Chapter 1

As I pulled into a parking spot at the university I go to I couldn’t help but feel relieved to be back at school. I had spent the summer at home with my dad. Things had gone smoothly for the most part. But every now and then things would feel tense. Finally the day I was heading back to school my dad broke the news he had been holding back the entire summer.

That morning my dad had been unusually silent. Usually he’d be talking about work or how my school year went last year or how I hope it’ll go this year.

I had finally had enough of the silence so I looked away from my phone and looked at him and said, “You’ve been acting weird all morning. What is going on?”

Normally when sitting down at breakfast you’d see the father of the house reading a newspaper or something like this but not my dad. My dad loved technology. That stuff was what made his business run. And he also loved games.

My dad just rolled his eyes and put down his Nintendo Switch, “I guess Shantae will have to wait to save the day.” He took a deep breath and said, “Okay I had hoped to tell you this later but I guess now will do. You know I’ve been dating a woman for a little while now.”

I almost dropped my drink and jumped up.

I nearly shouted, “What? Since when? Why haven’t I met this woman?”

Calmly my dad answered, “I guess you didn’t know. Sorry my bad. We’ve been dating for about four months now. And if me dating was a shock I guess this’ll come as even more of a shock.”

“Dad don’t say you’re getting married?” I said more to myself.

He looked to his game system as he said, “Not exactly. But she and her youngest daughter are moving in here in a couple weeks.”

I threw my hands up, “God Dad. Mom hasn’t been dead for that long. Do you think you should be getting this serious so soon?”

He looked directly in my eyes and seriously said, “Your mother has been gone for a little over two years now boy. I deserve to have some happiness in my life.”

“Yes you do. I can’t argue with that. I’m glad you’re able to date again but this is moving too fast. Getting so serious that you have a woman and her daughter moving in after dating for such a short amount of time is ludicrous.”

“Hey that’s uncalled for. I’m only letting her move in because her neighborhood isn’t really safe. Her house has been broken into and trashed so many times by vandals in the last year. And a couple weeks ago part of it was even burned down by a gang. I wanted to help her out. I wanted her and her daughter to feel safe. Especially since she’s going to be going on a business trip for a little while and she wanted her daughter to be somewhere safe while she goes to high school.” my dad told me with almost the same seriousness he had when he told me that my mom was sick.

I felt a fool. I rubbed my chin for a moment and was about to apologize when my dad ruined the moment.

He continued, “Besides It’s not like we’re moving in together for the sex. Well not just for sex. I would be very interested in that. Especially after some of the pics she’s sent me.”

“Oh my God! Dad. I think I need to head back to my place a little bit early. Sorry but some things have come up. I’ll talk to you later. And when I do. Please don’t talk about your sex life or you getting or even giving any naked pics.” I shouted.

“Erik? Come on. Don’t be that way. She’s going to be here tomorrow. She wanted to meet you.” my dad called out.

My dad had placed a hand on my shoulder as I had reached the door. I turned around and said something I later wish I hadn’t said, “I think doing this is really in bad taste dad. It’s really disrespectful towards mom. Call me when you grow up.”

I was at my car when I dropped my keys. I was swearing under my breath when I heard a voice behind me.

“Going somewhere so soon? You’re not leaving without saying goodbye are you?” said our neighbor.

I took a moment to answer. I turned around and saw a beautiful woman. She was tall, she had blonde hair. Although her natural hair color was very dark, I should know I had a very good reason to know her natural hair color. She had medium sized breasts, which used to be bigger until some time last year. She was very athletic. And she had a very nice smile. She was also covered in sweat. She must have just gotten back from her morning run.

I scratched my head, “Yeah. My morning needed to get off to an earlier start than I expected. I thought you’d still be on your normal morning run. I would have felt really weird hunting you down just to say bye.” I looked at her and she just gave me another one of those warm and seductive smiles. “Anyways can you tell Courtney and Sam bye for me?”

She looked a little disappointed but then nodded her head and said, “Sure. But that won’t be for a few more hours. My daughter took her little brother out to have some fun with some of his friends while I went out on my run. Are you sure you don’t want to come in and get a drink of juice before you leave?”

I felt her hand on my butt as she kissed me. As she kissed me my thoughts went back to when I was a kid. Around two and a half hours into my 14th birthday party I noticed that my best friend Courtney hadn’t shown up to my party yet. So I excused myself to go next door to check on her. At the door I was greeted by Mrs. Jessica Thomas. Courtney’s mom. I stood there in shock. This woman who had just recently been entering my dreams at night was standing there in front of me in only a towel. Or at least I had assumed was only in a towel.