My mother's bestfriend

Chapter XIV

The plan was set. I felt a thrill course through me as I sent Emily a quick text.

*Me*: "Hey, Em, could you get a dress and some makeup stuff ready? I'll meet you in front of your house in an hour. Don't tell anyone—I'm sneaking out. 😏"

*Emily*: "OMG, Stef! You're crazy! But yeah, I'll get everything. Meet you soon! 🎉"

I grinned at my phone, excitement bubbling up inside me. Sneaking out felt daring, rebellious even. It was my way of proving that I didn't need to be babysat, that I could make my own decisions. I glanced at the time—if I wanted to pull this off, I needed to act fast.

Trying to keep my expression as innocent as possible, I turned to Miss Essington. "Where will I be sleeping tonight?"

She gave me a long, assessing look before leading me down a hallway. The door she opened revealed a guest room that felt like it belonged more in a magazine than a house. The room was all blacks, grays, and subtle touches of red. Elegant, but cold. It didn't feel lived in.

"Good night, Miss Essington," I said, forcing myself to sound casual. But I could feel her eyes on me, like she could see through my act.

She studied me for a moment longer, and I held my breath, waiting for her to say something. But all she did was nod. "Good night, Rossi," she replied, her voice carrying a note of suspicion. My heart raced as I closed the door behind me.

I let out a quiet breath, leaning against the door. I waited, listening carefully until I heard her footsteps fade down the hallway. Then, her bedroom door closed. I quickly pulled out my phone and ordered an Uber, timing it for thirty minutes later.

The waiting was the worst part. Time seemed to drag, every minute ticking by slower than the last. Finally, my phone buzzed: *Your driver has arrived.*

I grabbed my things and slipped out of the room as quietly as I could. The house was eerily silent, every creak of the floorboards sounding like a thunderclap in the stillness.

I was just about to reach the stairs when her voice cut through the quiet, stopping me dead in my tracks.

"Did you really think I wouldn't know you'd try this?"

I froze, my heart nearly jumping out of my chest. Slowly, I turned around, trying to keep my cool, and found Miss Essington standing at the end of the hallway. She had her arms crossed, but instead of looking angry, she almost seemed amused.

I swallowed, trying to recover from the shock. "Did you really think I would listen?"

Her lips curled into a smirk, her voice dropping into a low, almost teasing tone. "I actually hoped you wouldn't. But I'm not surprised."

She started walking toward me, slow and deliberate. There was something about the way she moved, so confident and commanding, that made me instinctively back up until my back was pressed against the wall. The space between us shrank until I could feel the warmth of her breath on my face. I wasn't sure if it was her height or just the intensity of her gaze, but she suddenly seemed so much larger, so much more imposing.

Her eyes softened just slightly as she reached out, her fingers brushing against my cheek. The touch was so gentle, so unexpected, that I felt all the tension in my body start to melt away. I leaned into her touch without thinking, closing my eyes for just a second.

"Go then," she said softly, her voice a strange mix of firm and tender. "I won't stop you. But be careful, darling. And call me when you're ready to come home, so I can pick you up."

I opened my eyes, caught off guard by the warmth in her voice. The coldness she had shown me earlier was gone, replaced by something I couldn't quite put my finger on. A strange sense of gratitude welled up inside me, and before I knew what I was doing, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around her in a quick hug.

I wasn't sure what I expected, but we both seemed surprised by the gesture. For a moment, she didn't move, and I wondered if I had overstepped. But then, she returned the hug, her arms pulling me close, holding me in a way that felt secure, almost protective. She leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm serious, Stefania. Be careful. Your mother would kill me if anything happened to you. This will be our secret."

I nodded against her shoulder, feeling a confusing mix of emotions—relief, confusion, and something else I couldn't quite name. After a few seconds, I pulled back, and our eyes met again.

We exchanged phone numbers quickly, the whole situation feeling surreal, before I finally turned and headed out the door. I could feel her eyes on me as I walked to the waiting Uber, the night air cool against my skin, but my mind was buzzing with everything that had just happened.

As the car started moving, I stared out the window, trying to focus on the party ahead. But I couldn't shake the feeling that something significant had just shifted between us. Miss Essington had shown me a side of herself I hadn't expected—a side that was warm, almost caring. It was unsettling, leaving me with more questions than answers.

I had wanted to prove that I didn't need to be babysat, that I could make my own decisions. But now, as the car sped through the dark streets, I wasn't so sure what I wanted anymore. All I could think about was the way her arms had felt around me, and the words she had whispered in my ear.

Underneath her sarcasm and sharpness, there was something else—a side of her that seemed to care about me. And that realization was even more confusing than anything else.