LOGINBash slid the chair out beside me and settled in comfortably, leaving Roni stuck between Dad and me. With Dad already wrapped up in conversation with Katie, and me about to get completely lost in Bash, poor Roni suddenly had no one left to talk to.“Good evening, Mr. Carter,” Bash greeted with an easy smile as he turned to my dad.“Bash, how are you?” my father asked warmly.“I’m good, sir.”“Good.”Then Bash’s gaze shifted. “Roni,” he said with a playful wink.Her cheeks flushed instantly, the faintest blush rising as she tried to mask it with a small smile.My father was already absorbed in whatever Katie was chatting about beside him, hanging onto her every word with keen interest.“Where’s Jo?” my father asked, his voice carrying loud enough for all of us to hear.“Oh, she’s here,” Bash replied easily. “I saw her talking to someone outside.”“Oh, good!” my father nodded, clearly pleased.I couldn’t stop the heat from rushing to my cheeks. My mind wandered back to that wild night wi
Russo’s birthday night had finally arrived. I slipped into my burgundy evening dress, the silky fabric hugging my figure just right, and paired it with my favourite heels. My hair was swept up neatly, exposing the line of my neck, giving me just enough confidence to face the night ahead.The moment I opened my bedroom door, carefully lifting the hem of my dress so I wouldn’t trip, Roni’s voice rang out behind me.“Geez, someone might mistake you for the birthday girl instead,” she remarked, her tone caught between playful and pointed as her eyes lingered on me.I forced a smile, swaying past her.Roni was still nowhere near ready. She strolled around the hallway in curlers and a towel, humming to herself as if time wasn’t slipping away.“My, my, my…” my father chuckled the moment I stepped into the living room, his eyes sweeping over me with a proud smile. He was seated comfortably beside Roni’s husband.“Too much?” I asked, suddenly second-guessing my outfit.“Nope. Just perfect,” he
I couldn’t even pretend to fall asleep. After that strange conversation with Bash, my heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of my chest. My hands trembled—not just from nerves, but from something deeper, something I couldn’t even name. An uneasy feeling settled in my stomach, twisting and tightening until relaxing felt impossible.I didn’t know what Bash was planning to say the next day, but judging from the way he reacted when I told him my father knew about us, I already had a sinking feeling. It sounded like the kind of reaction someone gives when they’re preparing to pull away. Deep down, I knew Bash was probably going to tell me he didn’t want to see me anymore.I struggled to fall asleep, repeatedly picking up my phone to check Instagram, hoping he had left me a message or was typing. But the worst part was seeing that he had been online not too long ago.That unsettling churn hit my stomach again. I remembered how he said he preferred using that app to com
The truth was, was Bash really making me happy, or was it simply because I had never felt a rush of desire like this from any man before?The way his touch lingered on my skin, the way his gaze made my heart race, it was intoxicating. Every inch of me seemed to respond to him in ways I couldn't control, every moment with him felt electric.I remained frozen, staring at my father, unsure of what to say. My thoughts swirled, torn between the urge to pour everything out—my feelings for Bash, the intensity between us—and the fear of how he'd react. The idea of admitting that I had had sex with him, before he even proposed, felt overwhelming. I couldn’t imagine how he would take it. Would he be angry, disappointed, or worse, would he see me differently? “Relax,” my father continued, his voice calming. “Besides, she’s in a happy marriage. I’m not saying I’ll pick sides. As parents, we can’t pick sides when our kids are fighting. If anything, we should be the neutral ones. But… I think Bas
Bash quickly jumped off me, yanking his pants up in a rush, while I scrambled to pull up my jeans. My hands fumbled as I tried to smooth out my shirt and fix the cushions, hoping to erase any evidence of what had just happened. My heart pounded in my chest, and my breath was still uneven as I hurried toward the door, praying I didn't look as flustered as I felt.“When did you get back?” my father asked the moment his eyes landed on me.“Just a few minutes ago,” I replied, trying to steady my voice.“I saw a car in the yard and wondered who it was,” he said, stepping inside.Before I could respond, my gaze shifted to the man walking in behind him. My stomach tightened.Bash quickly stood up, smoothing out his shirt before greeting my father and the man beside him. His usual confidence was still there, but I could tell he was slightly on edge.“Oh! Bash?” my father said, eyeing him curiously.“Good morning, sir,” Bash replied, his tone polite but cautious.“Is Roni home?” my father aske
I knew I wanted him longer than just those 20 minutes he had planned. I needed more—more of him."20 minutes, only?" I asked, my voice betraying the shock I felt, as I fought to hold back the tear threatening to escape my eye."Yeah, I'm sorry," he replied, his tone apologetic. "My boss is back, and he's been extra strict since he returned."I clenched my fists, trying to hold back the frustration and sadness bubbling inside me. I didn’t want to seem whiny or clingy—especially not when Bash was radiating that infuriating “I don’t care” vibe.The last thing I needed was to seem overly attached, like I was desperate for his attention. He had made it clear that he had boundaries, and I didn’t want to cross them or make things awkward between us. But it was hard—hard not to feel a little disappointed that our time together was being cut short so suddenly.“So, let’s get to it before I have to go. I think 20 minutes should be good,” he said, his tone casual, almost too casual, as he walked







