MY SECRET PARAMOUR IS MY STEPBROTHER

The only light in my room came from the muted glow of my laptop, casting long shadows across the walls. I leaned back against the headboard, my legs parted slightly over the sheets, unable to pull my eyes away from the screen. He was live again. It was just a casual, late-night stream, but he had my complete attention. On screen, he went by his handle, Apex, moving with a quiet, unbothered control that made my own messy life feel small. Even with the volume turned all the way down, I already knew the exact cadence of his voice, that smooth, effortless tone that always sent a shudder straight down my spine. My chest tightened as I watched the slow flex of his shoulders. Heat coiled low in my stomach. Slipping my hand beneath the waistband of my shorts, my fingers pressed into bare skin. I started slow, finding a familiar rhythm, but watching him made my pulse race too fast to stay gentle. I moved faster, chasing the friction as the warmth gathered tight inside me. My hips arched off the mattress, seeking more. A low, unsteady gasp slipped past my lips as the pressure mounted. I stared into those bright blue eyes on the display, letting my hand work quicker, harder. My head fell back against the pillows, eyes closing for a fraction of a second as the intensity flared. "Ah… fast…" I breathed out, my toes curling into the blanket. The tension snapped in a sudden, breathless rush, sending ripples through my entire body. I was right on the precipice— "Geral!" My mother’s voice shattered the stillness like breaking glass, booming up from the bottom of the stairs. I gasped, my whole body jumping in shock. Panic flooded my chest. I yanked my hand back and slammed the laptop lid shut in one violent motion, plunging the room into absolute pitch black. I sat frozen in the middle of the bed, heart hammering against my ribs, listening to the sound of my own ragged breathing fill the dark. Before you judge me, let me introduce myself. I’m Geraldine Aiden. I graduated high school two months ago, and with zero plans for the future, the internet had quickly become my full-time sanctuary. The neighbors' Wi-Fi was my ultimate lifesaver, a connection Maurice had managed to hack for me. Maurice... and me? Well, Maurice was my so-called high school boyfriend who simply refused to take a hint and move on. Before you ask, no, I didn't hate him. He was just a lukewarm placeholder I dated for personal reasons while time passed. Back in high school, everyone used to call me the "Lonely Bee" because I was always plugged into my earphones, keeping to myself without a guy by my side. I only agreed to date Maurice to make the gossips finally shut up and go away, not because I actually felt anything for him. Even now, technically having a boyfriend, I’ve never really been with a man before. And even if I wanted to take that step, Maurice was the absolute last person on my mind. "I’ve been calling your name, Geraldine. Hope you’re okay in there!" Mum’s voice drifted from right outside the door. I kept quiet, hoping she'd assume I was asleep. "Ready or not, I’m coming in," she warned, pushing the door open slowly. She reached out and flicked the light switch, blinding me. "Seriously? Not even packed, and you’re already in bed?" Mum sighed, crossing her arms as she surveyed the scattered pile of clothes on my floor. "You promised you’d finish this tonight, Geral. We leave Toronto first thing in the morning." "Fine, you win," I grumbled, throwing the duvet off my legs. I scrambled off the mattress and began dumping clothes into my half-filled suitcase. "So much for a proper night out. Hope this move to Florida is actually worth it." "It definitely is," Mum said, leaning against the doorframe. "Now get it done. The cleaners will be here after we pull out to handle whatever you leave behind." The door clicked shut, leaving me alone again. Just as I zipped the side pocket of my bag, my phone started buzzing on the nightstand. Maurice. It struck me right then: I hadn't even bothered telling him I was relocating out of Canada. Truthfully, I couldn't care less. I swiped to answer. "Hey, babes," his voice came through the speaker, tired and drawn. "Wassup, Mau!" I replied, forcing an upbeat tone. That word babe was definitely not leaving my lips. "I missed seeing you today," he said softly. "Mind if I pop over?" "Maurice, it’s past eight at night. Don’t be a freak." "A freak?" He sounded genuinely taken aback. "Geral, I come over at nine PM most of the time. What’s up with you?" "Good thing you asked the right question for once." "Oookay..." he drawled, hesitation creeping into his voice. "I’m done with this," I said cleanly. "Whatever this relationship thing is between us? We're completely done." "But... did I do something wrong?" That was the thing about Maurice: always playing the clueless victim, incapable of reading the room. I hung up without answering and blocked his number before he could send another word. Besides, I had bigger things to worry about than a high school ex. Mum had recently gotten engaged to a man she met online two years ago. I’d caught glimpses of him in her photo gallery whenever he sent updates, but she rarely talked about his family, and I wouldn't recognize him in a crowd if my life depended on it. Moving into his estate three full months before the actual wedding felt aggressive, but Mum was practically glowing with excitement. My phone chimed in my hand, a notification from the stream app. The live video had just ended, posting a final preview image to his profile page. I tapped it, looking at his sharp jawline and cold blue eyes one last time before closing the app. A brand-new city, a stepdad I’d never met, and a house full of strangers. Tomorrow morning, Toronto would be in my rearview mirror, and I had no idea what was waiting for me under the Florida sun.