Unreciprocated Feelings Between Me And You

chapter | n i n e t e e n

nineteen | approvals and breakfasts

I STARE AT nothing in particular as I let time tick away. I've brought my knees to my chest and wrapped my arms around it. The sun is barely up on the horizon but you can begin to see the different hues starting to come into play. It's a beautiful morning but it's not a beautiful day.

I didn't get to sleep properly last night. It doesn't feel right having them here. It's like their mere presence together is tainting the only home I have right now. This apartment is nothing close to the home I know, but it's all I have here.

My father and his fiancée were supposed to sleep here, in my mother's bedroom, but that's too much. That's crossing the line. That's why Ruby and I bought an extra mattress they can use since I know they can't share the single bed in my room. Or maybe they can. I don't care. As long as they're not stepping a foot inside my mother's room.

Darcy has been kind the entire night yesterday. I  even heard her talking to my dad yesterday, telling him that he was going overboard when it comes to handling me. I appreciated it, I really did. But no matter what she does, I just can't look at her and not think, this is the lady that caused my family to truly fall apart.

Having her here is utterly disrespectful to my mother. Darcy caused her so much pain and yet here she is, walking around her territory. Having her here is painful for me as well. I'm their daughter and it hurts so much to see your father love another woman that isn't your mother. It's messed up. This situation is messed up. But at this point, what part of my life isn't?

I don't understand her decision at all. I don't understand why Mommy let Darcy come with Daddy and stay here at the apartment. Why does she have to come? What are they trying to do?

I don't know how long I've been lost in my thoughts but I snap out of it when I hear someone knock on the door. I open it and I find myself face to face with Darcy.

My grip on the handle tightens.

"Good morning," she greets me, her voice soft.

"Do you need something?"

She smiles at me. "I'm planning to prepare a little breakfast in bed for your dad. Would you like to help me?"

Mommy never did that for him. Is that why he ended up falling for Darcy? Because she takes care of him?

I purse my lips and shake my head. "Darcy, this is too early for me and—"

"Your dad will be really happy to know you prepared this," she cuts me off, her smile smaller now. "Please, Sia."

My breath hitches in my throat when she calls me by my nickname. She says it as if she has the right to do so.

I swallow the lump in my throat and reluctantly nod my head. "Okay. Let me just freshen up."

A big grin makes its way to her face. "Great! I'll get started."

When I finish looking presentable, I enter the kitchen and found her making pancakes while humming a song. She moved as if she belonged there. My mother was never the best cook.

I can't deny that she's beautiful. She has long, golden hair. Her eyes are big and they're a lovely shade of ocean blue. Her lips are plump and pink. Her lashes are long and her eyebrows are perfectly trimmed. Her cheekbones are sharp, but that only adds to her appeal. She's sexy too, curvy in all the right places. I wonder if it's Darcy's look that first captured my father's eyes. Mommy is beautiful too but she isn't sexy. Is it because of that?

I force a smile on my face when Darcy notices me standing by the door.

"Your dad has mentioned that you make the best coffees in the world," she says. "Why don't you make him a cup? I'm sure he misses it."