Date With My Bestie's Son

ly made a move on me, I initially wanted to push him away. But

ugh to be his daughter, I can find mysel

e missed y

uld even say a word, my best friend Mina'

, and I couldn't help feeling a little awkward. Trying to brush it off, I

g he wanted to help. He glanced around, grabb

l or not, but as he fastened it,

apron, but seeing his smiling face, I cou

my head, then reached around to tie the st

be behind me for that? It felt like he wa

but I stayed quiet

he said, loo

n't let her get bored," I replied, deliberately emphasizing "mom" t

ited them to stay for dinner since my husband,

ere watching TV on the couch wh

rom the bedroom. My bestie told her son to go with me,

rtled, I asked, "What's going on? Why's the door closed..." Before I could f

ht there on the couch, how could he dare?

t are you doing? Do you even know what you're doing? I

ead and tell her if you want," he said noncha

t her son kissed me and groped me? It's

I felt humiliated, ashamed

uin his reputation? He's got a long life ahead of him, maybe it was

tside, and chatted with Mina a bit

o I convinced her to go home, pointing out her husband was alone. Knowing how close the

finally breathed

e I'd gained some weight, pr

ggested we hit the gym. I thought wor

l and headed upst

ned it was where her son worked part-time as a trai

t Nikolas training me, not

ldn't just pretend I had to leave, especially sin

smile, I g

eturn saying she had a work emergency and could

h him? That's w

it another day then, I'm

Nikolas is great at this, you're in good hands." T

r," he replied, giving me a meaningful

goodbye

leading me inside, showing me the

sical assessments and stretching. The

it because of me?" Nikolas a

crep

the adult here, I should

iled, "Not at all! I'm hap

p. "Good, let'

ut my joints felt st

help, then took me to the pull

as spent, my a

and propped u

scold him, only to

wrong, Lisa? I'm just helping, you

as nothing, even g

sing a scene would ruin both our reputations, and he mig

iscomfort, I fi

water bottle and whispered,

sense are you saying? I'm done for today." I s

rea, sniffing my discarded clothes with a dazed look,

I covered my mout

ter, and I grabbed my st

er, it was Min

, still unsettled by Nikolas's cree

a bag with a necklace,

ached, and she

d, I re

een waiting!" she said with

fts. "Happy birthday, you little s

mutual friends, then saw Nikolas in

ed to a close girlfriend, s

nounced dinne

ng our glasses to toas

ng up with old friends, e

ite a bit, my face turning rosy,

to think straight. I told her I'd rest in a room

y neck but couldn't brush it off. Th

ring, I kissed back eagerly, moaning softl

heard Nikolas whisper, "

ke a shame

th bloodshot, entranced eyes,

ith pleasure, tears spilling as I

spering, "I'm her

e savor this joy and b

ed like I'd been beaten. Rubbing my temples, I threw of

I was naked.As someone who's been

ndered, was i

ikolas walked in wi

d, then realized I was exposed. S

sking gently, "What's wro

er, downed it, and hid my face, chokin

. "We did everything, wanted or not. Don't w

down my face,

"This is wrong. We can't be together. Let's tre

ckly and took

ings seemed to settle,

gym again, promising not to

Last time, Nikolas and I barely crossed p

through warm-ups, an

noticed, teasing, "You two look so close, if I di

just s

my waist, playfully swatting her. "What are you saying? You ca

mirk

nded I'd left something in the

to head back, when someone pinned me agai

ot chest, he rasped, "Your son, huh? So

sense are you spouting? Didn't we ag

he hopped back in pain, I da

as over, saying a girl claiming t

nease. Who knew he had so m

d to Mina, "Let's check it out

ly the girl yelling while N

me for someone new! Two-timing, greedy pi

ed. "You think you can just say whatever? Got pr

around as people stare

No proof and you're causing a scene?

Nikolas, "You're lucky this time, but no one's sav

"Thanks for sticking up for me, Lisa. Next week, I'm t

Mina grabbed my hand, her

ave

up early for the airport. After a f

gentle sea breezes, a plac

rk, work, no time for me. Sometimes I wonder if I'm even married,

trip, but Maley's vi

d I slathered on sunscr

mmer from school,

out. When I realized, I shouted to

ht I'd sink, ar

m so far and saved me! Was h

rled with mi

'll protect you," he

t blushed, not p

day a blast, food, beach

day, Nikolas texted

a rooftop

desserts as a kid. Seeing it

p, and Nikolas walke

from his toddler days to now, eve

from a little boy into a

it, but I've loved you for so long. I fought it, thinking it was wro

o. I feel like I'll never love anyone else this much. I'd spend my life

erity mo

e I felt such raw,

ried, I'd take the chance, despite th

yalty, I can't betray my husband while h

m sorry, I can't. Find someone else to lo