~ Sarah’s POV ~
Mum’s laughter floated up from the sitting room downstairs. She was with her usual group of friends — wine glasses clinking, gossip flowing, the TV playing some reality show in the background. They would be there for hours.
Upstairs in the home theater room, the movie had ended twenty minutes ago, but neither of us had moved from the big leather couch.
I was curled against my stepdad, Mark, under a soft blanket and my head rested on his chest.
His arm was around my shoulders, fingers gently stroking my bare arm.
The room was dark except for the blue glow of the screen saver.
I was nineteen. He was forty-two. My mum’s husband for the last two years.
We had been fighting this for months.
His fingers traced slow circles on my skin. Every touch sent heat straight betw
