Her Darkest Desires

Chapter 3

It had been about an hour since the boys had gotten back, and I had managed to convince myself that I was being completely paranoid. I had finished unpacking my things and only had the gifts that my father had gotten me left. I went to the reading nook and unwrapped all the books. I was in complete awe; My father had brought me every book I had already read and books I was looking at getting once I got a job. Once again, this man surprised me. I made my way to the boxes and bags on my bed in the library. I opened the closest box and realized that my father had gone overboard with getting me things. A brand new laptop lay on my bed, filling me with joy and anger. My mother always wanted to be the person to buy me my first laptop, but money was always tight, and knowing that my father would buy me one without genuinely knowing me took me aback. I smile and move to the next gift. Opening the large box, I was filled with joy. The box was topped with pens, pencils, journals, and everything else someone would need for a desk. I started to feel tears form, quickly wiped my eyes, and moved to the last gift, a small bag, making me wonder what else this man could have gotten me. Pulling the tissue paper from the bag I noticed a new phone sitting in the bag. Why would he get me a new phone?

 Before I could get too far into my thoughts, a knock at my door rang through my room. Making my way over, I opened the door slowly, not knowing who would be standing there. I was met by a smiling Gideon, who told me dinner was ready. I nodded, but before leaving my room, I grabbed the phone my father had gotten me, intending to tell him I was utterly content with keeping the phone I already had. 

I made my way down the stairs and made my way to the dining room that Gideon had shown me earlier; as I got closer, I started to hear multiple voices making small conversations. Uncertainty filled me as I got to the last corner that opened up to the dining room; taking a deep, unsteady breath, I stepped into the room, and it fell silent. I was met with five pairs of eyes. After what felt like an eternity, I decided that I needed to be the one to make the first move. "Hi, I'm Nova.", I said softly, as if speaking louder would shatter glass. "Hi, Nova, I'm Hazel your stepmother, this is your father Elliott obviously, and these are my pride and joy: your step brothers Colton, the oldest; Logan, my middle child; and Adam, my youngest." I look over everyone and give a simple wave back. I went to the open seat between two of the hottest men I had ever seen. I mean, these men ooze sex appeal. 

I got seated, and it seemed that logan, who sat on my right side, scooted in some, but I was probably just being crazy. Gideon and Lydia start to bring out plates of food and drinks and place them in front of everyone; by the time they get to me, they don't have anything to drink left, and Gideon looks sorry that he hadn't planned ahead. "Gideon, please dont feel bad. It's okay. I have a drink in my room; I'll run and grab it and head back down," I say as comforting as possible, and he nods. 

As I push out of my chair, Logan stops me and, without saying anything, gets up and heads toward the stairs. Everyone looked just as surprised as I was. Not even a minute later, he returned with my drink and sat down closer to me this time. I thanked him, and he just nodded and started eating.