Chapter 29
The next day, I woke up to the sound of people arriving. I stretched out in bed, feeling that delicious lazy morning haze. It must be my mom coming back from the concert, I thought, and I snuggled under the covers for a little more shut-eye. But then came the voice. Deep, calling her name from the living room. My mind was still foggy, but the shock hit me instantly.
It was my stepdad.
Sleep vanished in a flash. I sat up in bed abruptly, my heart racing. Mariana, next to me, was out cold like a rock, didn't even stir. I glanced at the clock: eight in the morning. A chill ran up my spine. Did something happen to my mom? Was he here to give me bad news?
My body was already moving before my brain could catch up. I jumped out of bed, barefoot, just in my nightgown, and headed straight for the living room. When I got there, there he was, pacing back and forth, looking around the corners, searching for something. Or someone.
My mom.
"Hey, you looking for her?" I blurted out, still a bit out of breath.
He turned to me, a little distracted at first, but then he smiled that awkward smile of someone caught red-handed.
"Yeah. I was supposed to come by today."
I frowned.
"Huh, she went out yesterday to see a show and then was heading to my aunt's place. I don't think she's back yet."
"Yeah, I was with her. She must be sleeping..." He shrugged, no rush, like it was no big deal. "But that's fine, I'm family."
That phrase echoed in my head. "I was with her." He said it so casually that, for a second, an image of the two of them together flashed in my mind. I swallowed hard, looking away.
"Okay then..." I said, trying not to show anything. "I thought something happened."
He smiled again, that easy smile, but now it seemed off to me. A little tense, maybe. I felt tense too. Because I remembered. I remembered exactly what I'd done with him. And from the looks of it, so did he.
"Let's take advantage of your mom not being here and talk?"
Whoa. This was it. Time to face the consequences of what I'd done.
I took a deep breath. "Julia, stay quiet and let him talk," I repeated to myself. But my heart was already pounding in my chest, that anxiety building slowly.
"Yeah, sure," I replied, sitting down on the couch.
He stood in front of me, hands in his pockets, staring at the floor for a moment, like he was organizing his thoughts. When he finally looked up at me, his face was more serious, but without that authoritative vibe from before. It was something else.
"So, Jully..." he started, slowly, weighing each word. "You're turning into a beautiful, desirable young woman, and I don't know if it was an accident or what happened... but I wanted to apologize for seeing you like that without meaning to."
There it was.
I'd planned to stay quiet. But me? With my mouth bigger than my brain? I couldn't hold back.
"But it wasn't without meaning to, you looked on purpose."
He froze. Looked to the side, thoughtful, then let out a sigh.
"We both know it was. You're an adult, you knew exactly what you were doing... and no one needs to know about this, right?"
My stomach twisted.
"No way. But... did you talk to anyone?"
"No."
"So why did my mom chew me out and then come at me with that talk about how I dress?"
He took a deep breath and rubbed the back of his neck.
"I'm gonna be straight with you, Jully... I saw you were teasing me and, I don't know, I went all father figure on you. I mentioned it to your mom. She got worried. And I already had other issues with her... that aren't your business, so we fought."
My mouth opened before I could stop it.
"Oh my God, you're an idiot! Couldn't you just look quietly?"
He laughed, without any humor.
"I know."
We sat in silence for a moment. He was looking at me differently now, like he was trying to figure me out. Then he asked, straight up, no beating around the bush:
"But... why were you showing off like that to me? Do you have a thing for me, girl?"
The question hit like a shock. A cold knot in my stomach rose so fast my spine tingled.
I looked away, pretending it didn't faze me, slumping back on the couch like it was nothing.
"No. I was just... comfortable in my own house."
He crossed his arms, watching me.
"I've known you a long time. You were acting weird at breakfast, and then I go upstairs and see that. I don't know what to think."
I rolled my eyes, impatient.
"Seriously, I'm gonna say it again... You can't just mind your own business, can you?"
He took a deep breath, like he wanted to avoid a fight.
"Alright. I'm getting back together with your mom. You'll see more of me around. If she asks, tell her we talked and everything's cool, okay?"
I glanced at him from the corner of my eye.
"Fine, then."
For me, the talk was over. But he wasn't done.
"I just want to say one thing to you first... if you'll let me."
I raised an eyebrow, suspicious.
"What?"
He stared at me a second longer than necessary, then let it out:
"You drove me crazy... Too bad you're my stepdaughter."
Heat rushed to my face right away.
I should have been offended. I knew that. Any normal person would be.
But I wasn't.
On the contrary.
I couldn't hold back a little smile, and before I could stop it, I felt embarrassed. That compliment hit hard.
He had that leading-man vibe, I never denied that. Good looks, presence, that dangerous charm that made him seem always in control. My mom was always a beautiful woman, but this guy could have better options if he wanted. In fact, when he showed up, we thought he was a gold digger after her money—but my mom doesn't even have money.
I bit my lip, looking away, trying to hide the smile.
"Behave yourself, mister..." I said, in a playful tone, but inside, my heart was racing.
"So, if you wanna do it again, I'm game, but no one can know. This could be our little secret?"
Whoa, he went straight for it, I didn't know how to process that, my mom's boyfriend hitting on me? Damn, I must have a magnet for guys, that's gotta be it. I didn't know what to say and my mind went blank and I started getting nervous. And when you don't think, you say anything.
"What exactly are you proposing?" I crossed my arms, trying to keep my cool, even though my heart was pounding in my chest. "You wanna fuck me?"
He let out a low laugh, the kind that didn't give much away.
"You're a naughty one, that's for sure."
"And you're not?"
Heat rose to my face.
"Answer my question."
He took a deep breath, looking me in the eyes, no rush.
"If you wanna give it to me..."
"Of course not, idiot!" My response came quick, almost automatic, in an indignant tone. "You're old!"
He didn't seem offended. If anything, he looked like he was enjoying it.
"But you like being seen by me, don't you?"
I froze completely right then, like there was no air left in the room. My mind knotted up because I didn't know those answers! I'd just done what I did and that was it. I hadn't planned it before, hadn't stopped to think after. And now he was cornering me with questions I couldn't even answer myself.
Of course I'd liked it.
I got super turned on by the idea of being watched, the thrill of knowing someone was looking at me that way, with desire, it drove me wild in that moment. But to plan to do it again?
That's a whole different story.
So, since I didn't know what to say, I just stayed quiet. My heart was beating fast, my mind a mess, trying to find some answer that made sense.
But he didn't wait.
"Look," he said, voice low, almost casual, "I'm gonna send you a pic. If you like it..."
I frowned.
"A pic? What do you mean?"
He glanced at me sideways, that sly half-smile.
"Nude."
The shock locked me up for a second.
"What?!"
"Yeah."
I swallowed hard.
My head was spinning, and I knew my face was giving me away. I should say no right then, put an end to it.
But instead, what came out of my mouth was:
"Okay... I don't know... I'll think about it..."
And then, before he could say anything else, I bolted from the living room like a kid. I had to get out of there. That was too much for my head to handle. My chest was heaving, the nerves making me jittery, a mix of fear, adrenaline, and something else I didn't want to admit.
One thing I knew: it was time to wake Mariana. I needed advice.