Six

As the days went by, I struggled to conceal my emotions. Living under the same roof as Jack and my mother made it so difficult, as i couldn't escape the pain of seeing them together. I am forced everyday, to watch as my mother and Jack laughed together, their chemistry undeniable. I felt a pang in my chest, a mix of jealousy and longing. How could my mother be so oblivious to the way i felt?

Rachel, noticing my distress, suggested a night out to take my mind off things. We headed to a trendy bar in town, where Rachel knew the owner. As we sipped our cocktails, I felt a bit relaxed. That's when i saw him - a tall, dark-haired man with piercing hazel eyes, laughing with the bartender.

As our eyes met,  I immediately felt a jolt of electricity and quickly looked away, trying to brush off the feeling. But I couldn't help sneaking glances at the mysterious handsome stranger. He too was watching me with an intensity that made my skin prickle.

"Sophia?" Rachel's voice called softly.

I looked up to see Rachel, her expression filled with concern. "Living at your new home has been hard for you. Are you okay?"

I shook my head, unable to find the words. Rachel sat down beside me, her presence a steady anchor in the turbulent sea of my emotions.

"What happened?" she asked gently.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I recounted the events of the evening, the confrontation with Jack, his confession, and what I had witnessed through the keyhole. Rachel listened intently, her brow furrowing in empathy and confusion.

"Oh, Sophia," she sighed, pulling me into a comforting hug. "This is so complicated. But you need to forget about that kiss and focus on you."

"I want to but i don't know how," I admitted, my voice cracking. "Part of me wants to run away, but another part... I don't know, Rachel. I can't stop thinking about him."

Rachel pulled back slightly, looking into my eyes. "You need to remind yourself that Jack is your stepfather, Sophia. If confronting Jack and your mother is what you need to find closure, then do it. But don't let this consume you."

I nodded, wiping away my tears. "You're right, but i don't want to ruin my mother's happiness."

Rachel sighs, "But you're ruining yours." 

I bowed my head in silence.

Suddenly Rachel dragged me onto the dance floor. "There's nothing a dance can't fix." 

I laughed as she began rocking her body towards me, beckoning me to dance. That's when the stranger from the bar appeared beside me, his eyes locked on mine.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked, his voice low and smooth.

I hesitated, but Rachel encouraged me to let him in. As we danced, I learned his name was Alexander - Alex for short.

As our bodies touched, I felt a spark of connection. For the first time in weeks, I forgot about Jack and my mother.

After the club, Alex walked me home, our conversation flowed effortlessly. I found herself opening up to him in ways I never thought possible. 

As we stood outside my apartment, Alex turned to me and said, "I've been looking for you, Sophia. I'm glad I found you."

My heart skipped a beat. I didn't know what to make of Alex's words, but I couldn't deny the connection between us. This is exactly what I needed, I thought to myself.

"I'd love to grab coffee with you sometime," he continued, his eyes sparkling with sincerity.

I agreed, and we exchanged numbers. As we parted ways, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I had just met someone special.

As I walked into the house that night, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me. The evening with Alex had been a welcome distraction from the tension between Jack and me.

But as I entered the living room, I was met with an unexpected surprise. Jack was sitting on the couch, his eyes fixed intently on me.

"Sophia, can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked, his voice low and serious.

I hesitated, unsure of what to expect. "What's up, Jack?"

"Who's that young man that brought you home?" he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

My heart skipped a beat. Was Jack spying on me? "Just someone I met tonight," I replied, trying to brush it off.

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Someone you met tonight? Sophia, I saw the way you were laughing with him, the way you looked at him. You can't deny there's something between you two."

I felt a surge of defensiveness. "Even if there was, what business is it of yours, Jack?"

Jack leaned forward, his eyes locked on mine. "You're living under my roof, Sophia. I care about what happens to you. And I don't want to see you get hurt."

I rolled my eyes. "You're worried about me getting hurt? That's rich, coming from you."

Jack's expression turned cold. "What's that supposed to mean?"

I took a deep breath, unsure of whether i wanted to have this conversation.

"Speak!" He demanded.

"You're one to talk, Jack," I said, my voice rising. "You're the one who's been parading around with my mother, flaunting your relationship in front of me."

Jack's face darkened. "That's not fair, Sophia. I've done nothing but try to make this family work."

"By screwing my mother?" I spat, my anger boiling over.

Jack's eyes flashed with anger, and he stood up, towering over me. "How dare you," he growled.

I stood my ground, my heart racing. "I dare because it's the truth. You're a hypocrite, Jack."

Jack's face twisted in anger, and he took a step closer to me. I could feel the tension between us crackling like electricity.

And then, without warning, he kissed me.

It was a fierce, possessive kiss, meant to shut me up and assert his dominance. But as our lips touched, something unexpected happened.

I felt a spark of desire.