2
1160 Words
Sara's pov
The silence between us lasted only a few seconds, but it felt like hours. Mike just stood there, frozen like me. Finally, he stretched out his hand.
"Nice seeing you," he said.
His voice was steady, but I saw the truth in his eyes. He was panicking inside, just like me. I reached out and took his hand. The moment our skin touched, it hit me. A memory so strong it stole my breath.
I was back in that hotel room. His hands were on my waist, pressing me against the wall. His lips on my neck. The feeling of being completely lost in him. The heat. The passion. It all rushed through me like fire.
I pulled my hand away fast. Too fast. Rebecca was talking, but I couldn't hear her words. My heart was beating so loud I thought everyone in the room could hear it.
Andrew wrapped his arm around my waist. "Sara, these are my two beautiful children," he said proudly. "The only close family I have right now."
I forced my lips into a smile. His children. One of them was the stranger I had given my whole self to. The man I had been searching for like a crazy person for months. And now I was standing in his house, engaged to his father.
We were still standing there when a woman in an apron came in. "Sir, the food is ready," she said quietly, then left.
Andrew smiled and squeezed my waist. "Let's continue getting to know each other at the table. Come on."
I walked into the dining room like I was walking to my own execution. The table was huge. It could have sat twenty people easily. And it was covered with food. Different kinds of meat, rice, salads, things I couldn't even name. It looked like a feast.
But food was the last thing on my mind.
I sat down. Andrew sat at the head of the table. Rebecca sat across from me, still smiling like she had known me for years. And Mike… Mike sat right next to me.
The problem sitting next to me was the man who gave me the best night of my life. The one I had dreamed about. The one I had prayed to run into again. And now I was going to be his stepmother.
How will Andrew feel when he finds out his son has already been with his wife-to-be?
The thought hit me like a slap. I pushed my food around my plate, not eating. My ears were ringing. Everyone was talking, laughing. I heard their voices, but I couldn't understand the words. I just nodded when I thought I should nod.
"Sara?"
I blinked. Rebecca was looking at me, waiting.
"Sorry, what?" I asked.
Rebecca laughed. "I asked if you could tell us your version of how you met our father. Your own side of the story."
My eyes moved before I could stop them. They landed on Mike. He was looking at his plate, his jaw tight.
"No, no," Andrew interrupted. "I've told you guys so many times."
"But Dad, we want to hear it from her," Rebecca said, her eyes bright with curiosity. She turned to Mike. "Don't you want to hear it, Mike?"
Mike looked up. His eyes met mine for just a second. "Sure," he said quietly.
Andrew shook his head, smiling. "You kids never give up."
"Come on, Dad," Rebecca pushed.
Andrew looked at me, his eyes full of love. "Fine. But first, why don't you tell us about the beautiful lady you've been looking for, Mike? The one from more than two years ago?"
My heart stopped.
What?
I looked at Mike. His face had gone pale.
Rebecca laughed, clapping her hands together. "Oh my God, yes! Sara, you won't believe this story. Mike met a lady in Chicago more than two years ago. At some party. He said they had this amazing time together. But get this—he never asked for her number!"
She laughed again, like it was the funniest thing in the world.
I felt cold all over. Chicago. A party. Two years ago.
No. It can't be.
"Not even a name?" The words left my mouth before I could stop them. I needed to know.
Rebecca thought for a moment. "Remind me again, what did you call her? Something like…"
Mike shot her a look. "I'm not saying it."
Andrew laughed. "If Rebecca forgot, do you think I will? You told me that story a hundred times, son."
"Dad, please," Mike said, his voice low.
Rebecca leaned forward. "Dad, say it! What did he call her?"
Andrew smiled, enjoying the moment. "He called her Sarah. Same as you, Sara. Just with an 'h' at the end. Sarah."
The room went quiet. At least, it felt quiet to me.
Mike and I looked at each other. Really looked. And in that moment, everything changed.
The guy I had been searching for. The one who disappeared from my life like a dream. The one I thought I would never find… He had been looking for me too.
"You won't believe it," Rebecca continued, completely unaware. "He actually said he would stay single until he finds her. Can you believe that? My brother, the player, ready to wait forever for one woman he met one time."
She kept talking, but I didn't hear her.
All I could think was: He stayed single for me. For two years. He was looking for me.
I looked at Mike again. His eyes were fixed on me. There was pain there. Confusion. And something else. Something that made my stomach flip.
The man sitting next to me, the one I was going to call my stepson, had been waiting for me. And I had been waiting for him too. I just didn't know it.
But now I did.
And it changed everything.
Andrew reached over and held my hand under the table. I almost jumped. His touch felt different now. Wrong? I didn't know. I didn't know anything anymore.
"My Sarah," Andrew said softly, looking at me with those kind eyes. "I'm so glad I found you."
I smiled. But inside, I was screaming.
Because he didn't find me first. His son did.
And now I was trapped between two men. One who loved me. And one who I couldn't stop thinking about.
The worst part? Mike was looking at me the same way I was looking at him. Like we were both drowning and couldn't find the surface.
Rebecca kept talking about the wedding plans. About how excited she was to have me as a sister. About how happy her father was.
I nodded. I smiled. I pretended.
But under the table, my hands were shaking.
Because I knew. I knew this was only the beginning. And whatever was coming next, it was going to destroy someone.
I just didn't know who yet.
- Writer
