Step-Lover || Zack Merrick

I always thought that I would fall in love with some handsome guy I met at the release of my bestselling novel. We would be married in Hawaii, just because we could, and live happily ever after in an enormous mansion on our privately owned island off the coast of Puerto Rico with our three children.
That was before I actually fell in love.
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"Candelin?"My momcalled to me from the front entrance of the house. "I need to be on my way. There isn't really anything around the house to eat...I still need to go shopping."
I listened from the living room as she struggled into her jacket. "There's a cute little coffee shop down the street. You can pick something up. See you later."
She didn't wait for a response. She closed the door behind her and made her way to the car. I watched through the window as she hurriedly shoved the key into the door of the car and drove off, late for her first day of work.
I sighed and made my way over to the fridge, hoping she was just exaggerating about the whole we-don't-have-any-food thing. But sure enough, the only things that were even remotely edible were a carton of milk set to expire in two days, half abottle of grape jelly, and a package of ham.
I slammed the refrigerator door shut in irritation and walked over to the closet in the front entrance.I had only been here for a day and I was already sick of it.
Before now I was living on my own in a rundown apartment in New York City. I had a job at a small fashion agency that paid pretty decently but they ended up closing down after losing one of their main clients, putting me out of a job. I desperately ran all over the city, looking for some job that paid enough for me to keep up the rent but with no such luck, I was forced to pack my bags and come back to live with my mother in Maryland.
I seemed to be in a state of retrogression. I went from being independent to living in my mother’s basement. I wouldn't be surprised if tomorrow morning I woke up with a beer belly and an incessant urge to go online and talk to underage girls about sex.
I drove past the coffee shop about three times before I actually realized that the shabby little building on the corner of Park was in fact inhabited by people, not raccoons. I drove into the parking lot, noting the sign balancing haphazardly on the roof of the building. It read 'The Coffee Shop'. How very original. I wish I could meet who everbuilt the place. He deserves a handshake.
The coffee shop was surprisingly full. I couldn't tell from the outside as the windows were smeared with dirt.
I waited impatiently in line and ordered a simple coffee, cream and sugar. I didn't want to make the person at the cash register work too hard. None of the employees looked to be too bright.
I jammed myself into the corner of the coffee shop at a small brown table. It looked like it had been wiped cleaned with a chocolate covered towel. At least I hoped it was chocolate. I spread a napkin out over the table and placed my coffee on top of it, not wanting to get any crap on the bottom of the cup.
I sat there for a good 5 minutes, sipping daintily on my coffee, before beginning to seriously question my sanity. Why in the world was I sitting here drinking my coffee? It's not as though there was a rule that I had to finish my purchase before leaving. And besides, this place was absolutely dreadful. I would rather drink this out in the middle of the street.
I stood up quickly, almost knocking my chair over, and made a bee line for the door.
Just as I reached for the door handle I was met with a white hot sensation on the back of my leg. I almost screamed, but it didn't hurt enough for me to make a complete fool out of myself, so instead, I spun around angrily to glare at the boy standing behind me.
"You just spilled your freaking coffee on my leg!" I shrieked. So much for not causing a scene.
He stared down at my coffee scalded leg in shock, watching as the stain spread, dripping down my jeans and onto my brand new Nikes.
"Are you just going to stand there?" I asked angrily, setting my cup on a nearby table and reaching for a napkin holder by the door. "Or are you going to actually help me?"
He seemed to snap out of his little trance when I spoke, looking around the coffee shop at all the people staring at us and grabbing a handful of napkins. He kneeled on the floor beside me and grabbed the bottom of my legs, rubbing the napkins over the stain.
"I am so sorry." He said as he continued to wipe the napkins on my leg.
I didn't answer. Instead, I pulled my leg away from him, realizing how stupid we must look. "That's enough."
I snatched my coffee off of the table and spun around to leave, averting my eyes from the other customers. I stomped over to my car. A 2008 Infiniti G37 coupe. I was happy that I was at least able to make a dramatic exit. I planned to peel out in my flashy car but was stopped by a hand grabbing my arm.
I turned to glare at the boy who so rudely spilled coffee on my leg, embarrassing me on my second day in Maryland. Everyone probably thought I was a total freak.
"What do you want? Did you buy some tea? You wanna spill that on me too?" I growled.
To my utter annoyance, he only seemed to look amused.
"Look, I said I was sorry." He was trying not to laugh. I could tell.
"Don't tell me you're sorry. Tell my dunks." I motioned down at my sneakers with an exasperated sigh. "They cost like a hundred bucks."
That made him smile for some reason.
"Mine are one fifty."
I looked down to see that he was also wearing Nikes. They were almost the same as mine but just a different color scheme. And his weren't soaked with coffee.
"Is this a competition now? To see whose sneakers are more expensive? Because if we're going to sit here and be childish, I'm leaving." I turned around and pulled the car door open.
"Fine." He took my hand and shook it. Well, he meant to. But I wasn't cooperating so it just looked like he was wigglingaround my arm. "I'm Zack Merrick. And you are?"
"You're mother." I smiled innocently before sliding into the front seat and slamming the door shut.
I put the car in reverse and backed out of the parking lot. I slammed on the gas as soon as I was on the road, you know, trying to be all dramatic like. But I was disappointed to see, when I looked in the rear view mirror, Zack Merrick grinning after me.