phone buzzed.
Henry: [Take an Uber home. Got team celebration tonight, can’t drive you.]
I didn’t respond.
Henry: [Don’t forget to get Plan B yourself, I’m busy with post–season shit today. Make sure you take it, ok?]
I stared at the messages, speechless.
Last night, from dusk till dawn, Henry had been insatiable. Before we fell asleep exhausted in each other’s arms, he’d drowsily whispered twice: “Sorry I wasn’t more prepared. I’ll get you Plan B first thing tomorrow.”
He’d even lectured me about taking care of myself, insisting I needed to take the pill to protect my health.
Back then, I thought he was being responsible. I thought I’d finally found my happiness.
And now…
Reality hit me like a bucket of cold water.
I dug my nails into my palms, forcing myself to stop crying. After cleaning myself up, I left the bathroom.
Too embarrassed to go to the pharmacy, I ordered Plan B online. Even then, I waited forever after the delivery driver left it at my door before sneaking out to get it.
After swallowing the pill through tears, I collapsed onto my carpet, completely drained.
Ever since my mom married Henry’s dad, I’d followed my stepbrother around like a lost puppy. For ten whole years, practicing violin in the garage just to catch his attention when he’d come home from hockey practice.
I’d never imagined a world without him in it. Never wanted to.
But now I had no choice.
Outside my window, city lights flickered on and off as evening settled in.
Time blurred until my best friend Melody’s FaceTime lit up my screen.
“Iris, why aren’t you at the hockey victory party with Henry tonight? That girl Gianna from cheer squad showed up and she’s all over him. They’re making everyone uncomfortable.”
Melody flipped her camera around.
