Chapter two
1096 Words
Everyone's attention is on me including Noah’s, rush back to the kitchen my cheeks burning after cleaning and apologizing about the plate, I settle into the only empty seat right next to Noah our knees touch and it feels electric it’s not that bad mistakes happen I think to myself, I barely touched the food in my plate and mom has noticed she knows I do that when I’m nervous.
Tension filled the room as I watched them talking and laughing They included me in the conversation, Derek was trying to get to know me while Mom tried to talk to Noah. The conversation is weird between them, I’m doing well by hiding my feelings smiling at Derek, and laughing when he makes a not so funny joke. “You have your mom’s eyes, Lena, so beautiful.”
Noah makes a weird noise and sips his drink.
I look towards Noah and I feel a shiver run through me. I try not to pay too much attention to him, “Your dad tells me you are on the swimming team,” Mom says trying to break the awkward silence.
“He glares at me when my mom mentioned swimming, I’m sure he is thinking about the same thing us kissing in the pool, “he exaggerates I just show up when I can’t,” he continues to pick at his food mom my mom is trying so hard to talk to him but it’s like talking to a wall.
“Sounds like someone I know,” Derek chimes in, looking at Mom.
“You both attend Willow Heights High, small world…you might have bumped into each other already,” his dad says, and the tension heightened.
“We haven’t,” I say, so fast blurting out.
Mom beams, “Maybe you two can show each other around, you will be spending so much time together now that we are family.”
Family.
The word rings in my ear.
Noah’s eyes meet mine and his hands brushes against mine under the table, he squeezing softly and I’m hot all over how do I tell her we were practically eating each other’s faces few hours ago, I don’t, I continue to pick at my food trying my best to not look at Noah and ignoring hands in mine.
The rest of the dinner is a blur. I try to talk to Derek, who owns his company owns his own company, I feel a little because Noah is the son of a billionaire and I’m the daughter of a drug addict who tried to murder his child.
Ex-wife, when he brought up his ex-wife in context, I can't remember, Noah tensed his hands holding mine tighter.
“Excuse me,” he says, walking out of the dining area. From the way Derek sounded about his ex-wife, it was not recent, but Noah was still not okay to talk about it.
Mom touches Derek’s arm, “It's still hard for him.”
I wanted to follow him but I stayed rooted to the chair that would only draw suspicions because our parents we just met. Derek and my mom have been seeing each other for months and the long business trips she was taking finally made sense.
The rest of dinner is a blur and he doesn’t come back, I sneak out stepping onto the patio he has his back to me leaning on the rail and smoking, “I didn’t know you smoke.”
“Well you don't know me, I do when I’m tensed.”
“Noah...” I whisper.
He turns slowly.
“Tell me this isn’t happening, I say, “Tell me we didn’t just become something we can’t be.”
I feel his hands on my cheek and I lean into him, his body so close, “They're not serious, I give them one month tops, and my dad is a handful.”
“My mom barely dates... because of work and me…so,” he leans closer I should pull away but something is pulling me to him like in the pool, I feel his lips on mine soft I taste the cigarette on his tongue his strong hands pulling me closer, “I’ve been trying so hard to not do this all night,” he groans resting his jaw on my neck.
Mom's voice calls from behind us and we pull away, “Kids come in we have something we would like to share. What else could they possibly want to add to this?
I take a sip of the water, trying to calm myself, “We hoped tonight would be special you know, give you two a chance to bond a little before we--”
“Before you what,” Noah cuts in, my stomach drops this is it.
Mom's smile faltered, Derek cleared his throat, “We didn’t want to make it awkward son, and we thought it would be easier if you two met casually before hearing the news.”
“What news?” I ask my voice so low I barely hear it.
They both glance at each other and then mom places her hands on his and that’s when I see it—the ring.
“We got married.”
“S S... Sorry?” I managed to stammer, I’m pretty sure I misheard and my eyes were playing tricks on me.
“We got married,” they say in unison.
Noah is frozen beside me, “When? How? Why?” I managed to ask.
Derek shifts, “Last weekend, in Napa, it was spontaneous, we walked by a wedding and I just knew Jessy would look good in white. I knew I always wanted to be with her and we have talked about it before, We didn’t want to tell you until you two had the chance to meet first.”
“My Jessy,” I wanted to throw up.
“You married him? Without even telling me?”
“I always tried to but you didn’t want to meet him or listen to anything I had to say, and I couldn’t force you.”
“You are forcing me now,” I scream.
At least I still have to have my space in my house think to myself.
“And we are moving in together, Derek’s place is closer to school for you and Noah,” This can’t be happening it’s all a joke, I look at Noah he still hasn't said a word.
I kissed my stepbrother.
I kissed my stepbrother twice and I liked it.
- Writer
