Chase
“Dude,” I said, looking down to make sure Leah was covered. “I'm sorry. It isn't what it looks like.”
Blake was standing in the doorway, pretending to be heaving his guts out. It was all a little dramatic.
My boner had gone soft at the first sound of Blake's yelling. If he had come in a minute later, he would have found me on top of Leah, wildly fucking her. I was bummed to see him, but even more irritated that he had come home before I got the chance to do just that.
Leah was standing next to me, the blanket draped around her. I was still standing there in my briefs.
“Blake,” she started, moving toward him.
Blake held up a hand. “Don't you dare come near me. Stay the fuck away from me.”
“Blake,” I said in a low voice, warning him to chill.
He couldn't take this out on Leah.
“Blake, I'm sorry,” Leah said again in a quiet voice loaded with guilt and shame.
Blake turned to look at her, disgust on his face, but he didn't say a word.
Leah put her chin up, her shoulders back and walked past Blake with a regal air.
I had to fight back a smile. That was my girl. She was too proud to let Blake's nasty noises and hateful looks get to her.
Once she was out of the room, Blake turned his fury on me.
“You're fucking my stepmom?”
“It isn't like that,” I repeated.
He shook his head. “I can't talk to you when you're standing there practically naked.”
“Stay here,” I ordered, before running up the stairs to my room to get my shorts.
I was back within a couple of minutes. Blake was still standing near the door as if he were afraid to go any further into the room.
“Let's go to the kitchen and talk,” I suggested, hoping to remove the image of me and Leah on the couch.
He glared at me, but I assumed he was following me. I assumed wrong.
When I turned to see if he was coming, I saw his fist a split second before I felt it hit. I didn't fall or hit him back. I stood there, staring back at him, daring him to hit me again.
“Dammit!” he screamed, holding his hand.
“Are you done?” I asked.
“Damn you!” he screamed again.
I stood there, waiting to see if he was going to take another swing at me.
All I got was a lot of incoherent screaming and yelling. I understood bits and pieces. He was obviously pissed about me and Leah hooking up. That much I got, but I couldn't figure out why it was such an issue.
“Blake, I am sorry for hooking up with Leah, but it isn't like that.”
He looked at me, rolled his eyes, and then burst out laughing. “You keep saying that. What is it if it isn't like that?” he asked, using his fingers to make air quotes.
His question took me by surprise. I didn't exactly know what it was, but I felt it was more than a weekend fling. I hoped.
“Why are you so upset about this? She isn't your mom. You barely have a relationship with her, and it isn't like you don't have a similar situation going on with Marissa,” I pointed out, going on the defensive.
Blake's eyes went wide. “She's my stepmom!”
“Was. Was your stepmom.”
I knew it was a little cold, but the guy was starting to piss me off. He was a little too self-righteous for my taste. I wanted to take him down a peg or two.
“You know, when my dad first introduced me to her, I figured she was a gold-digging slut. They both tried really hard to convince me otherwise. I thought I believed it, but now I think she’s just a basic slut.”
“Shut your fucking mouth, Blake. You know that's not true,” I said in a low voice.
“No. Fuck you. I bring you into my dad's house, and you fuck his wife. What kind of shit is that, man?” he started shouting again.
“First of all, it's Leah's house. Second, your dad has been gone over a year, Blake,” I said the last in a much softer tone. Blake and his dad weren't exactly close, but it was still his dad.
Blake was shaking his head. “They're married.”
I sighed. “Do you think she needs to be alone for the rest of her life? Is that what you really want?”
“You trying to be my new stepdad?” He smirked. “Am I supposed to call you daddy or father?”
“Knock it off, dude. You’re acting like a spoiled little shit. Quit being a little bitch,” I said, stepping toward him. “You know Leah isn't like that. I never said anything about being your dad.”
He took a deep breath. “What are you doing with her?”
I shrugged. “I don't know. We just clicked. I like her. She's gorgeous, funny, kind, and a hell of a cook.”
“You sound like you’re falling for her. Like you’re shopping for a wife,” he sneered. “You don't have a big enough checkbook to satisfy her needs. Your dick may make her scream, but she needs a rich man.”
“Watch your mouth. I'm done listening to you talk about her like that,” I warned him. “Hate me if you want, but she’s still the same woman who opens her home to you every time you want a break. She cooks for you and obviously cares about you. Have some respect.”
“This isn't her home,” Blake shot back.
I laughed. “Actually it is. Take it from a business major with a minor in business law. You told me as much years ago. He left you a big, fat trust, but this house—it's hers. If you want to be a dick about everything, you can kiss all this goodbye.”
He shook his head. “This is not cool. So, the whole time I've been gone? No, don't answer that. I don't want to know.”
“Blake, seriously, grow up. You were practically fucking Marissa on the dining room table. I don't see how you can be so pissed about this.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “I don't know. I know it's stupid. I know that.”
I stood there, watching and waiting. I knew he would be pissed. It's why we’d hidden it. I couldn't blame him for being a little weirded out, but I wouldn't let him talk shit about Leah. She wasn't to blame for this.
“Look, I'm sorry. I know it wasn't cool, but don't blame her. I do like her, Blake. I don't know what we're doing exactly, but that's for us to figure out. Will you please try and be cool with this? Don't be a dick to Leah. I really can't let you do that,” I said with sincerity.
He blew out a long breath. “I need some time. Just leave me alone for a bit.”
“Done.”
He walked past me and headed upstairs to his room. I heard the door slam. I debated going to find Leah but figured that could make the situation worse. For now, we all needed to cool our jets. I headed for my own room and flopped down on my bed. Things were not supposed to go down like that.
I wondered if Leah was okay. I knew Blake had hurt her feelings. She was likely feeling very guilty. She shouldn't. She had not been sleeping around. She had honored her husband's memory, but now it was time to move on. She shouldn't have to live in this mansion all alone with no one to love her.
Good job, Chase. You just caused a rift between the only person Leah called family.