Wanting You (Book 1)

Too Late To Say "Sorry"

Astrid's POV

"I'm so disappointed in you, Astrid!" mom said as she turned to face me when we walked through the door to the house.

"I'm sorry," I apologized.

"Just what the hell were you thinking? You embarrassed yourself! You embarrassed me!" her voice rose a notch.

"I only wanted to know who you were dining with," I answered, shame getting the better of me as I faced her also.

"And I told you that I would have let you know when the timing was right! But you insisted on following me there and made a scene in front of him and everyone else!"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I embarrassed you in front of your new successful boyfriend."

"Astrid..."

"That's the only reason for you to be acting like this right now, am I right?"

"That's not true. You are stubborn, hardheaded, and difficult at times."

"And I wonder where I get that from.."

"Don't you sass me, young lady. You're to go to your room immediately!"

"With pleasure," I responded. Mom sighed deeply as I excused myself and walked up the stairs to my bedroom on the left.

I flopped into bed, falling asleep angrily.

~

"Astrid! You messed up at the last two steps! How do you manage to mess up at the LAST TWO STEPS!?" Stormi yelled at me in front of everyone at cheer practice.

"I'm sorry," I found myself saying.

"I don't need your "sorry." I need you to get this right!" she finished and signaled for the beginning of the routine to start over. Everyone moaned in frustration, some even staring daggers at me before getting into formation.

I reached for my water bottle, finally quenching my dry throat. Keri sat down next to me on one of the bleachers.

"Hey," she greeted.

"Hey," I answered.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Yeah. Trying to be," I responded. She nodded, patted my back, and then went over to talk to a teammate.

~

Back at home, mom was getting ready for another date with Timothy, and she had been out with him every day that entire week.

~

"Timothy would like to formally meet you. He has a son also, the same age as you, and he would like it if all four of us can get to know each other better at one of his restaurants tomorrow. Are you okay with that?" Mom asked me.

"Sure," I answered and continued with my homework. She didn't say another word. She eyed my room, turned on her heel, and walked out the door.

The next day, as the time got closer to officially meet Timothy, my heart raced, and I had to pee for the fifth time.

Mom spoke into her cellphone, providing someone whom I assumed was Timothy, with directions to finding our home.

Several minutes later, a sleek, luxury, black SUV pulled into our driveway. Timothy got out and took in the surroundings before walking up to the front door. Mom was already there, and she eagerly greeted him with a welcoming hug.

He gave her a bouquet of flowers.

"Sweetie, you shouldn't have," she told him but accepted the flowers with a warm smile.

"Sweetie," I thought to myself, "Just how serious are they?"

"You do remember my daughter?" mom introduced as they walked in my direction.

"Astrid, right?" Timothy mentioned.

"Right," I responded. We shook hands. He and mom spoke for a couple more minutes, and then we accompanied him in his vehicle where I was expecting to meet his son, but there wasn't anyone else there.

"My son would be joining us at the restaurant. He had practice this morning," he informed. I nodded in understanding from the back seat. He and mom sat upfront, chatting happily. She wore one of the brightest smiles I've ever seen since dad left, and ever so often, she reached out and touched Tim's arm. She liked him.. and I hoped he felt the same way.

~

We reached Timothy's restaurant. Upon sight, we were guided to a private patio table right next to a beautiful fountain.

"This is amazing," mom complimented as she looked around with a smile. Timothy pulled out a chair for her and I.

"It's one of my favorites," he said, triumphant smile wearing on his face in return.

We were all seated, made our orders, and drinks were served.

"Ah, he's on the way," Timothy said as he looked at a text message. We chatted some more. Timothy was nice, but I remained guarded for both my mom and myself.

"There he is," Timothy said.

"Hi dad," someone said behind me. I looked in the direction of the voice and almost had a heart attack.

"This is my son, Trent," Timothy introduced to the one person I never would have expected to show up or even be his son. As they stood side by side, I mentally slapped myself. Of course! Why couldn't I have seen it before!?

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Marjorie," Mom said to him. She stood up from her seat and extended her hand for a handshake, but Trent did the unthinkable. He embraced her instead. I boiled.

"And this is my daughter, Astrid," mom said. Trent looked at me, our eyes locking, tension building thick, and a heat engulfed us suddenly.

"Astrid," Mom called in a firm whisper and motioned for me to stand and greet him. My chair scraped on the tiles, and my hand felt like it wasn't mine as I held it out to him. He smirked in return, but he shook hands with me, completely avoiding the details that we knew each other at school.

Surprisingly, the day went on nicely. Trent shared jokes, and it was nice seeing and getting to know the humorous side of him. His dad chimed in on the ups and downs of his restaurants business, and Trent went on into talking about some of his ambitions in life and continuing the businesses his dad had paved.

Mom and I listened in, and when it was her time to speak, her accomplishments couldn't mount to what Timothy had accomplished in life.. though it wasn't a competition between them.

~

They excused themselves from the table, leaving me alone with Trent for the moment.

I reached for my cellphone, but he snapped it away from my hands, pulling it to his side of the table.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked him. Stupidly, butterflies awoke just by him doing that and looking my way afterward.

"What do you think you're doing..why is my dad with your mom on a date?"

"I don't know, they like each other, maybe."

"Is this a joke?"

"No."

"You knew about this all along?"

"No. I knew of them seeing each other a couple of weeks now, but I didn't know he was your dad until today," I answered truthfully.

"Unbelievable. This can not be happening. This can not happen!" Trent protested.

"They're friends, aren't they?" I asked. Trent and I looked in the direction of our parents. They were speaking to each other with smiles.

"It ought to remain that way. Hell would freeze over before you became my stepsister!" he said to me ,his eyes ringing with more hatred than ever before.

I swallowed the fear desperately trying to take over.

"I'm.. I'm sorry," I mumbled out.