Forbidden Seduction [ Forbidden Obsession]

Leigh gives Trevor a withering look. “Nice speech, asshole. You know as well as I do I’m the best thing that ever happened to Brad, and he needs me. So don’t tell me I’m a terrible person when you’re the one getting your rocks off with an old woman.”

“That is enough.” Brad’s voice cuts through the air. “Leigh, I want you to leave.”

“What? Why?”

Brad huffs a humorless laugh. “It’s the fact that you even have to ask why. You forced your way into my home, insulted my mother, insulted my best friend. You cheated on me, and treated me terribly. We are not, nor were we going to, get back together. You interrupted-and ruined-a day that was supposed to be for my family. So will you please, get the hell out of my house?”

Leigh looks around at everyone. If she’s hoping for some kind of support, she doesn’t get it. She stalks towards the front door, rage written in every line of her body. “Leigh,” Brad calls to her, and she turns back. “Don’t even think about trying to use this against me at school. My mother is a better woman than you’ll ever be. She deserves to be happy, and if Trevor makes her happy, then I’m all for it. I’ll have strong words for whoever ‘happens’ to hear otherwise.”

The slam of the front door echoes loudly through the house.

Brad turns to us, and I feel a bubble of hope rise up. It’s so fragile, and I don’t really want to say anything in case it breaks, but I have to know. “You’re okay with it?” I ask softly.

He gives me a lopsided smile. “It’s a little weird,” he says, “but I know how good he is. If this is what you want, why would I be mad about that?”

I reach out and pull him into me for a hug. “Thank you.”

He pulls away and looks at Trevor. “If you hurt my mom, you know what’s coming for you.”

“I do.” Trevor laughs, the sound releasing the tension that was in the air. He takes my hand in his again, and I feel the touch through my whole body.

I look towards my siblings, and none of them seem to know what to say. Finally, Bradley clears his throat. “You know, this isn’t exactly what we meant.”

“I know.” I say, “but it’s happening. Please try to accept that. Be happy for me.”

Anna comes over, holding her stomach. “We are, sweetie. We just…it’s a little non-traditional.”

“Well,” I shrug, “there hasn’t been much in my life that’s traditional anyway.”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Brad claps his hands together. “After all that, I think I’m ready for some dessert. What do you guys think?”

“I’m all for that,” Maria says, and the spell breaks. Everyone falls back into their roles, trying to make things normal. Or at least a new version of normal.

Brad says to Trevor, “So I guess you haven’t been sleeping on the couch, have you?”

“Do you really want to know?” Trevor asks.

“Good point.”

Brad finds a Christmas movie for us to watch and we all go back into the living room with various desserts. Pie, ice cream, brownies. This time though, Trevor and I sit together. I sit on the end of the couch, and he sits next to me. I kick off my shoes and tuck my legs over his, grinning like an idiot to be doing something so normal. I lean on his shoulder after finishing my dessert, and I ignore the little looks that everyone keeps giving us. They don’t matter.

Later, after Maria and Anna are gone, and the rest of the family is packing to leave in the morning, the three of us are left in the living room.

Trevor is the one who speaks first. “You sure you’re fine with this, Brad?”

Brad looks a little uncomfortable. “Yeah. I think I will be okay once I get used to it. I mean, if you had asked if you could date my mom, I probably wouldn’t have said yes.” I laugh, but he goes on. “But I’ll be okay with it. Besides, if I need it, I already have all the blackmail I need.”

“Thanks man,” Trevor says.

Brad stands, stretching. “I’m going to bed. See you guys in the morning.” He starts to walk up the stairs and stops. “For the record, Trevor, if you two get married, I’m not calling you dad.” He disappears before either of us can say anything.

We sit in silence for a while, just enjoying sitting together without worrying about someone walking in on us.

“So,” Trevor says, “now that people know, does that mean I can make you scream when we’re not alone?”

“I think I’d still like to spare everyone that embarrassment.”

He sighs. “Fine. But I’m still going to try.” He picks me up and carries me into my bedroom, kissing me before the door has even shut behind us.