Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 184(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 184(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
Owen is my mom’s husband.
Addison’s and Cason’s and Rhett’s dad.
My stepfather.
I shift in my seat, noting how sore I am. We only had sex the two times last night. I’d wanted to shower with him, but his kids showed up which had him bolting from the bathroom in a hurry. It stung a little, but I knew it was necessary.
What we’re doing is our little secret.
It has to be.
He’d then left with Rhett to go get my car and bring it back. I wonder if he told his son about us or if he kept quiet about it. Maybe he’s mentally battling this whole thing just as much as I am.
Intense eyes burn into me and I can’t help but glance my mother’s way. She’s not distracted by her phone this morning. Her eyes are laser-focused on me, peeling me apart layer by layer. All the dopey lovesickness evaporates as cold dread washes over me.
For someone who craves her mother’s attention, I sure do chicken out when it’s on me.
You’re fucking her husband.
My cheeks burn hot and I’m forced to look away from my mother. I don’t want her to see the truth behind my eyes. I’m an adult, but I still don’t want to set a bomb off on this arrangement. Nothing good will come of that.
“You look different today,” Addison says as she plops down beside me, grinning my way. “Got a crush on someone from school?”
I make the mistake of darting my eyes over to Owen. He smirks and tosses a wink my way. A blast of heat burns its way to my core.
“Oh my God,” Addison shrieks. “You do! Who is it? Maybe Rhett knows him. Or her. Tell me everything.”
Mom watches me like a hawk. It makes the bacon I’d consumed twist violently in my stomach.
“It’s new,” I blurt out. “I’ll tell you if something comes of it.”
Not a lie. She’ll know if I start publicly dating her father.
Guilt threatens to swallow me whole. Addison opens her mouth like she might demand more details, but Owen curses at his phone screen. Then, he tears out of the kitchen.
“That motherfucker is outside taking pictures!”
It takes a second for my mind to catch up to his words. The silver sedan guy knows where we live? With panic clawing at my insides, I scramble out of my chair and rush after Owen. Mom and Rhett are by my side. By the time we reach the front door that’s been left open, Owen is halfway across the yard, bellowing at the stalker guy.
“Stay inside,” Rhett commands to us as he bolts after his dad.
Mom’s fingers fly over her phone as she calls someone. As soon as they answer, she starts hissing things to them. I’m too focused, frozen in fear, on the man parked at the curb out front, who I now know owns a gun.
“Cops are on the way,” Mom barks out to me before disappearing to finish her discussion.
The silver sedan slowly drives off, leaving a pissed-off Owen pacing the snow-covered sidewalk. Rhett says something to him and then grabs hold of his arm, urging him to go back inside so they don’t freeze their asses off with no coats.
“Christopher is sending someone,” Mom says as she reenters the living room, no longer on the phone. “I’ve gotta run, though.” Then, she walks over to my sister. “Let’s go, Penny.”
Owen and Rhett disappear down the hall, likely to his office. Mom already has Penny out and heading upstairs to grab her things. I follow after them. Once in her room, I lean against the doorframe as I watch Mom pack Penny’s backpack.
“Where are you going?”
Mom closes her eyes and her nostrils flare as if my question agitates her. “Must you question everything I do, Mei?”
Hurt prickles at my chest but I swallow down the emotion. “We’re a family. Normal families communicate.”
She snaps her head my way and scowls. “No need to throw a tantrum. I swear, sometimes it’s as if I have two toddlers instead of one.”
I cross my arms over my chest and huff. “Just because you don’t like or want to answer the questions doesn’t mean I’m childish for asking them.”
Penny whines at our raised voices, hugging her stuffed elephant to her chest.
“You have no idea of how hard I work to keep your life as unaffected as possible,” Mom hisses, flinging her hand up in frustration. “It’s called protecting the both of you and it requires sacrificing so much on my part.”
I gape at her, shaking my head. “What are you sacrificing? So far, it’s just me.”
Mom storms over to me and pops my cheek with her palm. Not hard enough to leave a mark, but like she used to when I was being a brat when younger and she needed to get my attention. This upsets Penny and she starts to cry.