All Chapters of HIS CHUBBY STEPDAUGHTER: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

MICHELA; The moment Jemy and I stepped out through the side exit, I pulled my phone out from the back pocket of my skirt. There was a message from Miles. I quickly read it and he was telling me he would be waiting for me in the truck. My throat moved once, the message from Celeste still fresh on my mind, but what bothered me more was that Miles had gone out to meet her with one of his “Be right back” excuses. But before I even had a chance to brood over it, two girls walked up to me—Courtney Adams and another girl who introduced herself as Naya West. We exchanged pleasantries and I could tell they were impressed. Courtney pulled out her phone, ready for a picture. Truth was, I was in no mood for pictures with Celeste’s manipulations, and Miles yielding to her efforts on my mind and then the urgent need to use the bathroom, but Jemy drew me in before I got a chance to decide. In seconds, we were showing our teeth and making faces for the camera. After that, Courtney gave me

MICHELA;Morning came whether I wanted it to or not. I turned under the covers, and my body felt like I was wearing a bag of bones. But when I turned and opened my eyes, my old bedroom came into view, an ugly reminder of the night before. Even my lower back complained, like I had spent the night carrying something heavier than sleep.“Ugh.” I let my forehead fall back into the pillow I had grabbed with my hands.My eyes caught on the white top I still had on, I had barely managed to get out of the jacket and boots before collapsing into bed. The tank top and leather skirt from the Gala were still on me, wrinkled now and twisted from restless sleep but that wasn't what mattered. Then came the knock on the door. I did not answer or say any words, I only turned my eyes toward the door, brushing disheveled hair out of my face with one hand.“Hi, Princess,” Miles said through the wood. “Can we start on a better note today?” He knocked again, softer this time.My heart thumped at the so

MICHELA:I found it hard to believe what he had just said.“You’re buying the land?” I asked. “You mean you’ll own it?”“Yes, baby.” Miles moved closer, stopping just short of touching me. “We own it now… No more fear of losing it.”He studied my face in that soft, knowing way of his, like he could already see the next question forming before I spoke it.“How?” I met his eyes. “The land is huge. It would cost a fortune, definitely.”I meant it. I had seen the bookstore accounts. The balance, even on a good stretch of months, was nowhere near enough for something that size. I had also seen the bank statement, and even though I wondered why Miles never took any reasonable amount of the proceeds, I didn't think it could afford such a property.Wills & Words only kept us going. It did not make us the kind of people who bought property out from under a threat.“I mean… Wills & Words can’t afford to….”His finger rested gently over my lips, stopping the rest like he didn't want to hear them

MICHELA;By the time we got back, the afternoon had gone softer around the edges. Miles parked near the side of the house, and Skye ran out and toward the house once the door was pulled open.Miles bent over in the back seat and started pulling out the supplies we had picked up on our way back from the woods for the café, boxes first, then a bag of new cups, and a slim machine still in its packaging. I walked behind him more slowly, carrying the bag of new cups carefully, the turquoise dress brushing my thighs. Every step reminded me of the woods, the undeniable faint ache between my legs where he had been, and my thong was still damp with the juice from both of us. The feeling made my face warm, but I didn’t hate it. It made the day feel secret in a good way.Then I saw Wills & Words.A few customer cars were parked out front. Through the glass, the café looked gently busy the way it did on weekends… cups moving, people talking, Sophie crossing from one table to another. The sig

MICHELA;For a second I could only sit there with the words ringing in my ears.Pregnant.Jemy watched me like she was waiting for the whole car to tip over. Her hands had gone cold under mine. My mind raced faster. Celeste’s question about wanting and having kids flashed back to my mind only now it felt more than just thinking. “How far gone?” I asked quietly, throat gulping.“Nine weeks.” Her voice was thin. “That's it, Chels… I had my flow all through and I never suspected.” She had already read my eyes and knew the question. I knew I couldn't blame her. It could be anyone… It could actually be me. My throat tightened.“I came from the clinic before I got here. That’s why I missed class.” She continued. The black scarf, the pale face, the way she had held her bag like it was the only steady thing on her body… all of it made sense in a harder way now.“What did they say?”Jemy’s mouth pulled tight like a bad dream. “That it’s real. That it’s early, but not the kind of early wher