Scrunching my nose, I silently berated myself for allowing what happened last night to take me back to my high school years and reminding me of my insecurities that I keep buried deep inside.
I glanced at the clock on my night stand and my eyes widened, I had better get a move on or I will be late for class. I quickly pile my long raven hair into a messy bun on top of my head. I grabbed my coat and threw it on over my sweater and leggings, at the same time reaching for my bag. I rushed down the spiral staircase and head toward my heavy black boots and the door.
“Alice, honey slow down and get in here,” I hear my mom shout from the kitchen. She is still here. I had assumed that she had left for work already. I swerved and head to the kitchen.
“Morning, mom, I didn’t know you were here.” I wind my way around the island in the middle of the room and plant a kiss on her cheek. “I have to run.”
“Oh no you don’t, sit and have a chat with your old lady and eat something for goodness sake.”
I opened my mouth to refuse, but the pleading look in her eyes has me shutting my mouth and pulling up a chair.
She smiles and turns to put two slices of bread in the toaster.
I am a twenty-year-old college student and I still live with my mother. I should be living on campus, and enjoying the true college experience. The college life which includes partying every night, getting wasted and sleeping around, yeah, right. As if I ever could fit in to such a life. But, still, it would be nice to experience being on my own for a little bit.
I glance at my mom; she catches me looking and smiles tenderly. I return her smile warmly. I had the option of going to university out of state, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave her all alone. After all, it been just the two of us for the last eight years. So, I opted to attend college not too far from where we live so I could stay at home with her. She works part time as a columnist for the local paper but it’s not as though she has to work. My dad did a great job in making sure that his girls would be well taken care of financially after he was gone. I know she keeps a job because she wants to keep busy, which is basically what I do to keep my sadness at bay.
Mom places a plate of scrambled eggs and toast in front of me, which instantly makes my mouth water. When was the last time I had sat down and had a decent meal? I relaxed into my chair and dig in.
“So how is school going?” Mom inquires.
“Great,” I mumbled with my mouth half full. The academic part is going well, but the social part, not so much. But mom doesn’t need to know that.
In my opinion, a perfect grade point average is more important than making friends. I figure that I can focus on a social life after I have graduated with honors.
“Any boyfriends?” she asks.
I nearly choked on my buttered toast. I take a moment longer than necessary to chew. I finally swallowed. “Um, not really. Not right now.” I make it sound like I can get a boyfriend anytime I am ready, when in fact I haven’t the first clue how to even talk to a guy. “I’m just focusing on school right now.”
Mom sighs, “That is what you have been doing since you were a child. Honey you never bought any friends over back then and you still don’t. You do have friends, don’t you?”
I scoff. “Tons.” I know I deserve to choke for lying. She doesn’t look too convinced.
She throws me a concerned look. “You should have a little fun while you are young, honey. Sure, school and good grades are important, but you are a beautiful young woman, so act like it and have a little fun once in a while. Okay?”
“I hear you, Mom. I will move fun to the top of my list very soon,” I declare.
She rolls her eyes and begins to clear the table. “I worry about you sometimes,” I hear her whisper.
I frown at her words. She has nothing to worry about. I have my priorities straight. She should be happy and proud.
I push my chair back. “I have to get going, Mom.” I grab my bag.
“Okay, honey, I will see you later. Have a great day.”
“Thanks, you too.”
I head for the door once again. Stepping outside, the crisp November wind bites into the small areas of my skin that are left exposed. I pull my heavy coat tighter and shiver just a little. It isn’t even really winter yet and I’m already freezing my buns off.
I dived into my silver Honda to get a little reprieve from the freezing temperature. I start the ignition and wait for the vehicle to warm up.
I frown as my mother’s words are still playing in my head.
I need to have fun, and she worries about me.
She is worried about me…and I am worried about her.
I didn’t know she was concerned about my social life, or lack thereof. We really need to communicate more. Of course, it’s probably my fault that we don’t. I’m always busy studying.
I slowly reverse out of the drive way and head out. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot movement. I turn my head to glance out my window. A small gasp escapes my lips.
It’s him, the love of my life and future husband.
He doesn’t know that I exist, but a girl is allowed to dream. He is dressed in a gray sweat suit, but his bulging, toned muscles are still evident through the thick material. He is jogging moderately and nodding to the music playing through his earphones. My mouth actually waters at the sight of him. His chiseled features are set in concentration. His blond hair is windblown, with a few strands falling forward over his forehead. He is male perfection. I have been in love with him since he and his father first moved into the neighborhood seven years ago.
I remember the first time I saw him. I was a sad thirteen-year-old girl who had lost her father the previous year. I was walking down the block from where the school bus had let me off. I spotted a moving truck and my interest was piqued, I wondered who our new neighbors were. I wanted it to be a family with a girl my age so maybe I could have someone to hang out with. I crossed the street out of pure curiosity. My gaze took in the moving men lifting heavy furniture and moving in and out of the house, and a man who looked like a movie star giving orders. I took him to be the patriarch of the family. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going and I bumped into something solid. My books fell from my hands and scattered on the sidewalk, before I could issue an apology, my gaze traveled upward to land on a young boy’s face. My mouth fell open and my eyes widened; he was the cutest boy I had ever seen. I looked into his green eyes and my little teenage heart was instantly captivated. “S-sorry,” I muttered.
He smiled and said, “It’s cool,” and then bent down to retrieve my books. He handed them to me and I reached out my hands to take them, still staring at him.
“Uh, thanks. See you around.” I rushed out, immediately pushing past him with my head held down. I cursed myself now for not saying anything more to him.
I found out later that he was fifteen at the time. I saw him almost every day at school, yet we never exchanged another word. The only acknowledgement I received from him was a curt nod every now and again. I sometimes glimpsed pity in his eyes when the boys would relentlessly tease me and call me a freak.
I still don’t understand how not wanting to talk to people made me a freak. I had just lost my father, for goodness sake. Why the hell would I want to engage in useless chatter? I was too busy being miserable.
I took a deep breath to release the anger that often mounts when I remember my high school years.
My thoughts return to the now grown man jogging. He attended the University of Wisconsin and I had the pleasure of admiring him on campus from afar for two years. He graduated a few months ago. I am saddened by the fact that he will probably move somewhere far away to work. I might never see him again.
If only I had the courage to talk to him.
Countless times, I have fantasized about telling him how I feel and he tells me he feels the same way. The fantasy always ends with us sharing a passionate kiss.
My hands grip the steering wheel tighter. This is what
my life has come to, dreaming and drooling over a man who doesn’t pay me the least bit of attention.
I suppose I am to blame. I mean, I don’t really put myself out there. Maybe, if I was more like the cheerleaders I have seen plastered to his side all through school I would have a sliver of a chance. But I’m just plain old me. I have been told that I am pretty, but I really don’t feel or see it.
I roll my eyes. Why am I even thinking about looks anyway? The most important thing is what I have in my brain. I square my shoulders.
I can’t resist glancing at him again, it’s like he is moving in slow motion.
My God, he’s gorgeous.
My eyes revert back to the road just in time to swerve around a garbage can lying in the street. Damn it! Who put that there? I catch his expression of disdain in the rearview mirror. His lips are pursed and he is shaking his head at my near accident. I groan, he must think I’m a total nut job.
I shouldn’t even care what he thinks of me. But I do. I am annoyed with myself for almost getting into a senseless accident because of him. The only thing that consumes my thoughts other than schoolwork is him. Damon Ryder has me under his spell and he doesn’t even know it, he doesn’t even know I’m alive. I take one more look at him in my mirror before turning around the block.
Chapter Two
Christmas was right around the corner. The months had flown by and now another year was coming to an end and my life remained the same—uneventful and pathetic.
I suppose that I shouldn’t complain. I mean, my life is this way by choice. I am the one who has always chosen to throw myself into school and seclusion.
But every so often I feel a pang of longing for my life to be different. Secretly, I wish that I was the type of girl who liked to go out and have a good time. Maybe date a guy or two. Ok, so maybe the only guy I would like to date is Damon Ryder.
His gorgeous face appears in my mind’s eye. He is smiling down at me, the way I am pretty sure he would smile at his lover.
My eyes flutter close and I tilt my head up waiting in anticipation for his lips to meet mine. My tongue darts out to moisten my lips. It’s finally going to happen.
“Alice, honey are you in here?”
I jump at the sound of my mom’s voice.
Damnit, she has managed to ruin my daydream. A scowl spreads across my face. I huff with annoyance.
“Yes, mom, I’m here.” She appears in the archway of the living room.
I take in her body hugging black dress and strappy red heels. “Wow don’t you look ready for a hot date!” Then it dawns on me and my eyes narrow with suspicion.
The last time my mother pulled the ‘little black dress’ from its position in the back of the closet, was two years ago when she attempted to throw herself back into the dating scene. Needless to say, her attempt failed miserably and she gave up on dating, until now.
The angle of my eyebrows asks the question I can’t quite find the words for.
She takes a deep breath and the grin of a young school girl going to prom with her crush appears. “I am going on a date,” she declares.
My eyes rove her from head to toe, “Mhmm, I can see that, mother. Care to share a little more detail?” I glare at her.
“Hey! Who is the parent here, you or me? Don’t give me that disapproving look, young lady.”
I roll my eyes, “Sorry ma’am,” I mutter. “I’m just taken by surprise that’s all. You haven’t been on a date in two years. I thought you had given up on the idea and decide to become a nun.”
Like me.
I frown. I really hate it when my subconscious says rude things. I am not headed for a nunnery; I am merely saving myself for the right guy.
My subconscious laughs at me.
I quickly get out of my own head and return my attention back to my mother.
“Very funny, Alice. You should become a standup comedian.” A dreamy look plays across her pretty features. “I have been dating Jared for quite a while now.”
Jared? Who the heck is Jared and why haven’t I met him? “Quite a while huh? Exactly how long is quite a while?”
She suddenly looks guilty—as she should.
“I thought we had agreed long ago that we wouldn’t keep anything from one another. I have held up my end of the bargain pretty well.”
“Well, it has been about four months now.”
I gasp, my mouth hanging wide open. “Four months? And at no point did you think that I should know?” Now I am a bit worried because things between my mom and this Jared sound serious.
I know I should be happy for her, and I really want to be, but I have a sinking feeling that things are about to change drastically around here. It has been just the two of us for so long, I can’t picture anyone else in the mix. Anyone else but my father that is.
She shifts from foot to foot uncomfortably. “Honey, I really wanted to tell you, but I wanted to make sure things would work between us before I introduced him to you.“
I sigh, “I guess I can understand that, mom.” I force out a smile. “I’m glad you have found someone you like. Have a good time tonight.”
I will just be here by my lonesome, like every other Friday night. God, my entire life needs a makeover. You know you need help when your widowed mother is having more fun than you.
She smiles sweetly, “Thank you, my love, I’m sure I will. Jared is so amazing.”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes. I already dislike this Jared for taking my mother away from me. It hasn’t happened yet, but I can sense that it will happen eventually. Now she’s telling me that he is amazing with a wistful look on her face, so she is definitely a goner.
“Don’t wait up, dear,” she says as she teeters away on her killer high heels.
I almost laugh. I hope she doesn’t break anything in those shoes. I lift the remote to flip through the channels, when she swings her head around the wall. “Oh and one more thing, Jared and his son will be joining us for Christmas diner next week. Bye, love you!”
What? Is she serious? I throw myself back on the couch with a low growl. I don’t want a bunch of guys invading my home. This is supposed to be a girl’s only zone. I groan, as I picture the unknown Jared come through here, followed by a teenage brat that will most likely irritate the hell out of me for the entire evening. “Great, I just can’t wait.” The frown remains on my face as I search for something good to watch.
*
It’s Christmas Eve and I can’t say that I am all that excited. My mom and I spent the day together preparing a grand meal for two men that I’ve never met. I am very annoyed because I know she is going all out to impress this Jared character. When a woman tries to make such a great impression on a man with food, things are definitely heating up between them. I at least try to appear happy for my mother’s benefit. As it approaches seven o’clock, her anxiety heightens to a new—and can I say ridiculous—level.
“Mom, relax, will you? Don’t you think you have been seeing this guy long enough to not be a nervous wreck?”
I watch as she straightens the cloth napkins on the dining table for the billionth time. “I just want everything to be perfect. This is our first dinner together as a family.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold it right there, mother. A family? That’s a bit of a stretch considering that you are just dating the man.” Goodness she seems really invested in this relationship; she is already referring to Jared and his kid as family and now I am even more irritated.
She throws me a strange look but says nothing.
I should inquire about what her expression and silence means but, I don’t. “I’m going to shower and get dressed.” I stomp off and head up the stairs.
It pains me to see my middle-aged mother acting like a lovesick teenager.
I step into the shower and let the hot water wash over me.
Could it be that I am just a little bit jealous that she has found someone? At least she has the courage to take a chance and go after what she wants.
Unlike me. I’m in love with man and I’m too afraid to even say hello to him.
Perhaps I need to follow in my mother’s footsteps and put myself out there.
What if one day I just walk up to Damon and say hello? Who knows what could happen?
I turned the shower off, at the same time turning off my outlandish thoughts. I let out a loud snort. I really need to stop kidding myself.
There is no way I will be able muster the courage to speak to Damon and there is absolutely no way he will ever be interested in me.
I make it to my bedroom and rummage through my closet for something to wear. I really don’t feel the need to put much into my appearance, not that I ever do. There is no need for me to dress to impress my mother’s boyfriend and his teenage brat. I decide on a green sweater dress and pull it on. I catch my long hair into a ponytail and pull it tight.
“Alice come down here our guests have arrived!” My mother’s voice carries from the bottom of the stairs. I wince. Does she have to be so loud?
I don’t bother to answer. I roll my eyes and take one last look in the mirror. “Here we go.” I drag my feet as I make my way down toward the staircase.
As if holidays weren’t obnoxious enough, I can only hope that dinner and this night goes by quickly. I take comfort in knowing that all I really have to do is smile and be polite. There is no need for me to engage Jared or his child in conversation. I trudge down the stairs, mentally preparing myself to meet my mother’s boyfriend. I am also pulling a smile from deep down. By the time I reach the last step, it should be plastered on my lips.
I lift my eyes as I approach the second to last stair. I draw in a startled breath and miss my step. I feel space under my right foot before I topple over. “Aah!” I prepare to hit the floor face first.
Strong hands grasp my shoulders as I am momentarily hoisted into the air, and then I feel the floor under my feet. My heart is pounding from my near fall. My gaze slowly travels upward, landing on a broad chest and up some more to land on the face that has been featured many times in my dreams and fantasies. Damon Ryder. What is he doing here? His hands are still on my shoulders. I am gawking up at him, with my mouth hanging open. I quickly snap it shut when I notice amusement written all over his face.
Forbidden Prescription 2: MFM Ménage Stepbrother Romance (Medical Romance) Page 13