Because of Him (Read on Kindlé)

Chapter Four | Belle

The week unfolded in a rather uneventful routine: Zoe's wake-up calls, Ethan's friendly winks, ending the days either in her bed or mine as we navigated the task of homework.

Landon's presence was sporadic, but when our paths crossed, his gaze bore into me, a lingering reminder of his knowledge about my birthmark. The details of that night remained elusive in my memory, and truthfully, I didn't mind. Some things were better left in the shadows, a blend of both f*ck you and thank you to the influence of alcohol.

Living just a stone's throw away from Zoe, not having a car never bothered me. I happily made the short journey home during Zoe's after-school naps.

As I neared my house, my steps hesitated. The well-worn routine of heading home disrupted by the unexpected sight of my dad's car in the driveway. He was hardly ever home, preferring his girlfriend's company. Unlocking the door and stepping into the house, a soft giggle echoed from my dad's room at the end of the hallway, causing a knot of dread to tighten in my stomach.

Not only dad was home, but his girlfriend too.

As I rushed to my room, slamming the door in an attempt to make my presence known, my thoughts involuntarily drifted to the past. While my dad wasn’t a bad guy, I never seemed to get along with his girlfriend – I just couldn’t understand what he saw in her.

Because of Him (Read on Kindlé)