FORBIDDEN AFFAIR WITH MY STEPBROTHER

RAIN It had been three years since I last came to Colorado. I took off the sunglasses I had on which I would constantly wear when outside in Mexico. The world out here looked different. The announcement of moving back to Colorado made me really happy. I might have gotten used to the people in our home back in Mexico, but there's nothing that can beat going back to where you grew up. It meant that I would be able to see Alicia again and the familiar neighborhood. Mom fell in love and was engaged to be married to some guy who had come to visit the company she worked with. She recognized him from our previous neighborhood when we lived in Colorado. They had had dinner together that night and decided to meet a couple more times while he was in town. This all happened under my nose without me having a clue. They stayed in contact even after he went back and he told her that he had fallen in love with her. She felt the same and decided they should get married. His first wife had died and he had a son my age. Mum also mentioned that the son attended the same high school I went to, and I was really curious to know who it was. I squinted my eyes as my eyes adjusted to the brightness. I caught sight of Alicia who was waving like crazy at me and mum. I smiled. Oh, how I missed her! There were many things I didn't like about this place when I lived here— the bullying in high school, the obvious class difference that made people think they were better than you— but one person I didn't forget was Alicia. We had managed to keep.in touch all this while, and I allowed her to boast about the fact that she had a friend who was living in Mexico. I waved back at her and my mum cooed. “Aww… look how mature she's gotten. I remember when you two were this high.” She motioned with her hand towards her waist region and giggled at her own joke. Alicia really looked prettier than I remembered. Even though we FaceTime frequently, it was still so good to be able to see her. Anyway, I had already texted Alivia our flight details the night before because I was sure she would love to pick us up. We skipped to each other like two kids playing on the field rather than two 19-year-olds and I hugged her for a long time. Mom had to disengage us from the hug to give Alicia one of hers. She had brought her car to pick us up since my new stepdad wasn't available to come and as we got into the car, I gave my mom a look that said, "This could have been your daughter's ride too but you decided not to get her a car." Mom chuckled and I shook my head. I had gotten only a week's notice about our relocation, and I had tried to not pack as much stuff as I could get. It was just the same as when we had left— I had gotten only a few days' notice. I don't know why mom loves to give me short moving notices but she looks like she's in love and I let it slide. We would be moving into her fiance's house and I didn't know how I felt about it. I was currently in my gap year, before college and I had taken up some jobs, the money was saved up due to lack of use, and I had a few thousands to my name. I sighed thinking of it. I had had to drop my resignation letter at the cafe I worked at and I was really sad I wouldn't be seeing my co-workers anymore. I liked working at that place. I also said goodbye to the friends I made from high school there. There weren't a lot of sentiments though, since we had kind of drifted apart after school. Mom gave the address to Alicia and she looked at me with a strange expression. "Are you sure that's the address, Rhonda?" She asked and my mum simply nodded with a smile. I was caught off guard momentarily by the use of my mum's first name, then I remembered that's the way it was when I was back here. My mum was still smiling. She must have been so happy to get to see him again. I was barfing internally. It was too weird to see my mom grinning from ear to ear because of a man. Alicia didn't say a word and just drove. It was my turn to give her a strange expression. She had that look on her face that said a lot, without her having to say anything. We passed by our old neighborhood and Alicia gave a running commentary on everybody. Who was where, who was dating whom, and who was living in our old house? It was almost like I never left. I responded when needed with shocking ‘ohs’ and ‘reallys’ but my mind was on something else entirely. Though I was so jetlagged that I felt like I would sleep for two days. I couldn't help the recurring question in my mind. It was on the tip of my tongue. I wanted to know if Dante was still dating Linda. I decided against it because my mum was there and it could lead me to reveal how I still sometimes saw him come to make love to me in my dreams. Alicia seemed to talk about everybody's lives except his and I was beginning to think she was doing it on purpose. I didn't want to have to ask. It was a lifetime ago. I had traveled, seen places, people and I had liked guys. But, I didn't want her to know that I still had a crush on Dante. It would make me look pathetic. I had had boyfriends in Mexico ofcourse, but I still thought of Dante once in a while. His boyish grin, charming demeanor, tan complexion, messy dirty blonde hair, his ass— oh how he walked in his loose jeans— with that flat ass begging to be touched. I caught myself before I started drooling just by thinking of him alone. I shook those naughty thoughts off my mind and focused on what Alicia was saying. Finally, she turned and entered one of the fancy neighborhoods. The people who lived here were extremely rich. Looks like Mum struck gold. I've never been to this part of town. It was where the rich and popular kids had their parties and I have never been invited. It's obvious why. As we halted to a stop in front of one of the biggest houses in the neighborhood, I couldn't help but wonder which of the kids from my former school lived there. Mom must have been given a key because she let us in. It was dark inside which meant no one was home yet. I don't know how Mum managed to know her way around but she led Alicia and me to a room and said I could drop my stuff there. Then she disappeared somewhere inside the house. I didn't mind. I wanted to get my things in order and sleep. I was not entirely sure her fiancé knew we were here because no one was here to welcome us but it was just as well. I was not sure I was mentally prepared to meet anyone just yet. Alicia helped me unpack and stayed a while before having to leave when it was time for her work shift. She had taken up a part-time gig at the mall. I sighed and hugged her as she left. No one was back yet and I couldn't seem to fall asleep because it was a new place and my body hadn't gotten used to it yet. New place syndrome or whatever they call it. I was left to wander around the house as my mum was already in the kitchen looking to fix us something to eat. I don't know how she was not tired. I walked into the hallway and studied the pictures that lined the walls. The first picture was of a man and a kid. The man had to be my mom's fiancé. He was really handsome. I see why my mum took interest in him and the young kid… he looked familiar. I mean he had to be if we had gone to the same school. I squinted and tried to guess who it was but it wasn't coming to me. The next picture was a graduation picture. From high school. As soon as I saw the kid, looking more grown up in the picture, I stepped back. My heart started racing. It felt like a dream. I now understand why Alicia had looked at me weirdly when Mom gave her the address. My soon-to-be stepbrother was none other than the boy I had a massive crush on in high school. Dante.