Silence surrounds us. The only noise our labored breaths almost drowning out the running water still flowing in the shower. His hand rests on my thigh and he gently squeezes, his calloused fingers making my skin tickle. After a few minutes, his hand goes slack and his breaths deepen. Quietly I make my way into the bathroom and take care of the shower. Our clothes are scattered on the floor and the light outside has disappeared.
Cleaning up and slipping back into my clothes, I tip toe into the bedroom and head towards the front door.
“Stay.” His voice is hoarse and distant. “Please.”
“Are you sure?” This will only make things harder tomorrow when I leave for good. But I can’t abandon him in this state.
He gives a slight chuckle and as my eyes adjust to the darkness of the room, I see that he’s watching me, his eyes taking in every piece of my soul. “Green Eyes, I’d ask you to stay forever if I thought it would change your mind. But since I know you’re hell bent on destroying us, stay one more night. Give me that at least.”
I slide back into bed beside him and nestle close to his side.
Grabbing the hem of my shirt, he lifts it off my body, then slides my leggings down my hips, rendering me completely naked—again. He moves us under the covers, our heads resting on separate pillows and facing each other.
Grabbing my hand, he begins to talk.
A gentle knock disrupts my highest scoring game of Angry Birds. I look at the clock and realize I’m about to be late for practice and whoever is outside just saved me from getting my ass chewed out.
Grabbing my gym bag, I open the door wide. There’s a tall blonde standing there staring at me with big honey colored eyes. She looks to be a few years younger than me, maybe nineteen or twenty. She’s stunningly beautiful and I’m sure I’ve never met her before, but she has a familiarity to her features that has me staring rudely at her.
“Hi. I’m looking for Damian Revilino.” Her voice isn’t timid, but it’s soft and I get the impression it took a lot of courage for her to knock on my front door.
“That would be me, but I go by Damian Walker now. How can I help you?”
She gently smiles and her eyes shift to something behind me. I’m sure she’s expecting me to invite her in, but I’m late. Being the oldest of seven siblings, I should probably point out that knocking on a strange man’s door and asking to come inside isn’t the safest idea, but I don’t have time for parental lectures today.
“I’m sorry but I’m running late. Is there something I can help you with?”
She startles and her eyes shift down. “Oh, I’m sorry. I can come back. I wanted to talk to you about something.”
Stepping outside and closing the door I ask, “Well, can you tell me quickly?”
A mocking laugh erupts from her chest and I look at her curiously. “No. You’re probably going to want to be all ears for what I have to say.”
I’ve never been one for drama and the way this chick is shifting from foot to foot tells me she’s not here to deliver good news, but she’s got my curiosity piqued and I decide getting my ass chewed out one more time by my coach won’t be the worst thing in the world.
“You have my complete attention. Shoot.”
Clearing her throat, she rummages in her bag for something. Pulling out a folded piece of paper, her eyes meet mine.
“This is really hard for me to say, so please bear with me.”
She’s killing me. I wish she’d just tell me who the hell she is.
“My name is Megan Jones. Have you ever heard of me before?”
I shake my head. “Sorry, doesn’t ring any bells.”
She scratches the side of her head, her eyes giving me an uncomfortable stare. “I didn’t think it would. I’m not sure how to tell you this –”
“Honestly at this point you need to just say it. You’re kind of freaking me out.”
She nods and her eyes meet mine. “I’m your sister. We’re siblings. Well, technically half siblings.”
“What?” I want to laugh. I have three sisters and this girl is not one of them, doesn’t look anything like them either.
Panic washes over her face. “I know I sound crazy, but we have the same dad. I can prove it to you if you don’t believe me.”
My. Fucking. Dad.
This chick doesn’t need to prove a damn thing to me. Now that she’s pointed it out, the resemblance is all over her face. In her lips, the shape of her eyes, the pointed chin, the dark olive color of her skin.
I stand there taking in all her features, not saying a word. Megan begins to shift from foot to foot and then she looks to her toes and whispers. “This was a bad idea.” Looking back up she says, “I’m sorry I bothered you. I just . . . I needed someone to talk to. My mom died a few months ago and I felt I needed to reach out and . . .”
Shaking myself out of my shocked stance, I smile and pull her into my arms. “Megan Jones. I have three other sisters and I’ve always wanted a fourth. Come in and tell me how you knew about me, yet I know nothing about you.”
She relaxes in my arms and follows me inside.
I get her some coffee and she tells me her life’s story. I stay completely quiet until she’s done, only verifying a few facts here and there.
“So you’ve known about me and my dad your entire life?”
“My mom never kept it a secret who my dad was, but he didn’t want us. When my mom told him she was pregnant, he called her a gold digger. Said it was impossible for him to have children and wouldn’t talk to her again.”
I knew my father had made sure he couldn’t father any more children. He’d always told me that I was enough for him, but clearly, he had his timing wrong as the proof of his offspring is sitting in my living room.
“I don’t want him to know I exist. He can’t know anything about me.”
Slightly confused, I ask, “Why not?”
Her body stiffens and her eyes fill with hate. “He didn’t want me then, I don’t want him taking me in out of pity now. Please promise me you won’t tell him.”
The intense look she’s giving me is slightly scary. “Okay. I promise I won’t tell him.”
“Ever.” She repeats.
I laugh at her childlike need for me to promise this. Placing my hand over my heart, I look her in the eyes. “I promise Megan Jones, I will never my tell father that you existed. You will be my little secret.”
She smiles and her body relaxes in relief.
“I’m glad you found me Megan.”