21
I WANT YOU
CHELSEA
Itcouple.
My mom and Sean.
My ears started ringing. I looked from the wide grin of my mom to Sean, who was glaring at the floor, his shoes shiny. A sharp pain tightened my chest. Just a day ago, he had fed me, made me crawl, spanked me, and made me cum.
My eyes flickered to the open photo album placed on the coffee table. There they were. Theitcouple. My mom looking young with bouncy golden curls, grinning at the camera, in a bright blue short dress with a guy standing beside her holding a red cup and smirking. His hair seemed darker, features cocky and clothes baggy.
They used to look good together.
“Oh,” I said numbly and took a step back from my mom’s hold. Her smile flattered. “I-I need to use the washroom. Excuse me.”
It was my childhood home. I didn’t need to excuse myself, but I didn’t trust my mouth or what I would blurt out. The thought of my mom and Sean being together made my stomach uneasy.
I didn’t know I had locked myself in the bathroom of my room upstairs until I splashed cold water on my face. It dripped down my face as I stared at myself in the mirror. I had my mom’s blond hair and dad’s blue eyes. I felt hot, my throat uncomfortably dry.
The reality of the situation hit me all at once and I kneeled down, trying to take deep breaths and exhale out of my mouth. My therapist had taught me to focus on my breaths when my parents were divorcing and I couldn’t stop having panic attacks. I felt the same way, with my heart threatening to burst out of my chest.
It’s not that bad, Chelsea. They dated when they were young. Barely teenagers. It doesn’t matter.
I repeated those words in my head until I could believe them, but it wasn’t working. I jumped when someone knocked on the door.
“Y-yes?” I was not ready to face my mom just yet. I needed a moment to myself.
I was craving her presence so much that I came on the first bus to Coral Springs. I want to go back to Los Angeles. I wanted to be far away from her. And Sean.How ironic.
“Princess, it’s me,” Sean’s deep voice rumbled through the door. I pursed my lips and stared down at my lap. I hadn’t brought my purse with me in the bathroom, which had my phone. If only I could check the next available bus to Los Angeles and?—
“Can we talk, please?”
I closed my eyes and sighed. I needed a break. From meeting Jesse to learning the man I was crushing on had dated my mom was making me overwhelmed.
I unlocked the door and blankly stared at him.Damn him. Why did he have to be so handsome and worry about me?
“What?” I said, walking past him, our shoulders brushing.
I stared at my childhood room and mentally cringed.Sean is in my room!The small collection of stuffed toys stared back at me. The pink duvet and bed sheets on my queen size bed felt girly and childish.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. Why hadn’t my mom changed the sheets when I was gone?
“I didn’t know you were Marie’s daughter,” he said, walking towards me. I ignored his piercing stare and sat down on the bed. But his presence filled my small room, so it was hard not to miss. His masculine cologne and dark suit looked so out of place that my eyes kept trailing back at him.
“Okay,” I replied without looking up at him.What else is there to say?
My eyes widened when he kneeled in front of me, his hand reaching out to hold mine. His hands were warm, large palms covered mine completely. His dark eyes were sincere when he said, “I’m sorry, Princess. I didn’t know—if I had, you know?—”
I pulled my hands away from his gentle touch. I swallowed. “You’d never pay three million dollars for me. I know.”
His eyes narrowed, and he held my hand again, tightening his hold so I couldn’t pull away. It was wrong,so wrong, but my stomach dipped and I felt heat pooling between my thighs.
“Wrong.” He closed his eyes and sighed, “It’s fucking wrong, but I’d still pay for you. I wantyou, Princess.”
My throat went dry. “You’re confused.” I shook my head. “You dated my mom, Sean.”
