Chapter 2

The next morning, Emma walked to school. Emma’s mind was consumed by a torrent of thoughts. She was filled with grief for her father. She was filled with uncertainty regarding Brian’s situation. She hoped the routine of school would steady her.

In the hallway, she saw Eve. Eve was her best friend. Eve was 18, tall and thin. Her blue eyes stood out, sharp and clear. She’d dyed part of her hair blue to match her eyebrows. Her nails were black, chipped at the edges. She looked like she always did—edgy, unapologetic.

Eve noticed Emma first. The dark circles under Emma’s eyes caught her attention immediately. The way she dragged her feet was particularly noticeable.

“Hey,” Eve said, her voice soft. “How are you holding up?”

Emma paused. How was she holding up? Her father had passed away. Her heart was split in two. And then, there was Brian.

Eve stepped closer. “You look like you haven’t slept.”

Emma shrugged. “I haven’t. I’m doing as well as can be expected, I guess.”

Eve leaned closer. Her eyes searched Emma’s face. “You can tell me anything,” she whispered. Her voice was soft, like a warm blanket on a cold day.

Emma took a deep breath. She wanted to tell Eve everything. Everything. But not now. Not here. “How about during lunch break?”

Eve nodded. The bell rang, and they headed to class.

Ms. Barbara walked in. Her afro-brown hair bounced with every step. Her pale brown skin glowed, and her green eyes sparkled. She was the kind of teacher everyone loved. She had a past—hippie vibes, some said. But now? She was the art teacher who made you feel like you could paint the sky.

Ms. Barbara was Emma and Eve’s favorite teacher. Why? She had an open mind and taught with passion. Her enthusiasm made every lesson feel alive.

That day, Ms. Barbara stood at the front of the classroom. Her eyes swept the room, pausing briefly on Emma. Then she began.

“Remember, class,” she said, her voice calm and steady. “Art isn’t about right or wrong. It’s about how you see it. What looks like chaos to one person might hold deep meaning for another.”

Emma listened. But her thoughts drifted.

Last night. She remembered her mother and Brian. The memory flashed in her mind.

Jealousy. Desire. She couldn’t shake the strange mix of desire.

Ms. Barbara’s words faded into the background. Emma’s mind was elsewhere.

Emma and Eve sat in their favorite spot in the quad during lunch. The sun warmed their backs, but a cloud clouded Emma’s face. Eve noticed.

“You okay?” Eve asked, her eyes searching Emma’s face.

Emma took a deep breath. “You know how my dad passed away, right?”

Eve nodded. Her expression softened.

“Well,” Emma began, her voice trembling, “he left part of his inheritance to me, Mom ... and someone else. But there’s a catch.”

Eve leaned in. “What? Who’s the someone else?”

Emma hesitated. “Brian. He’s my dad’s son. From his first marriage.”

Eve’s eyes widened. “Wait. Your dad had another kid? And you didn’t know?”

Emma shook her head. “Nope. Never. Apparently, Brian left his big job in New York to come here. Now he’s part of this whole mess.”

Eve blinked. “Wow. That’s ... a lot.”

Emma sighed. “Yeah. And I don’t even know what to think about it.”

Eve’s eyes widened. “So, your new ... brother?”

Emma corrected her quickly. “Stepbrother, actually.” Her heart raced as she spoke. “He had to stay here. My father’s will said he had to take care of the business and the family.”

Eve’s mouth fell open. “Emma, no way!”

Emma nodded. “Yeah. He’s already running the business.”

Eve leaned back, a sly grin forming. “But ... is he hot?”

Emma shot her a look. “Eve, that’s my brother.” She paused. “But ... yeah. He’s really hot.”

Eve’s eyes lit up. “Good. Can you introduce us?”

Emma hesitated. “I’m not sure he’d want to meet my friends.” She took a deep breath. “But there’s more to the story.”

Their conversation stopped. A paper ball flew through the air and landed on the table between them. Eve and Emma looked up. A group of football players and cheerleaders stood in the distance, laughing. One of them pointed at Eve’s blue hair.

Amanda, the head cheerleader, and her boyfriend Sonny, the football jock, led the group. Eve rolled her eyes. “It’s just the usual crowd. Don’t worry about them,” she said, brushing it off.

Emma glared at the group, her disgust clear. Especially at Sonny and Amanda’s.

Sonny tossed another paper ball at Eve. His smirk grew. “What’s up, freaks?”

Amanda stepped in, her voice smooth. “Sonny, darling, leave them alone.”

Emma’s anger flared. Eve whispered, “Just ignore them.”

But Emma stood up. Her voice was firm, her eyes sharp. “Why don’t you go back to your own lunch table, Sonny?”

Sonny’s smirk turned into a grin. “What’s your problem, sweetheart? Did your freak friend complain to you?”

Eve went quiet. Emma couldn’t stand it. “Sonny, why don’t you go somewhere else?”

Amanda stepped forward, her hand on Sonny’s arm. “Let’s not cause a scene,” she said, her eyes locked on Emma.

Sonny’s eyes darkened. He grumbled, “Whatever,” and turned to leave.

As soon as the group left, Barbara intervened. She looked at Emma and Eve, her face full of concern. “Are you girls okay?”

Emma nodded. Her cheeks were still red with anger. “Thanks, Ms. Barbara.”

Barbara sat down beside them. Her voice was soft, her eyes kind. “You know you can always come to me if you need anything.”

Eve leaned into her. “Thanks, Ms. Barbara.”

When Barbara left, Eve turned to Emma. “Now, finish your story.”

Emma sighed. She knew these interruptions at school wouldn’t stop. She made up her mind. “You know what? Let’s have a sleepover at your house this Friday. We can talk more privately.”

Eve’s eyes lit up. “Yeah, let’s do it!”

After school, Emma found her mom in the kitchen. “Mom,” she started. “Can I spend the night at Eve’s this Friday?”

Laura’s face softened. She thought Emma needed a break from everything. “Of course, dear. It’ll be good for you to have a friend around.”

She paused. “I’ll call Eve’s sister Lucy too. It’s been a while since you two had a sleepover.”

Emma smiled. “Thanks, Mom.”

Brian walked back into the office. His father’s letter had left him uneasy. A quiet doubt crept into his mind. Were Okita, Dewitt, and Bissette really grieving? Or was there something more? He decided to watch them closely. Every move. Every word.

First, he approached Bissette. She was at her desk, head down, working.

“How are you?” Brian asked, his tone casual but probing.

She looked up. “I’m good,” she said. Her voice was steady, but her eyes lingered a moment too long. “I’ve worked for your father for years. Seeing how you’re stepping up ... he’d be proud.”

The words sounded genuine. But was it loyalty? Could it have been something else entirely?

“Thanks,” Brian replied. “I’ll try to run the business the way he did.”

“Sure, you will,” she said. Then she turned back to her work.

The conversation ended there. But Brian’s questions didn’t.

He walked away, his mind racing. Bissette’s words were kind. Too kind? Or was he overthinking it?

The seed of doubt his father had planted was growing. And Brian couldn’t shake it.

He glanced at Okita and Dewitt across the room. Their heads were bent together, whispering.

Brian sat in his office, staring at the papers on his desk. The room was quiet. Too quiet. Then, a knock.

Okita stood at the door. She didn’t wait for an answer. Brian waved her in, his eyes still on the documents.

“Brian,” she started, her voice steady. “I need to go through the statements from the last shipment. And your signatures on these checks.”

He nodded. “Yes, please.”

Brian flipped through the records slowly. His eyes darted between the numbers and Okita. Was she nervous? He searched for a flicker in her expression, a shift in her posture. Nothing.

“Everything in order?” he asked, his tone casual. “Nothing unusual?”

Okita didn’t blink. “Yes, Brian. Just as your father left it. Nothing unusual.”

Her answer was smooth. Too smooth? He couldn’t tell.

He signed the checks, his pen scratching against the paper. Okita took them, nodded, and left.

The door clicked shut.

Brian leaned back in his chair. His mind raced. Was she hiding something? Or was he just seeing shadows where there were none?

Brian stepped into the warehouse. The air buzzed with activity. Workers moved like clockwork, stacking boxes and loading carts. Dewitt stood in the middle of it all, calm and in control. He looked up, a smile spreading across his face.

“Ah, Brian. Good to see you here.” Dewitt’s voice carried over the noise. “The workers respect you more when you’re on the floor. Shows you care.”

Brian nodded. “That’s the idea. I don’t want to be the boss who hides in his office all day.”

Dewitt’s smile widened. “Smart move. Let me show you the latest shipment.”

“Thanks,” Brian said, “but I’d like to walk around on my own.”

Dewitt gave a quick nod. “Of course. Let me know if you need anything.”

Brian moved through the aisles, his eyes sharp. He scanned the shelves, the workers, and the corners. Anything out of place? Anything suspicious? Hours passed. Nothing stood out.

Back in his office, Brian sank into his chair. The quiet felt heavy. He leaned back, staring at the ceiling. Was it all in his head?

Brian’s mind drifted back to the night before. Laura’s soft skin against his. She kissed him tenderly. The sound of her voice, low and urgent, still echoed in his ears. He felt a shiver run through him as he remembered her hand on him, the way she had touched him, and the pleasure that followed. But then, the weight of it all hit him. His father’s death. The guilt. The line they had crossed was no longer simply comfort. It was something else. He was unable to identify what it was.

The clock ticked. It was time to head home.

The ringing of his phone broke the silence when Brian returned to his beach house. His heart jumped. Laura’s name flashed on the screen. He answered, his voice low. “Hey, Laura.”

Her voice was heavy, unsure. “Brian, can we talk?”

“Of course,” he said, softer now. “Is everything okay?”

A pause. Then, carefully, she asked, “Would it be alright if I came over on Friday?”

Brian’s heart raced, but his voice stayed steady. “What about Emma?”

“She’s having a sleepover at Eve’s,” Laura replied quickly.

The memory of their last night together flashed in his mind. He kept it casual. “Okay. I’ll leave work early.”

Laura’s tone brightened. “Great. I’ll bring some wine.”

“Sounds perfect,” Brian said.

Anticipation stirred in his stomach. Friday couldn’t come soon enough. Laura’s face filled his thoughts. Her eyes—desperate, longing—stared back at him. She’d lost so much. He’d been there for her. But now? He wasn’t sure what they were for each other.

He took a deep breath. Stood up. The bed felt too heavy, the room too small. He needed air. The beach was quiet. Waves crashed against the shore. The cold breeze bit at his skin, but it helped.

Friday morning came. Emma packed a small bag with her pajamas. She grabbed her regular bag too. A quick kiss goodbye to Laura, and she was off to school.

Eve was waiting, buzzing with excitement. The plan? A sleepover at her place.

After school, they headed straight to Eve’s house. The building had two floors. On the first floor was a tattoo parlor. That’s where Eve’s sister, Lucy, worked.

Lucy was six years older than Eve. Edgy, confident, and always kind to Emma. She liked Emma. Not just because Emma was Eve’s friend, but because Emma got Eve.

Only Lucy and Emma truly understood Eve. The rest of the town? Not so much.

“So, what’s the special occasion?” Lucy asked, smiling.

Emma and Eve exchanged a look. Emma spoke up. “It’s been a rough week. We just needed some girl time.”

Lucy nodded. “Okay. Just don’t make too much noise. I’ll be out for a couple of hours. Back later tonight.”

“Sure. We’ll be fine,” Emma replied. A naughty smile crept across her face as she glanced at Eve.

Emma climbed the stairs. Her heart raced. Excitement. Fear. Both tangled inside her. She was about to tell her best friend, Eve, her deepest secrets. The kind of secrets that make your stomach twist.

They stepped into Eve’s room. Posters covered the walls. Bands. Slogans about freedom and rebellion. The room screamed Eve. But the bed? A mess. Clothes everywhere. Eve quickly cleared a spot for them to sit.

Emma dropped her bag. She pulled out a light-blue T-shirt and purple panties. Her hands trembled slightly. Then, without a word, she undressed. Stood there. Naked. Eve’s face turned red. She mumbled something about needing the bathroom and left.

Emma slipped into the panties and T-shirt. The fabric clung to her skin. Her curves—her C-cup breasts, her hips—were impossible to miss. She felt exposed. But also ... free.

Eve came back. She wore a dark blue T-shirt that hugged her small frame. Her shorts were tiny, the hem barely covering her firm, round buttocks. She tied her hair into a ponytail, but a few blue strands fell onto her forehead.

The two friends sat on the bed. Emma took a deep breath. Her hands fidgeted.

“Eve,” she began, her voice low. “Remember how I said I had more to tell you about my stepbrother?”

Eve nodded. Her eyes lit up. “Spill it, Emma.”

Emma hesitated. She leaned closer. “Before I tell you anything, you have to promise me something. Anything.”

Eve didn’t blink. “I promise. You know I’d never tell. Not even Lucy.”

Emma’s heart raced. She swallowed hard.

“Last Sunday,” she started, her voice barely above a whisper. “I heard strange noises in the living room. I went to check. And I saw ... I saw him with Mom.”

Eve’s eyes widened. “Oh my god, Emma. What did you do?”

Emma’s face flushed. “I ... I couldn’t stop watching. They were ... touching each other.”

Eve froze. “Touching? Like ... how?”

Emma looked away. “It was ... intense. I didn’t know what to do. I just stood there. Frozen.”

Eve leaned back. Her mind raced. “Emma, that’s ... wow. Did they see you?”