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We may be stepfather and stepdaughter, but our relationship goes deeper than that. Whatever people think we are to one another, it has always beenmore. And maybe I should consider that the next time he holds me tight and says we’re meant to be.
Chapter 10
Christine
By the time I make it back to campus, my fear of driving has been forgotten. As it turns out, cars don’t come barreling out of nowhere willy-nilly. People will cut you off and change lanes without signaling, but accidents like mine are not an everyday occurrence.
In the parking lot outside of Calvert Hall, I fire off a text to my stepfather to let him know I arrived safely.
Made it back in one piece. Thanks for everything. ??
My phone pings before I’m out of the car.
Niccolo
Always, dolcezza.
It’s hard to hate Niccolo sometimes. As I’ve gotten older, he’s gotten more protective and possessive, but his actions come from a place of love.
See? You get it.The little voice in my head chirps.Niccolo only wants to have sex with you because he loves you.
My throat tightens as I swipe the text chain between Nic and me. I glide my thumb along the phone’s screen, deleting our conversation in one gesture. “That’s not what I should be thinking about,” I mumble to myself.
The only way I’m going to get over how he made me feel the other night is by getting under someone else. I need to find a man who can replace all the delicious, gooey sensations Niccolo made me feel with new, delicious, gooey sensations.
I return to my room to search for Kaye, but she is nowhere to be found. She mentioned that she’d be going to Manhattan to speak with her stepfather about getting a job at his law firm, but I guess she hasn’t returned yet.
My stomach growls. I don’t know when Kaye will return, but I text her I’m going to the dining hall. I’m too hungry to stay here and wait around. I could make some cup noodles if I want, but real food is calling my name. I haven’t been by myself since Kaye and I arrived, but there’s a first time for everything. Maybe I’ll make a new friend.
The sun has started to set, but the campus is still alive as I make my way to the dining hall. Students mill about in the after-hours, some alone and others in groups. Some sit on benches with headphones in, and textbooks splayed around them. Others lounge on the grass, laughing at inside jokes I’ll never be in on. I take a deep breath and remind myself not to be intimidated.Even if I don’t have any friends here yet, there’s no reason I can’t go out and make some.
I take a deep breath and step into the student union. It is bustling with people going in all directions. I try to blend in with the crowd as I push past the double doors leading to the dining hall.
It is a sprawling space full of tables and chairs chaotically arranged. To one side, there’s a buffet line hosted by the cafeteria, offering a range of dishes from burgers to salads to pasta. On the other side, there’s an array of fast food options for those with a few extra dollars.
I scan the room for familiar faces, but I don’t see anyone I recognize from my classes or the dorm, not even Sienna. That isn’t surprising, though; everyone has their own activities and friends they hang out with on campus. I feel slightly out of place but remind myself I’m attempting to make new friends.
“Hey, gorgeous,” someone nudges me from behind. “I haven’t seen you around before.”
As I pivot to look at the stranger, I find myself gazing up at a man of towering stature. He is chiseled and muscular, every inch of his body rippling with strength, and he’s handsome in the all-American male sort of way with a clean-cut face, well-groomed blonde hair, and blue eyes that make my stomach turn to mush. “H-hey,” I stutter, confused by the intrusion, “do I know you?”
“You do now,” he says with a grin. “Name’s Theo.”
“Christine.”
He steps closer, and I’m met with the faint scent of freshly cut lawns and warm soil. “I think there’s something wrong with myphone.” Theo produces a black iPhone out of nowhere, swiping on the screen a few times before handing it to me. “It doesn’t have your number in it.”
I look down at the phone for a second before bursting into laughter. The audacity of this man to think I’d give my number to a stranger. “Does that line actually work for you?”
Theo snorts and lets the phone drop to his side. “Playing hard to get, I see.”
“Playing hard to want, I see,” I return, just as quick-witted.
The corners of Theo’s eyes crinkle as the curve of his smile deepens. “You got a boyfriend?” Theo asks after a beat.
“No,” I admit. “I just don’t give my number out to strangers.” I’m used to high school boys putting in weeks of effort to get close to me before mustering up the courage to ask me on a date. High school boys are shy and afraid of rejection; Theo is the opposite. He talks to me like he knows I will eventually give in to his charms.
“What do you want to know, Christine? I’m an open book. Ask me anything.”
