Thirteen ✨

Alex 🖤

As I pulled into the parking lot of the campus , I couldn’t stop thinking about Nicole. She had this quiet, almost innocent power over me. It was hard to describe, but it was there in every look, every touch, and every smile she gave me. Her soft kisses this morning, so shy and sweet, had completely messed with my head. I couldn’t think straight, couldn’t focus on anything except her.

I parked the car and checked my phone. I still had a few hours before class, which was perfect because I had plans to meet up with Owen and Simone. They had been a big part of everything that had happened with Nicole last night, and now, I couldn’t wait to tell them everything. I needed to talk it out, to let them know how incredible it felt to finally be with her in the way I’d always wanted.

I stepped out of the car, locking it behind me as I made my way to a café close to the parking lot. The café was buzzing with its usual mid-morning crowd. Students hurried in and out, grabbing their coffees before rushing off to lectures, their chatter filling the space. The scent of freshly brewed coffee hit me as I pushed the door open, and my eyes quickly scanned the room for Owen and Simone. They were already sitting in our usual spot by the corner window, talking and laughing quietly. Owen was scrolling through his phone, while Simone leaned in, looking at the screen with him. They looked comfortable together, like always.

“Hey,” I greeted as I slid into the seat opposite them.

They both looked up at me, smiles breaking out on their faces. Owen immediately raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to spill the details. Simone leaned in, her eyes twinkling with excitement.

“There you are! We’ve been waiting to hear how it all went!” Simone practically bounced in her seat, her excitement contagious.

I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. Everything still felt so fresh, so unreal. “It went really well,” I began, leaning back in my chair, still feeling the weight of everything that had happened. “I asked her to be my girlfriend, and she said yes.”

Simone squealed, her hands flying up to cover her mouth in excitement. “Awww, Alex! I’m so happy for you two! Finally!”

Owen chuckled, shaking his head with a grin. “Man, we were starting to wonder if you were ever going to make a move. It’s about time.”

I laughed, rubbing the back of my neck. “Yeah, I know. I didn’t want to rush her, you know? I wanted everything to be perfect for her.”

“Perfect?” Simone asked, leaning forward with a grin. “Oh, now you have to tell us more. How was the rest of the night? I mean, what happened after you asked her to be your girlfriend?”

I couldn’t help the way my face warmed at the memory. The rest of the night had been magical. Nicole had looked at me with such trust, such openness. I’d never seen her like that before, and it had made everything feel so right. But there were some things I wasn’t going to share, not even with Owen and Simone.

“I don’t kiss and tell,” I teased, earning a playful glare from Simone.

“Oh, come on! You can give us *some* details!”

I shook my head with a laugh. “Okay, fine. I’ll just say this… it was perfect. Nicole… she’s everything to me, and last night, it just felt like everything finally clicked.”

Simone let out a dreamy sigh. “I’m so happy for you two. You deserve this, both of you.”

Owen, ever the practical one, leaned forward, his expression more serious now. “I’m happy for you too, Alex. But, uh… have you thought about what’s going to happen if people find out? I mean, you and Nicole are still step-siblings. It’s not going to be easy if this gets out.”

I had thought about that. Of course, I had. The whole thing with Nicole being my step-sister was complicated, to say the least. But the thing was, I didn’t care what people thought. Not anymore. Nicole was more important to me than anyone else’s opinion, and I wasn’t going to let anything—or anyone—come between us.

“I know, Owen,” I said, my voice firm. “I’ve thought about it. And if people find out, I’m not going to let them come between us. I’m not leaving her, no matter what they say.”

Simone reached across the table, giving my hand a supportive squeeze. “We’ve got your back, Alex. No matter what happens, we’re here for you.”

I smiled at them both, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over me. Simone and Owen had always been my closest friends, the people I could rely on for anything. Having them support me in this—it meant more than they knew.

“Thanks, guys,” I said, my voice soft. “I really appreciate it.”

We spent the time in the café and I ordered iced chocolate drink for myself as we chatted.

Owen checked his phone, glancing at the time. “We should probably get going soon. Class starts in about fifteen minutes.”

I looked at my watch, realizing how fast the time had flown by. “Yeah, let’s head out.”

We gathered our things, and as we made our way out of the café, I felt this strange sense of contentment settle over me. Everything in my life had always felt a little off, like I was missing something. But now, with Nicole officially in my life the way she was, it was like all the pieces were finally falling into place. Sure, there were challenges ahead—our relationship being secret, the complications with our family—but for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

As we walked toward campus, Owen nudged me with his elbow, a sly grin on his face. “So, when’s the next big date, huh? You’ve got to keep the romance going now, man.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Soon, man. Soon.”

In truth, I had no idea what the next big date would be. But I knew I wanted to make it special, just like everything I did for Nicole. She deserved the world, and I was going to do everything I could to give it to her.

After our classes ended for the day, Owen, Simone, and I headed toward the parking lot. Owen, always the tease, couldn’t resist making a comment. “Off to pick up your baby girl?”

I smirked, knowing exactly where this conversation was headed. “Yep, can’t keep her waiting too long.”

Simone chuckled as she climbed into the passenger seat of Owen’s car. “Tell Nic I’ll come visit soon. We’ve got to hang out.”

“Will do.” I waved at them as I unlocked my car and slid into the driver’s seat. My mind immediately shifted gears, thinking about Nicole and how much I looked forward to seeing her.

As I pulled out of the lot, my phone buzzed with a notification, and I glanced at the screen.

Nicole: School’s already over. Are you on your way?

I couldn’t help but smile as I quickly hit the voice note button and recorded a response. “I’m almost there, baby girl. I’ll see you soon.”

As I sped down the road toward her school, the familiar excitement bubbled up inside me. I hadn’t seen her since this morning, and I already missed her. There was something so calming, so perfect about being around Nicole. Every time we were apart, even for just a few hours, I felt the pull, like gravity drawing me back to her.

When I arrived at the school parking lot, I scanned the area for a spot and pulled in near the entrance. My phone was still in my hand, and I was about to text Nicole to let her know I was there when a knock on my window startled me. I looked up, and there she was—a girl dressed in what could barely pass as clothes. She was in a tight crop top and shorts so short they might as well have been swimwear. The look on her face was unmistakable—flirtatious and eager.

I sighed inwardly. I didn’t have time for this.

Rolling the window down just enough to speak, I asked, “Can I help you with something?”

She leaned in, and I could tell she was trying to give me a clear view of her cleavage, hoping to catch my attention. “I’ve seen you coming here a lot, dropping off and picking up your little sister,” she began, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. “I was hoping I could get your number. Maybe we could meet up sometime?”

She gave me a wink, completely unaware of how uninterested I was. Before I could respond, I quickly messaged Nicole, letting her know I was waiting for her so we could leave. I didn’t want to spend another second dealing with this girl.

“No, thank you,” I said firmly, rolling the window up without waiting for her reply.

I watched her frown as she stood there, but at that moment, I didn’t care. I wasn’t about to waste time with someone who clearly didn’t understand boundaries, especially when Nicole was just minutes away. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Nicole approaching the car, her pace a little faster than usual. She reached the passenger door, pulled it open, and climbed in without saying a word.

I immediately noticed the change in her demeanor. Normally, Nicole would greet me with a smile, a hug, or a playful comment. But today, she was quiet. Her body language was stiff, and she barely glanced in my direction. Instead, she kept her eyes fixed ahead, completely ignoring the girl still standing by my car.

I reversed out of the parking lot and began driving, trying to shake off the awkward tension that seemed to settle between us. After a few minutes of silence, I decided to break the ice.

“How was your day, baby girl?” I asked, keeping my voice light, hoping to draw her out.

“Fine,” she replied curtly, her tone clipped and distant.

I glanced at her, frowning slightly. Something was definitely off. I knew Nicole well enough by now to recognize when something was bothering her, but she wasn’t the type to talk about it right away. She tended to bottle things up until they overflowed, and then, if I didn’t catch it in time, it could lead to a full-blown argument. I wasn’t about to let that happen, especially not today.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, keeping my tone gentle. “You’ve been quiet since you got in the car.”

Nicole didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she folded her arms over her chest, staring out the window as if she were deliberately avoiding looking at me. The silence stretched on, and I could practically feel the tension growing thicker with every passing second.

“Nicole…” I pressed, keeping my eyes on the road but stealing glances at her. “Talk to me, baby girl. What’s going on?”

She let out a heavy sigh, and after what felt like an eternity, she finally spoke. “Who was that girl?”

I blinked, caught off guard by the question. “What girl?”

“The one who was all over your car window,” she muttered, her voice laced with irritation.

I let out a small laugh, realizing now why she had been so upset. My baby girl was jealous. I hadn’t expected it, but it was almost endearing in a way. The idea that she cared so much about me that something as small as a random girl flirting with me would bother her… It made my chest tighten with affection.

“Baby girl , that girl means nothing to me,” I said, keeping my tone serious now. “She came over, asked for my number, and I told her no. End of story.”

Nicole’s arms stayed crossed, and she kept her gaze fixed out the window, but I could see the slight softening in her posture. She wasn’t completely convinced yet, though.

“She was practically throwing herself at you,” she muttered. “I mean, did you see what she was wearing? And the way she was leaning into your window, trying to show off…”

“Yeah, I saw,” I said, cutting her off gently. “But, princess, none of that matters to me. I didn’t even entertain her for a second. The only person I care about is you. You know that, right?”

She finally turned her head to look at me, her expression still guarded but less angry than before. “But what if you meet someone else? Someone who isn’t your step-sister… Someone who’s… I don’t know… better for you?”

I felt my heart clench at her words. How could she ever think that anyone else could be better for me? Nicole was everything I wanted—everything I needed. I reached over and took her hand, threading our fingers together as I drove with my other hand.

“No one else could ever be better for me,” I said softly, squeezing her hand. “Nicole, you’re it for me. I don’t care what anyone says about us being step-siblings. That doesn’t change how I feel about you. I’m not interested in anyone else, and I never will be. You’re the only one I want.”

Nicole’s lips trembled slightly, and I could see the vulnerability in her eyes. She was still holding on to some of her insecurities, but I could tell that my words were starting to sink in.

“I just… I don’t want to lose you,daddy. ” she whispered, her voice small and shaky.

I pulled into a quiet side street, parking the car so I could focus entirely on her. Turning to face her, I reached up to cup her cheek, brushing my thumb gently over her soft skin.

“You’re never going to lose me, baby girl,” I whispered. “I’m yours, okay? Completely. There’s no one else in the world who could ever take your place.”

Nicole’s eyes filled with tears, and she leaned into my touch, closing her eyes for a moment as she soaked in my words. After a long pause, she opened her eyes and gave me a small, tentative smile.

“Okay,” she whispered. “I believe you.”

I leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, then her nose, and finally her lips. It was a gentle kiss, one that held all the love and reassurance I could give her. When I pulled back, her cheeks were flushed, and the tension that had been there before was gone, replaced by the warmth and affection I knew so well.

“Now,” I said, smiling at her, “How about we head home and I make it up to you? Maybe we can watch a movie together, order some pizza… whatever you want.”

Nicole smiled, her eyes twinkling with the same lightness I loved to see in her. “I’d like that, daddy.”

“Good,” I said, kissing her again before starting the car. As we drove away, hand in hand, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. Nicole was my everything, and I was going to make sure she always knew that.

No matter what came our way, I’d be there to remind her that she was the only one who had my heart.