Chapter 1
I shuffled into the kitchen. I was half-asleep, dragging my feet and desperate for coffee. The smell of brewing coffee filled my nose before I even opened my eyes fully. I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hands, and then stopped right in my tracks in the middle of the kitchen.
A hottie man was standing at the counter. He was tall, maybe 6’3”, with this ridiculous jawline that looked like it was carved. His hair was dark brown and cut short on the sides but longer on top. His eyes were a clean, ocean-blue color that I could see so clearly, even with the dim lights in the living room.
I blinked, suddenly snapping back to reality!
OMG! That’s my new stepfather Dominic. My mother remarried, and he moved in with us yesterday!
Dominic looked up, catching me staring. “Morning,” he said casually as if nothing was happening. “Coffee is ready. I made one for you too.”
Sometimes I think, how lucky my mother is. Even though she's materialistic and a womanizer, having had so many boyfriends, she still managed to get such a handsome husband, and is even willing to put up with a daughter like me, willing to make me coffee first thing in the morning. And me? I'm already eighteen and haven't even been in a relationship. Thinking about this, a bitter feeling wells up in my heart.
I reluctantly took the cup he handed me, staring into the brownness in suspicion. I sniffed the top, half expecting to smell gasoline or something. But the cup of coffee was warm and smelled so good. All of Mom's boyfriends always disappeared the morning after I met them. And even if they hung around, they usually weren't making coffee for me before I woke up.
He was maybe the nicest of all my mum’s boyfriends... correction, husband. After a period of time, I might get used to him being around. After all, he was indeed a hottie. I shifted awkwardly in place.
“Your mum is still asleep,” Dominic said, leaning back against the counter. “She was knocked out cold from all that wine last night. So I was thinking... maybe we could use today to actually get to know each other. There’s a Christmas display this afternoon. Do you want to go?”
I choked on my sip of coffee, coughing so much that I made him laugh. “You want to go out together... while my mother sleeps? That’s bold. Aren't you afraid I'll take this opportunity to get revenge on you? I hate you, you should know that.” I teased him.
He grinned and for the first time since last night, I smiled along with him. “Yeah, maybe. But we get to see all the decorations, and I get to figure out if you’re just going to glare at me like you want to murder me all day.”
“I can’t promise I won’t glare,” I replied. “But maybe I’ll allow a small smile if the decorations are good.”
Dominic raised an eyebrow playfully. “Small smiles are accepted. I can guess that’s more than most of your mother’s boyfriends got.”
I sipped the last of my coffee, thinking how ridiculous it was that I was already warming up to him. Maybe this wouldn’t be terrible. I could actually get along with Dominic.
“Alright,” I placed the empty cup on the counter. “I’ll go with you. Consider it a truce for now.”
“OMG! THIS IS SCARY!” I screamed, gripping the metal bar for dear life. The roller coaster jerked forward and I screamed again.
Beside me, Dominic burst into laughter as if this was the funniest thing he’d seen his whole life.
“You are a scaredy cat!” He teased.
Finally and mercifully, the ride slowed down and came to a stop. When the bar lifted, I tried to stand. Keyword, tried. My eyes started to turn immediately and I put my feet down.
"Please, let's make the next project something easy," I sighed, trying not to melt into his arms.
“Alright, let’s do something a little girly. How about the carousel? Perfect timing too! The sunset is gorgeous. So romantic.” He said, let go of me and walked ahead.
For some reason I felt oddly empty without his touch.
When we reached the carousel line, I almost groaned.
“It’s full!” The staff lifted a sign that said the queue was closed. “You can share one horse, or wait for the next round.”
“Okay... then we’ll just—”
Dominic suddenly grabbed my hand. “No waiting! The sunset’s slipping away!”
He tugged me onto the platform, climbed onto the only white horse, and then reached a hand out to me.
“Fine, but only for a few minutes.”