Owned By My Stepdad(MxM)
It felt like the universe was finally cutting us a break.
Vane was still on his trip—some last-minute merger cleanup in Chicago, he’d said on the phone last night. “Two days,” he’d promised again, his voice low and reassuring. “I’ll be back before you miss me.” I’d laughed, told him I already did, but the truth was, the space felt good. Like I could breathe without the constant weight of our complicated dynamic pressing down. Mom had headed back to her hotel early this morning, leaving a note on the kitchen counter: Have fun shopping for school. Be safe. Call if you need anything. Love, Mom. No mention of the tension from before, no lectures. Progress.