I thin my lips. Indecision wars in my breast. Part of me is screaming out to not let her do this, yet there's another part of me that’s saying I need to respect her wishes. I've been a pushy bastard from the beginning. Maybe she does just need time to process at all. If I push too hard, I could end up losing her forever.
I run a hand through my hair and cast a helpless glance her way, but she's still not looking at me. She's staring out the window, contemplatively.
We ride the rest of the way in silence, and when I finally pull up to her curb, she’s quick to fling open the door like she’s afraid I’m going to pull what I did yesterday and lock her in.
My heart twists at how eager she is to get away from me.
My worry only increases when I tell her, “I'll be here tomorrow morning to pick you up,” and she doesn't argue.
She doesn't meet my eyes as she turns to go into her building. It feels like she's ripping my heart out with every step she takes.
This isn't right. After what we just shared, she should still be in my arms. We should be spending the night wrapped up in one another, talking about our hopes and dreams and planning out how we're going to make this work. Not taking time apart.
I grip my hands on the steering wheel tightly as I contemplate going after her.
I finally let out a frustrated huff and tell myself that I'll give her one night.
One night, and if she doesn't come to the right realization tomorrow, I'll do whatever I have to do to make her see that we belong together.
Step-siblings are not.
* * *
Sharon
My tears are streaming down my face as I sit at my laptop and type up my letter of resignation. Charlie is going to be furious, but I know what I have to do.
This can't happen. Not only is it extremely unprofessional for me to have fucked my boss, but Charlie is mystepbrother. His mom and my dad are married. How would it look for us to be seen together romantically?
We don't live in a perfect society. People will judge us, and while I can say I don't care what people think, I don't want it to hurt my mom. The thought of her being embarrassed of me or disappointed in me…I can’t bear it.
It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do to not look at Charlie as he practically begged me to stay with him in the car, but I knew if I looked at his handsome face, I would crumble.
For all of my bravado. I'm really a coward. I'm not as strong as I act like I am. Especially when it comes to him.
He's right. He can make me purr with just one touch.
I'm not a fierce lioness. I'm just a 'scaredy cat.
No sooner do I send the letter of resignation do I get a phone call from my mom telling me she and Jeff are in the area and want to stop by.
I hurriedly wash my face and change into some comfortable loungewear. If anything will make me feel better right now, it's seeing my mom.
All of us sisters are close with our mom, but I feel like Mom and I are the closest. I'm the first child, and she honestly is my best friend. She’s always been there for me, and she's always encouraged me in everything I wanted to do. I wouldn't be half the woman I am today if not for her.
That's why whenever I open the door to her and Jeff, I give her as big a smile as I can muster and push all thoughts of Charlie out of my mind. Mom can read me better than anyone, and I don't want her to know anything's wrong because she won't stop until she gets it out of me.
I don't know how I'm going to tell her I'm not working for Charlie anymore. She was so happy when she found out that we were working together, but this is better than the alternative—telling her I fucked my new stepbrother in the elevator on my second day on the job like an office slut.
Mom, Jeff, and I are all sitting in the living area having a glass of wine as I try my best not to think about Charlie and listen to them talk about some of the places they've seen together. They didn't have an overly extended honeymoon. In fact, it sounds like they mostly honeymoonedbeforethey were ever married.
My smile is genuine when I think of how happy my mom is. I love seeing her eyes sparkling like this, and it's obvious that Jeff adores her. I couldn't ask any more for my mother. She deserves it. I know she was desperately in love with my dad. and she's been alone for years since he died, but she's still young and it's time for her to be happy again.
My heart pangs when I realize that I’ll probably never find that kind of happiness because Charlie has ruined me for anyone else. I’ll never be able to be with another man without thinking of him and how he called himself “daddy” while he took my virginity in that elevator.
We all jump when there's a sudden pounding on the door. My hand flies up to my chest. It sounds like the FBI is out there, which is ridiculous because I know I'm not involved in anything that would have the cops coming to my door.
My heart skips a beat when I hear the harried voice shouting through it. “Sharon, open this motherfucking door! We're going to talk about this right now!”