Illicit Attraction

3. Unnatural

Chapter 3

Era

He released me and tucked his hands inside his tight jeans. "I'm sorry, it took me days to come over. I just need to deal with something so I won't be facing any hassle when I get back to work."

"It's okay." Giving him a small smile, I fished around for the keys inside my bag and twisted them into the doorknob. When the door opened, I invited him in.

I stepped inside the apartment and hung the keys and my school bag on a hook beside the door. Without looking at him, I rushed to the comfort room. Leaning on the wall, I sighed, preventing myself from texting Mom. I wanted to ask her to come back. I had no idea how to entertain that man. Should I talk to him first? Offer him food? Or question where his ass has been these past years?

Oh, Mom. This is the worst thing you've ever done.

Shaking my head, I opened the faucet to wash my face. When I went out, I spotted him lounging on the couch like he owned the place. He had his shirt off, and his legs were resting on the sofa couch as well. I bit my lips and walked through the living room as quietly as possible to grab my bag.

"Mind if I watch TV?"

I turned to him and shook my head. "No."

"Thanks." He grabbed the remote and pressed it. I heard some different sounds from the constant flipping through the channels until it stopped to something that I think was CW. "I just can't miss this final episode."

I raised an eyebrow. He was watching my favorite TV series! Though I wanted to sit on the couch, I chose to walk to my bedroom.

"Hold a second, Era."

I almost squeaked when he clutched my hand and pulled it until I found myself slumped on the couch.

"Can we talk? I want to know more about you. There's a lot of things we need to talk about."

"Why?" I asked, turning my head to the TV screen.

"I want to be close to you, be your friend and dad."

"You're already my dad. I have no choice. I couldn't change that. But a friend? I don't know. Now if you will excuse me, I'm going to my room now." I stood up without looking at him.

I didn't feel guilty about my attitude towards him. He deserved it. I should be hating him because he dumped my mom.

Hours passed by, and as I glanced at the wall clock, my stomach growled. Great, it was already eight in the evening. When I was about to get up, I heard Henry calling my name after a series of knocks.

"Era, will you open the door, please? I cooked something for you.

So he can cook? Maybe that was his way of making it up with me. He needed to please me so he could stay longer with me. But why? If he wanted to be a good father, he should have done it before.

Okay, I would give him a chance, but I bet that the dish he prepared was gross. He wasn't the cooking type after all. "Be there in a sec!" I got off the bed, checked myself in the mirror, and dashed out of my room.

A couple of minutes later, I took my seat at the table, but I had to bite my lips to prevent myself from drooling. Shit, these are all my favorites!

"Don't just stare at them. Here, try this," Henry said as he picked a slice of roast pork and placed it on my big empty plate.

"Thanks." I smiled and took a small portion of the meat.

"How is it?" he asked, tilting his head. He seemed to be a bit worried.