Off Limits

Chapter 3

I let out a breath that I felt was stuck in my lungs since I first set eyes on Shane. I looked around the pastel purple room and I was seconds from vomiting. I hadn't like the color purple in years. 

"My mother really doesn't know me." I say rolling my and shaking my head. Turning to touch the knob I felt hesitation wash over me.

"Come on Cass, he's just another trust fund jock." 

I peeked into the hallway and the coast was clear. I darted to the steps and quickly out the front door right into a leggy redhead with piercing green eyes.

"Who the f**k are you?"

"Who the f**k are you?" I say defensively. The redhead brushes pass me and quickly starts to call out Shane's name. "Um I don't remember inviting you in?"

The redhead looked me over and with a raised brow and arms crossed defensively I stare back. Clearly she's trying too hard with a barely there jean skirt and a crisscross cutout crop top. 

"Shane's back to his old ways I see?" she says folding her arms mirroring me. "Shane, and I have been at it for years little black dahlia. You're just a summer fuck."

"First the black dahlia was white, and second of all he's all yours." 

"Becca!" Shane calls out from the oak staircase.

"Shane, do you want to explain to me who this is?" She says pointing at me as if I'm some cheap clearance item.

"She's no one." He says and a big ass grin appears on her face. If he wasn't standing there I assure you she would have stuck her tongue out at me. "She's my step sister." He said as his eyes were now fixed on me, and all I could do was thinking about was how he'd just made me feel upstairs in his room. 

"Oh, well in that case. I'm Becca." She says extending her hand out.

"I have to go." I said rushing out the door.

Once out the door I could finally breathe. The air inside the house was stuffy and uncomfortable. Hell everything in that house made me uncomfortable, especially him. I closed my eyes for a second and tried to regain my composure before I went back in. 

I grabbed my headphones out of my pocket and quickly stuck them in my ear. I needed to de stress and music always does it for me. I hop onto the back of the truck with Jay-Z and Kanye West, "Otis" blasting in my ear. 

Searching through the boxes I find the box labeled Cassie's Ish don't touch! I grab the box and turn bumping straight into Shane. He didn't say anything he just stood there drinking me, and I felt an unfamiliar tingle.

"My dad told me to help you bring in your boxes."  He says, as I stand completely frozen and unable to speak.  "Let me help you."

I watch his muscles flex as he reaches to take the box from me and our hands brush against each other's. I feel his warm creamy flesh up against my sweet golden honey skin, and with a small touch my skin becomes flushed. I watch as his chest rise and fall as he took in deep breaths. I quickly pull my hands away and put them behind my back.

"Why are you so flustered around me?" he says with a devilish smirk.

"I-I'm not I-" 

I stutter when I lie and this is clearly a lie. I couldn't help how he makes me feel, and unfortunately he knows. 

"You don't want to get off on the wrong foot by lying to your new step brother do you?"

"They're not married yet." I whisper pulling my eyes from his, and he sits the box down. "What are you doing?" He inches closer and just continues looking at me, and I hate the way his gaze makes me feel. 

"Where's Becca?" I say and immediately his demeanor changes.

"Get out." He growls.

"I'm getting my things off of the truck. I didn't ask you for help."

"I'll have one of my friends come over and help me get these. You go find something to do."

"You're not my brother or my father." I spew at him.

"Leave and I'll take care of the boxes."

"Whatever." I say brushing pass him.

I get to the end of the moving truck seconds from jumping and he says, "Nice ass Cass."

I had absolutely no words to say to him, absolutely not a one. This boy or man whatever he was, was f*****g insane. That would be the only way to explain his behavior. 

"Cassidy, where do you think you're going?"

I look over yo find my mother and good ol' maxi pad following me in his Mercedes Benz convertible.

"I'm just taking a walk Beverly."

"Get in the car, you don't know where you are or where you're going. You could get lost."

"Would that really be so bad?"

"Cassi, now." My mother hisses my name and I turn rolling my eyes getting into the back seat of the convertible. 

"So Cassidy, what are you most excited about moving to Florida?" Maxwell, says trying to make conversation.

"They have that Cuban sandwich you love here. Why don't we stop and get you one?"

Some things never change when it came to me and my mother. She loves the attention and whenever the attention is off of her she finds a way to get the spotlight back.

"Yeah, sounds good." I say sticking my earbuds back into my ear.

I watch the road palm tree after, palm tree, and people everywhere. Not much of a change from Chicago, other than the weather and the palm trees. The traffic is just as bad. I can see the rush hour traffic over the overpass. 

Arriving at the restaurant there's Spanish music filling the air and the aroma of the food from inside smells divine. 

"This is the authentic Cubano sandwich shop here Cassi." My mom says through the rear view mirror.

"Cool." 

We all exit the car and Maxwell, exchanges pleasantries with the elderly man sitting outside. I watch my mother become uncomfortable and I'm somewhat satisfied. I let out a chuckle as the young boy runs toward her and pulls on her powder blue skirt. And of course my mother holds her purse closer to her, and lightly patted the child on his head.

"Rodrigo! What did I tell you about messing with the customers?"

"Don't."

"Now what do you say?"

"Sorry beautiful lady."

"Oh it's quite alright."

"Hey I'm Cassi, what's your name?" I say stopping down and shaking hands with the young boy.

"Rodrigo. Your eyes look like marbles."

"Thanks that's a first." I say letting out a chuckle.

"I'm Christina, I'm Rodrigo's big sister." 

"This is my step daughter Christina, and she's here to try your authentic Cubano."

"You've come to the right place. Follow me."

"You work here?"

"Yeah while schools out then I'm only here part time. My parents own this restaurant."

"That's pretty cool. Where do you go to school?"

"West Palm prep."

"Well at least I'll know one person."

"West Palm is full of people like your mom and step father." 

"Oh joy."

"Bite it and tell me what you think."

I take the first bite and immediately taste the pork, ham and spicy pickles.

"Damn girl this is bomb. I bet you eat these all the time."

"Maybe once a week being around it all day makes it less enjoyable."

"Cassi! We're leaving." I hear my mother's voice and roll my eyes.

"Hey do you wanna hang from time to time?"

"Yeah that would be great actually."

After exchanging numbers and give me new found friend Rodrigo a hug I meet my mom and Maxwell outside by the car.

"Thanks for the food." I say as I place my earbuds back into my ear and proceed to my new prison.