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All afternoon, my mind was a mess, haunted by the image of Victoria's curves in those sheer stockings and the unsettling sight of my father David, with that teenage girl. Studying was the last thing I could focus on.
By evening, Bella came home, humming cheerfully after a day out. Her mood soured fast when Victoria lit into her the moment she stepped through the door. Confused, Bella dragged me to the balcony, whispering, "What's got Mom so pissed?"
I figured Victoria was still stewing over catching me with Lily that morning, but she'd already taken it out on me and couldn't dwell on it. So, she'd unleashed her frustration on Bella instead. I played dumb. "Who knows? Probably work stress. She's been on edge all day, and you just walked into the crossfire."
Bella pouted, muttering under her breath, and turned to head back to her room. I'd been agonizing over David's behavior all day and needed to vent, so I grabbed her arm. "Wait. You won't believe what I saw at lunch."
Her eyes widened as I recounted seeing David with a young girl, their closeness too familiar for comfort. "What?" she gasped. "You guys went for steak without me?"
I groaned. Victoria had called itâBella's first concern was the food. "You were out!" I said. "Mom tried to reach you. Besides, you're missing the point. Dad was with some teenage girl, looking way too cozy."
She blinked, processing. After a pause, she frowned. "No wonder he's been so secretive lately. He's sneaking around with some kid?"
"Exactly," I said. "If Mom finds out, it's over. Fights, maybe even divorce."
Bella's face grew serious. "If they split, who're you picking? I'm with Mom, no question. You're the eldest, so you'll probably get stuck with Dad. And if he marries that girl, you'll be calling her Mom."
I laughed despite myself. "What's going on in that head of yours? It's not that simple. She could be a friend's daughter or a distant cousin. Think about itâDad's not exactly a heartthrob. Why would a high school girl go for him?"
"Maybe she's after his money," Bella suggested, squinting. "Like a sugar baby."
"Dad's got a decent job, but not *that* kind of cash," I said. "Keeping a teenager would bankrupt him."
She smirked. "You sound like an expert."
"Just guessing," I said, shrugging.
Victoria appeared behind us, her voice sharp. "What're you two whispering about out here? Secrets I shouldn't hear?"
We jumped. I scrambled, holding out a hand dramatically. "Bella owes me money from last month! Pay up, deadbeat!"
She planted her hands on her hips. "Me? You're the deadbeat!"
Victoria sighed. "You two never stop bickering. Come eat."
We exchanged a glance and followed her to the dining table, where only three place settings were laid out.
Before I could ask, Bella beat me to it. "Mom, where's Dad? Not eating with us?"
"Who knows where he is?" Victoria said, her tone clipped. "Not answering calls or texts."
Bella and I shared a look but said nothing, sitting down to eat. My mind churned with thoughts of David, Lily, and Victoria's legs in those stockings. Studying was impossible.
With my phone, laptop, and comics gone, I'd already cleaned the house twice that afternoon out of boredom. Now, rummaging through my desk, I found an old radio. It still worked, so I sprawled across the desk, half-listening to a broadcast, drifting off.
The door burst open, startling me. I shot upright, fumbling to switch off the radio, but I wasn't fast enough. Victoria stormed over, swiped it, and smacked my head. "Why is studying like pulling teeth with you? Where do you even find this junk? What else are you hiding?"
"That's it, I swear!" I said, raising my hands.
"Really?" she asked, eyes narrowing.
"Search me if you don't believe me."
She stared for a moment, then said, "Study." Taking the radio, she left.
Without distractions, I should've been able to focus, but my mind kept wandering. After a few pages, my head throbbed, and my eyelids grew heavy. I dozed off, head on the desk.
A sharp smack woke me. I jolted up, wiping drool from my mouth, and saw Victoria standing there, a cup of hot water in hand, her expression dark. I grabbed a practice test, muttering, "This is so hard!"
"Cut the act," she snapped, setting the cup down. "This is your idea of studying?"
"I was studying!" I protested. "My brain just needed a quick break."
She didn't respond, just grabbed a chair and set it beside me. Sitting down, she crossed her arms and legs, staring at me coldly. "I'm staying. No more slacking."
I gaped. "You're gonna watch me? That's⌠intense."
"You can't study with me here?" she said. "What'll you do in an exam with a proctor breathing down your neck? Kick them out?"
Realizing she wasn't budging, I sighed and turned to my work. With her eyes on me, slacking wasn't an option. Even scratching an itch earned a warning glance. It was stricter than school.
"Mom, you're just gonna stare at me the whole time?" I asked cautiously.
"I don't have time to babysit forever," she said. "Once you prove you can focus, I'm gone."
"Then you'll be here forever," I muttered.
"What was that?"
"You're like a legendary scholar-mom," I said, grinning. "Moving mountains for my education."
"Less talking, more studying," she said, unimpressed.
Her phone pinged. She glanced at it, a faint smile crossing her lips as she bit her thumbnail, looking almost playful. She'd changed into a loose, black-and-white striped knit top that draped over her hips like a dress, paired with flesh-toned leggings that looked sheer from a distance but thicker up close, like a figure skater's. Her hair hung in a casual side ponytail tied with a bow, and she wore panda-themed slippers. The relaxed vibe suited her, though it lacked the sharp allure of her work outfits.
I tapped my pen, distracted, and it rolled off the desk. Bending to grab it, I steadied myself on her thigh, the contact brief but electric. She glanced at me, but I played it off, scribbling on my paper. The leggings felt softer than her usual stockings, stirring me despite myself. My focus shattered.
Minutes later, I "accidentally" dropped the pen again, reaching for her thigh as I bent down. I fumbled under the desk, groaning dramatically, my eyes tracing her calves and those quirky slippers. I wanted to touch her ankle, but I didn't dare. Instead, I grabbed the pen, pinching her leg lightly as I stood.
She looked up from her phone, and I flashed an innocent smile, diving back into my work. She said nothing, returning to her screen.
Five minutes later, the itch returned. I dropped the pen again, reaching for her leg, but she swatted my hand away. "Enough, Alex!" she snapped, grabbing the pen and slamming it on the desk. "Drop it again, and you're in trouble."
I wasn't sure if she'd caught on, but I didn't push it, focusing on my paper. Her phone kept pinging, grating on my nerves. Finally, I tapped the desk. "Mom, your phone's killing my vibe. Can you take it to the living room?"
She looked embarrassed, standing to leave. I thought I'd won, but she returned, sitting back down. "My bad," she said. "Phone's in the living room. Study."
I groaned inwardlyâshe was relentless. I forced myself through the test, her presence a constant pressure.
Just as I finished, the room went dark. Power outage. Instinctively, I shouted, "Blackout!"
Bella's voice echoed from her room. "No kidding!"
A sharp smack hit my head. "It's just a power outage," Victoria said. "Why're you yelling?"
I rubbed my head, marveling at her aim in the dark. "Don't worry, Mom. I've got this."
"You're the one I worry about," she said. "My phone's on the sofa. Grab it."
"Yes, ma'am." I stood, eyes still adjusting to the pitch-black room. Reaching out, my hand brushed her side through her sweater, soft and warm. I froze, heart racing, but kept moving, pretending it was nothing.