My Stepbrother, My Sin

Chapter9

_

Moana’s POV

We finally agreed. Reluctantly, I stepped into the car with Mom and Ashton following close

behind. Nadine trailed slightly behind, still holding his hand. I kept my face neutral, but inside,

my stomach twisted in a tight knot.

The moment the engine started, the quiet tension became suffocating. Nadine sat in the front

passenger seat, Ashton drove, Me and mom slid into the back, careful to avoid touching him.

The ride began, and at first, no one spoke. The only sounds were the engine, and Nadine’s

occasional humming.

I stole a glance at Ashton through the rearview mirror. He caught me almost immediately. Our

eyes met. I looked away first.

A minute later, I glanced again. This time he caught me and didn’t break eye contact. He raised

an eyebrow slightly, just a twitch, but it made my heart skip. I quickly looked back at the window.

We repeated this a few times. Every glance lasted just a second too long, and every time, we

both looked away like we were ashamed of the attention we were giving each other. I smiled to

myself quietly. It was ridiculous. And somehow funny.

I wanted to ask. I needed to know where he is been going with Nadine. My curiosity was

burning. My mind went over the possibilities, one after another, and each one hurt more than the

last. But the words wouldn’t come. I couldn’t bring myself to ask.

As if reading my thoughts, Mom spoke.

“Ashton, is the place you’re heading to along the way to

where we’re going?”

I froze slightly in my seat. I hadn’t expected her to notice, and I couldn’t tell if she had guessed

my question or if it was just luck.

He glanced at her through the mirror.

“Yes,

” he said.

“I’m going for an outing with Nadine. We’re

going to meet some friends.

”

I felt my stomach drop. Just like that, all the plans I had imagined since coming back crumbled. I

had thought this trip would give me time with him. Time to laugh, time to make memories, even

small ones, just the two of us. But now I knew that wasn’t happening.

I looked at him again. Nadine’s hand was still in his. She leaned slightly into his shoulder and

laughed at something he said. My chest tightened. I turned my gaze to the window, careful not

to let Mom see the way my hands clenched in my lap.

The car continued in silence after that. Nadine spoke occasionally, small talk, teasing, but I only

half-listened. My mind kept drifting back to the image of Ashton with her, smiling, laughing,

holding her hand. It felt like a knife twisting in my chest.

Mom didn’t speak much, but I could feel her watching me from the corner of her eye. I kept my

face neutral, hiding the sadness, the jealousy, and the frustration I felt. She had this way of

seeing straight through me without even asking a question.

Finally, the drive ended. The house appeared in front of us, familiar and welcoming. Mom’s

friend’s house. Ashton pulled the car to a stop and quickly got out, opening the back door for us.

I stepped out carefully, trying to ignore the ache in my chest. Nadine’s hand was still in his, and

she smiled at him again. I felt my stomach twist further.

“Here we are,

” he said, stepping aside.

Mom and I followed her inside. As soon as the door opened, her friend greeted us warmly,

wrapping Mom in a tight hug. Then she turned to me, smiling brightly.

“Moana! You’re back! How’s Paris?” she asked, her voice full of warmth.

I hugged her politely, careful not to reveal too much. I couldn’t tell her I had returned

permanently.

She pulled back slightly and spoke again.

“My son is back too. You two should catch up, he was

your friend when you were little. You’d get along now.

”

I stiffened. My curiosity peaked.

“Oh?”

“Alex,

” she called.

A young man appeared from another room. My chest tightened again. He had grown since I last

saw him, he is now taller, broader, sharper. Handsome. But not Ashton. Not even close. I bit my

inner cheek, silently scolding myself for comparing him to Ashton.

Alex stopped in front of me and extended his hand.

“Moana. Good to see you again.

”

I shook his hand, firm, and polite. My mind, however, was still half-focused on Ashton, on the

drive, on Nadine, on the tension we shared.

Alex gestured toward the balcony.

“Let’s step outside. I want to catch up properly.

”

I followed him, my thoughts racing. Inside, Mom and her friend stayed behind, talking quietly. I

caught a glimpse of Ashton leaving in the car. My chest tightened again. The image of him

driving away with Nadine burned in my mind.

Alex and I stepped onto the balcony. The breeze was warm. It should have felt like a fresh start,

but I couldn’t shake the memory of Ashton’s gaze, of the stolen glances in the car.

We talked about childhood memories at first. Games we used to play, summers spent running

around, moments that seemed distant yet vivid. I laughed a little, genuinely. But even as I

laughed, part of me was stuck on the tension with Ashton, on the silent acknowledgment of what

I couldn’t have right now.

I watched Alex laugh at one of my stories. His presence was comforting, easy. But my thoughts

kept drifting.

I glanced back at the house. Mom and her friend were chatting, unaware of the storm inside me.

I wanted to tell her everything about Ashton, about Nadine, about my frustration but I couldn’t.

Alex noticed my glance.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

“Yes,

” I said quickly, forcing a smile.

“I’m fine.

”

But I wasn’t fine. Not even close.

We continued talking, moving along the balcony. He asked about Paris, about my life, about my

studies. I answered politely, but my mind was elsewhere. Each word, each laugh, each casual

gesture only reminded me of what I had lost the chance to share with Ashton today.

I clenched the railing lightly, trying to steady my racing thoughts. I couldn’t stop thinking about

him, about the tension, about the way our eyes met in the car.

And though Alex was here, friendly, easy to talk to, and though I tried to focus on him.

I exhaled slowly, keeping my face calm. My hands clenched the railing tighter for a moment, and

then I released it.

I didn’t know what would happen next. I didn’t know when I’d get to share romance with Ashton

again. I didn’t know if I could ignore the way my chest ached when I thought of him.