JEALOUS MUCH
1399 Words
Vanessa sat by her window, chin resting on her palm, watching the evening light slowly fade into a soft orange.
She hadn’t spoken much all day. Barely said more than ten words to Steve and Isabella. And not because she didn’t want to…but because she didn’t trust herself.
She couldn’t sit here and rot either.
She grabbed her phone, fingers hesitating for a second before typing.
Nessa: “Yo. Are you free tonight?”
Ethan: “Depends. What do I get for canceling plans?”
Nessa: “Me. In jeans. Looking fine. Probably sad. Definitely hungry.”
Ethan: “Say less. Meet at Crave’s island or are you coming here?”
She smiled a little for the first time in days. Ethan always knew how to bring her back to life, even when he didn’t know what she was drowning in.
Nessa: “I’ll come to yours. Might stay a while.”
Ethan: “I’ll cook. Bring that sad fine ass over.”
She grinned, biting her lip.
"Good!"... she said inaudibly…
She needed out of this house. Out of these thoughts. Out of everything happening around her for the moment at least..
Downstairs, Isabella and Steve were sitting at the dining table, coffee mugs in hand, papers spread around them.
“…so after the campaign last month,” Isabella was saying, “we finally got that foreign grant approved. Can you believe that? That’s almost double the original budget.”
Steve smiled at her. Genuinely. “You’re changing lives, Isa.”
She brushed him off, humble as always. “I’m just trying. But I’m proud of the team. These girls….some of them were barely able to talk to a stranger before. Now they’re handling outreach calls, school visits like professionals… I have never been more proud..”
Steve leaned back, watching her with an admiration that wasn’t fake. “You should let me host something for you.”
Isabella blinked. “What?”
He raised his brow. “Yeah. A small celebration. Just a get-together. Friends, donors… to celebrate the work you’ve done… and also a party to celebrate our wedding.. people barely know that we are married..”
She shook her head, chuckling. “Steve, this isn’t about me. You know, right? And I am okay with people barely knowing that I am married to you. This is not a first time”
“It is,” he said, softer. “You’re the face of this. Let people see that. Let them thank you. And the world needs to know that you are married to me as well. I don't care about your excuses.. I wanna show you off as much as I can..”
She looked at him for a moment, then nodded slowly. “Alright. But nothing big, okay?”
He smirked. “I’ll try.”
"Don't just try. Please do something little".. she said, blushing.
Just then, Vanessa came down the stairs, dressed in ripped jeans and a loose white shirt tucked in just enough to show off her waistline. Her curls were pinned up, leaving a few strands dangling around her face.
Isabella turned to her. “Wow. Someone’s going somewhere.”
Vanessa gave a small smile. “Ethan. He wants me to come hang out with him.”
Steve didn’t say anything at first, just stared at her with that unreadable look again. The one that made her want to tug her shirt higher. Or lower. She didn’t even know anymore.
“Tonight?” Isabella asked, sipping her coffee.
“Yeah. Might stay late, maybe crash at his place if it gets too dark.”
Steve’s chair scraped back.
“Might stay late?” he repeated.
Vanessa shot him a look. “Yeah. Why?”
He shrugged casually. “It’s not safe. You driving?”
“Ethan’s picking me.”
He folded his arms. “So you’re letting some guy drive you around at night now?”
“Some guy?” she blinked. “It’s Ethan. My best friend since I was like, ten?”
“Still a guy.”
Vanessa tilted her head, something in her already simmering.
Isabella chuckled lightly, trying to ease the misunderstanding. “Steve, don’t start. Ethan’s practically family.”
But Steve didn’t laugh. “I’m just saying. It’s late. It’s not wise. She’s barely eaten all day. Probably still sick.”
Vanessa rolled her eyes, stepping around the table. “Don’t worry, I’ll eat at Ethan’s. He cooks better than I do anyway.”
He clenched his jaw slightly. “He better.”
Vanessa blinked at him again. “What’s your problem?”
“No problem,” he replied too quickly. “Just making sure your best friend knows his boundaries.”
Vanessa let out a sarcastic laugh. “Wow. Jealous much?”
Isabella looked between them. “Okay, guys…”
“No one’s jealous, I am just protecting you” Steve said coolly, eyes fixed on Vanessa.
She raised a brow. “Right. You just act like my dad when I want to breathe outside.”
“Because someone has to look out for you.”
“Newsflash,” she snapped, “that job’s taken. By me.”
“Vanessa…”
“No, seriously. What is this? Suddenly I can’t leave the house unless I ask for permission? From you both? I am over eighteen please…”
"That does give you any right to just leave when you want!"... Steve barked..
Isabella stood. “Enough, both of you.”
They paused.
Silence again.
Then Vanessa looked away, grabbing her bag. “I’ll be back when I feel like. Don’t wait up.”
She turned and walked out the door, slamming it just hard enough to prove a point.
Steve stood there for a moment, staring at the door like he could burn it down with his eyes.
Isabella sighed and walked to him. “Hey. That was unnecessary.”
He didn’t say anything.
“She’s a grown girl. Let her breathe.”
Still quiet.
She touched his shoulder gently. “You okay?”
He nodded once.
But he wasn’t.
Because even he couldn’t explain why her walking out like that made him so damn mad. Why the thought of her laughing with Ethan made his hands clench. Why every time she walked past him lately, he noticed everything from her perfume to the way she bit her lip when she was thinking.
It wasn’t right.
It wasn’t safe.
But it was happening.
At Ethan’s apartment, Vanessa had her feet up on the couch, plate of pasta in one hand, glass of wine in the other.
“You look tense,” Ethan said, settling beside her.
She rolled her eyes. “Ugh. Don’t even get me started.”
“Oh, I want all the tea. Spill.”
She sighed and leaned back. “It’s just… Steve.”
Ethan smirked. “The hot stepdad?”
“Shut up.”
“I’m just saying he gives off major jealous boyfriend vibes. Always has.”
Vanessa side-eyed him. “You noticed too?”
“Girl, everyone with two eyes and a brain would notice. He’s always watching you. Like… watching you. Like you’re about to get stolen.”
Vanessa groaned. “And now he’s acting like I can’t go out without reporting to him first.”
Ethan raised a brow. “Kinda hot though.”
“Ethan!”
“I mean it’s wrong, but still hot.”
She laughed, finally. The tension in her chest loosened a little.
He nudged her playfully. “You like it, don’t you?”
“What? That's my stepfather..”
“The attention. From him.”
She paused.
Did she?
Yes.
Yes, she did.
That was the problem.
Back at home, Steve stood outside, lighting a cigarette he hadn’t touched in years. The sky was dark now. Streetlights flickered. Crickets hummed.
He was doing everything right, wasn’t he?
He married the woman.
He took care of her daughter.
He kept the damn house standing.
So why did he feel like the villain?
Why did the image of Vanessa in those jeans haunt his brain like a curse?
And why, why, did the thought of her staying out all night make him feel like breaking something?
He inhaled sharply.
Jealous much?
Yeah.
Maybe he was.
But not in a way he could say out loud.
Because if he ever did… there’d be no coming back.
- Writer
