The Affair

Chapter 15

Maddie arrived at the house in a breezy summer dress, her dark, voluminous curls bouncing with each step. Her warm brown eyes sparkled with excitement as she greeted Kendra with a tight hug. Maddie had always been effortlessly beautiful, her radiant smile and infectious energy making her the kind of person people gravitated toward.

Kendra, on the other hand, had just finished slipping into her black bikini—a tiny, sleek two-piece that accentuated every curve of her toned body. The triangle top hugged her chest perfectly, while the string-tied bottoms sat high on her hips, elongating her legs and showing off her smooth, sun-kissed skin. It was daring but tasteful, the kind of swimsuit that would undoubtedly turn heads.

The two girls made their way to the pool, the sun beating down on them as they sprawled out on the lounge chairs, soaking in the warmth.

Maddie turned to Kendra, pushing her oversized sunglasses up into her curls. “So… have you heard from Jake?” she asked, her voice laced with curiosity. “I mean, three years is a long time, K. I really thought he was the one.”

Kendra scoffed, letting her head fall back against the chair. “The one? Maddie, he slept with someone else. He’s an idiot.”

Maddie sighed. “Yeah, but that doesn’t mean he won’t try to weasel his way back in. You know how guys like him are.”

Kendra turned her head to look at her best friend. “Even if he did, I’m done with that chapter of my life.”

Maddie studied her for a moment before smirking. “Okay, but… is there another chapter you’re interested in? Or should I say, a certain older, off-limits, ridiculously hot chapter?”

Kendra’s stomach flipped, but she masked it with an eye roll. “Maddie…”

Maddie grinned mischievously. “Oh, come on. You can’t tell me you don’t think about it. The tension is thick, girl.”

Kendra groaned, covering her face with her hands. “We are not talking about this.”

Maddie just laughed, stretching out on the chair. “Fine, fine. But for the record, I’m so rooting for this plot twist.”

Mark pulled into the driveway, rolling his shoulders as he reminded himself that this was just another weekend—just another visit with Rebecca and Ethan. Nothing unusual. Nothing he hadn’t done a dozen times before. Dressed casually in a pair of khaki swim shorts and a fitted black T-shirt, he stepped out of his car and headed toward the front door.

As soon as he stepped inside, Rebecca greeted him with a warm smile. “Hey, you’re just in time,” she said, arranging a tray of fresh fruit and chips on the counter. “The kids have their friends over, and they’re out back in the pool. I’m just getting some snacks together for them.”

Mark nodded, running a hand through his hair. “Sounds like a full house,” he remarked, glancing toward the sliding glass doors leading to the backyard.

“Yeah,” Rebecca chuckled. “Ethan’s with his friends, and Maddie’s here with Kendra. They’ve been laying out all morning.”

Mark gave a small nod, but his stomach tensed slightly at the mention of Kendra. Keep it together, he told himself.

Meanwhile, out by the pool, Ethan and his friends were huddled in the water, barely disguising their gawking as they stole glances at Kendra.

“Dude,” one of them whispered. “She’s so hot.”

“Like, way too hot to be Ethan’s sister,” another added with a smirk.

Ethan rolled his eyes, annoyed but not surprised. “Can you guys not be freaks for five seconds?” he muttered.

But his friends weren’t listening. Kendra lay stretched out on the lounge chair, her skin glistening under the afternoon sun. The black bikini hugged her body in all the right places, the tiny strings tied at her hips emphasizing her toned curves. She looked effortlessly stunning, her chest rising and falling in a slow rhythm as she basked in the warmth.

Mark stepped outside, expecting to be greeted by the usual weekend scene—Ethan roughhousing with his friends, Kendra and Maddie chatting on the side. But the moment his eyes landed on Kendra, he froze.

His pulse quickened, heat rising in his chest.

She was glowing in the sun, her dark hair spilling over the chair, her skin kissed by the light, smooth and flawless. He swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. She shifted slightly, adjusting her bikini top, completely unaware of the effect she was having on him.

Mark clenched his jaw, forcing his gaze away.

Get a grip.

He was here for Rebecca. For Ethan. This was normal.

But as he stepped further into the yard, he couldn’t shake the undeniable tension coursing through his veins.

Kendra stretched her arms over her head, sighing in pure relaxation. She hadn’t noticed Mark yet—too lost in the warmth of the sun and the mindless chatter with Maddie. But Mark noticed her. He forced himself to keep his expression neutral, though every muscle in his body was wound tight.

Rebecca stepped out behind him, carrying a tray of snacks. “Kids, I brought food!” she called, setting it down on the outdoor table.

Kendra finally turned her head, her eyes landing on Mark. Her stomach did a little flip at the sight of him dressed so casually—his broad shoulders filling out his black t-shirt perfectly, his khaki swim shorts sitting low on his hips. She caught the way his jaw tensed when their eyes met, the way his fingers curled slightly at his sides as if restraining himself.

“Hey, Mark,” she said, pushing her sunglasses up onto her head.

Mark cleared his throat, nodding. “Hey, Kendra.”

Maddie, who had been sipping from her water bottle, sat up slightly, eyes flicking between them. “Damn, I almost forgot your hot stepdaddy was coming over,” she muttered under her breath, low enough that only Kendra could hear.

Kendra’s eyes widened, and she elbowed Maddie in the side. “Shut up,” she hissed.

Maddie just giggled, clearly entertained.

Meanwhile, Ethan and his friends grabbed handfuls of chips and fruit from the tray, barely paying attention to the tension thickening between Mark and Kendra.

Mark forced himself to move, walking toward the shaded part of the patio. He needed a second to breathe, to stop looking at Kendra before his thoughts spiraled any further.

Kendra, however, wasn’t about to let things stay awkward. She leaned back in her chair, stretching her legs out with an amused smirk. “Didn’t peg you for the ‘spend the weekend poolside’ type,” she teased.

Mark scoffed, shaking his head. “I’m not. But I make exceptions.”

Kendra’s smirk widened. “Right. Because you’re such a family man.”

Mark met her gaze, his own laced with something unreadable. “Something like that.”

Maddie, still watching them closely, raised an eyebrow. “Okay, this is way more interesting than I expected today to be,” she whispered to herself.

Rebecca, oblivious to the unspoken tension, smiled at Mark. “You should get in the pool. It’s hot today.”

Mark hesitated, but Kendra—feeling bold—tilted her head. “Yeah, Mark. Cool off.”

Something flickered in his gaze, something that made Kendra’s breath hitch. But then, as if regaining control, Mark smirked. “Careful what you wish for,” he murmured before pulling his shirt over his head, revealing his toned chest and abs.

Kendra’s throat went dry.

Maddie nearly choked on her drink. “Okay. Wow.”

Kendra swallowed hard, shifting slightly on the lounge chair.

This summer just got a lot hotter.