Mom drives through town and then slows when we come to one of the nicer neighborhoods in our area. My heart hammers harder and faster in my chest as we wind through the roads within the subdivision. Any of these houses could be our new home and I wouldn’t know because this is the first time I’ve heard anything about this marriage.
She eventually slows when she reaches a stately, modern home with mature trees that offer a shield from the snow, where my car is parked at the curb. All the lights appear to be on based on the lit up windows. I’m dreading going inside.
Maybe this is all a dream.
I’m probably still asleep on the plane, about to land.
Mom hits a preprogrammed button in her vehicle, and I watch in shock as the garage door opens. She pulls inside the garage beside a Denali. It must be her…husband’s.
I think I’m going to be sick.
“Listen,” Mom says once the car is shut off. “There are things you don’t understand. I want you to trust me. I’m doing this because I need to. Can you please respect my decision so we can move on in peace?”
I give her a clipped nod before exiting the vehicle. I’m disgusted and my mind reels with unanswered questions, but I’m not going to throw a fit like some unruly child. She’s been disappointing me my entire life. It shouldn’t surprise me now.
Since I miss Penny, I quickly unbuckle her and pull her out. She rests her head on my shoulder, still speaking in her cutelittle voice, though it’s hard to understand what she’s saying. I follow my mother through the garage and into the house.
The first thing I notice is the smell.
And it’s not a bad one.
Almost immediately, my stomach growls as I inhale the savory scent of what smells like cooking meat.
“We’re home,” Mom calls out. “Owen? Addison? Cason?”
A guy comes sauntering in with a pretty blonde at his side. They’re both around my age or maybe younger. It’s hard to tell for sure. But, the guy is definitely too young to be married to my mother and have a house like this.
“This is my daughter, Mei,” Mom says to them. “Mei, these are your stepsiblings, Cason and Addison.”
Cason smirks and gives me a lift of his chin in greeting. Addison wriggles her fingers at me, smiling broadly. With their golden hair, bright blue eyes, and perfect, shiny teeth, they remind me of otherworldly beings. Like fairies or angels or aliens.
“Hi,” I grumble. “Nice to meet you.”
Penny reaches for Addison and my chest caves in on itself. I want to cling to her, but she’ll throw a tantrum. It’s best to give her what she wants. Even though I’ve been gone for two weeks, she still wants this new sister over her old one.
Hysteria rises in my chest as my eyes water. Addison takes Penny and then they walk away, Cason trailing after them. I remain frozen, swallowing hard to get rid of the emotion clogging my throat.
“Dinner’s ready,” a deep voice booms from around the corner in what must be the kitchen. Everything is unfamiliar and I hate it.
Where are my things?
Footsteps thud over the hardwood floors and then a man strides into view. I shouldn’t be stunned by the fact he’s theolder, masculine version of his children. Everything about him is…perfect. Like how you’d imagine Gabriel the archangel to look like. Muscles straining a tight dress shirt, tanned skin, an easygoing grin that’ll make you blush.
Heat chases away my misery and I’m disgusted with myself. This is my mother’s new husband. Why is my stomach fluttering and my heart racing?
Because he’s gorgeous.
“This is Mei,” Mom says, gesturing at me. “I need wine.”
She disappears, already quite at home in this mystery house. I remain rooted in place, stunned by the beautiful man in front of me.
He approaches slowly and offers a strong, veiny hand toward me. I awkwardly take it in mine, trying not to be affected when a zap of what must be static electricity buzzes at our connection.
“We’ve all been dying to meet you,” her husband says, voice warm and jovial. After spending two weeks with Dad and then an icy car ride with Mom, it’s jarring to feel so welcomed by someone I’ve just met. “I’m Owen Monahan. Your mother has told me so much about you.”
I pluck my hand out of his and force a smile. “Unfortunately, I learned about you not even ten minutes ago.”
His smile falls. “Wait. You’re serious?”
