Crazy Over My Stepdad

When Mom told us she had someone new in her life, I wasn’t expecting much. She’d dated here and there since the divorce, but nothing serious. I figured this would be another forgettable guy, someone we’d meet once and never see again. So when the doorbell rang, I was halfway through setting the table, still in shorts and a tank top, not prepared for what walked in. Mark. The name itself sounded strong, but it didn’t come close to the man standing in our doorway. Tall. Broad shoulders that strained the fabric of his button-up. Hair dark and just messy enough to make him look like he belonged in some glossy magazine spread. And his eyes—God, those eyes—sharp, assessing, like he could see right through me. “Girls, this is Mark,” Mom said, beaming like she’d just discovered treasure. Her hand slipped into his, proud and girlish at once. “Mark, these are my daughters—Anna and Lily.” I swallowed hard, trying not to look like a deer caught in headlights. Lily, my younger sister, shot me a quick glance, her eyebrows raised. She noticed too. There was no way not to. “Nice to meet you both,” Mark said, his voice deep, rich, the kind that curls around your spine. His smile was polite, almost professional, but his eyes lingered on me just long enough to send heat rushing to my cheeks. I managed a nod. “Hi.” “Hi,” Lily echoed, a little too enthusiastically. She giggled right after, which only made me want to roll my eyes. Typical. Mom ushered him inside, chattering nervously. She fussed over the candles on the table, the roast chicken in the oven, the wine glasses she’d polished twice. She wanted this night to be perfect. For him. I sank into my chair, trying to look normal, calm, unaffected. But every time Mark moved, my eyes followed. The way he rested one hand casually on the back of a chair. The way his shirt stretched when he reached for a dish Mom handed him. The veins on his forearm, stark against his skin. It was ridiculous, really. I didn’t even know him. And yet, just sitting across from him at dinner felt dangerous. “So, Mark,” Mom began brightly once we were all seated. “Tell the girls what you do.” He leaned back slightly, the corner of his mouth tugging up in a half-smile. “Construction. Mostly high-end renovations these days. Keeps me busy.” I caught the roughness in his hands when he gestured. Strong, capable hands. The thought came unbidden, and I quickly took a sip of water to distract myself. “That’s cool,” Lily said, twirling her fork. She was trying too hard, leaning forward, smiling too wide. I knew her game. But something about the way Mark’s gaze skipped past her and landed briefly on me made my stomach twist. Mom was glowing, hanging on his every word. And I wanted to be happy for her—I really did. She deserved someone steady, someone good. But sitting there, my pulse hammering, my skin too hot, I couldn’t ignore what I felt. The flicker of something I shouldn’t want. After dinner, Mom insisted we all sit in the living room for coffee. Mark sank into the couch like he belonged there already, spreading out comfortably, confident in his own skin. My sister sat too close, eager, while Mom buzzed around, laughing too loud, pouring drinks. I stayed quiet, curled into the armchair, pretending to scroll my phone. But really, I was watching him from the corner of my eye. The way he leaned forward, forearms on his knees, his shirt pulling tight across his chest. The way his laughter rumbled low when Mom said something silly. He didn’t touch me. He didn’t even speak directly to me more than once or twice. But I felt it anyway—the tension, the awareness. A spark I knew I had no business feeling. By the time they said goodnight, my head was spinning. “See you again soon,” Mark said, his voice soft but heavy, like a promise. His gaze brushed over me one last time before he followed Mom out the door. I stood there frozen, my sister nudging me with a smirk. “Wow,” she whispered. “Mom really upgraded.” I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. Because I knew Lily was right. And I also knew one dangerous truth. I was already in trouble.