Chapter 39: Chapter 39

KRISTIN

Cut my ties with Edith?

Was there any tie in the first place?

I know we fucked and did silly stuff but that was all—at least, for me. One thing I've learned is that women easily catch feelings. One round of sex and they decide that they love someone.

I only told June that to bring her home. And it seemed the plan backfired. I can never forget the look of shock in June's eyes when I agreed that she could date Mark. I believe that she wasn't expecting that, presumably thought that I would continue dragging the issue and losing my sleep over it...

Edith was in the sitting room contemplating climbing up when I got to her.

"Kristin..." She exhaled and paused a little. "I don't know if all this is happening because of me."

"No, no!" I argued quickly. I can't have her feeling that way when all she has done from the first day is assist me. "You are not the cause of anything. I have a stubborn niece who is bent on making me lose my mind, that's all."

I didn't add any iota of humour, but she chuckled anyway. "Please, let June be with Mark. They deserve to be happy." She cupped my cheek, her little fingers gently massaging my face, "You deserve to be happy, Kristin."

"Thank you," I whispered. "I don't know what to do right now. It feels like June is slipping away from me."

"No, she is not. You're just scared that she is going to get hurt. And that's normal. You've been her guardian for so long. It's only natural that you feel threatened when another male tries to weave into her life."

Edith's statement is quite understandable, only that in this case, it's not just a male. It's a viper, a blood-sucking wild animal...

Oh fuck! The sonofabitch gave June a hickey?

Does that mean that... they fucked?!

"Hey!"

I jerked back to consciousness. Edith's fingers were in my face snapping me to attention.

"You spaced out," she mused. "That is how affected you are. Get a grip on yourself."

"I am fine," I rubbed my eyes and sighed. "Where is Mark?"

"Outside." A sly smile beautiful her face, "He is waiting for his girlfriend."

"You're silly," I grunted and made for the door.

Edith's voice came from behind me, low and soothing.

"Don't call down fire out there. I will see June before I leave."

"Please, don't go alone. Wait for me."

"I wasn't planning to. Who knows what weapon she has under her pillow?"

I laughed.

When the door opened and I saw Mark leaning on his car and rubbing his chest, the merriment disappeared. I was glad that Edith didn't go with me.

Instinctively, Mark backed away as I approached.

"Is that how you're going to bail if June is in trouble?" I teased loud enough for him to hear over the whistling morning wind. The clouds promised very low sunshine intensity, wonderful weather for amazing sex and a good nap—a relaxing combination June will never allow me access to.

Who could have imagined two years ago that I would be in the position I am now?

I can vividly remember how June would skip happily into the house after I picked her up from school, running into her room for a shower. I can't remember what grade she was in then. After some minutes of washing her skin clean and using a skin rejuvenating cream, I got her at that time, she would hurry downstairs to help with lunch...

That life was perfection. I used to go to bed very early—just to lay an example to June since I always forced her to bed early, and I even stopped smoking when my sister brought me the child because I knew it would not be appropriate for her health. Over time, I lost the hunger for a stick of cigarettes.

Alcohol stood as an alternative. Even at that, I still sneaked out of bed at night to have some shots or took a bottle to work and smuggled some into my mouth when none of my kids, as I like to call my young models, were in the office with the sole purpose of disturbing me.

My life changed a lot since I became June's guardian. I could no longer bring ladies home at will. It was either I touched myself or drove out to rent a banny—and that could only work when June was deep in sleep or out of the house.

The feeling of bitterness overwhelmed me again as Mark came back to his previous position.

"I wasn't bailing," he said with the most macho-masculine pitch I've ever heard from him. "I just wanted to be sure you didn't intend to punch—"

"That's okay," I cut him off with a wave.

I was about to invite him into the house before I remembered that it would be tempting to smash his head against one of the glass materials in the sitting room if we were in there. "Why do you like June? What do you like about her?"

He didn't expect that question. From the quirk of his brows, I figured that he thought I came to him to yell or slam him against the car again—well, I can't be blamed for doing that the last time.

"What do I like about June?" he repeated.

"Yes. What attracted you to her?" I rephrased the question. "The both of you have been friends for so long. Does that mean that you've been inappropriately staring at her all this while?"

"What? No!" he disagreed incredulously. "Why would I even do that? I love her."

"That's not enough reason."

"Okay..." Mark closed his eyes and exhaled. When he opened them, I saw something soft flash across his bottomless black orbs —He probably charmed June with those eyes.

"My feelings for June have been on for a long time. I've always loved her... more than a friend. She is a sweet girl, who survived the chaos of her childhood and turned into a lovely young woman. She is beautiful, smart, compassionate, and most especially, she doesn't joke with the ones she loves. Isn't this enough reason?"

It was enough, more than enough. Damn, Mark knows a lot about June. Those qualities are so June-like. To think that Mark saw all that in June is a surprise. I thought he was just after June's boobs and pussy.

Or was he just trying to pretend?

But... that look in his eyes, that forlorn look of sad happiness...

"You need to go now. June can't seem to think straight when she has you as a backbone."

A small smile tugged on Mark's lips, "Please, give me a chance."

"Time will decide that. Go on now."

The start of the car's engine followed me into the house.

Edith, who was sitting, jerked to her feet.

"How did it go?" she asked in a hurry.

I nodded and exhaled softly. "Better than I expected. Let's say I crossed the milestone of holding myself back from smashing his head into the windshield."

"That's great," Edith smiled. I could tell that she was just a moment away from laughing. "Let's go to June now."

We were halfway up the stairs when I stopped her. "What exactly are you going to say to her?"

"I need her to understand that I am not trying to take her uncle away from her. And I also want her to see me as a big sister. I hope I can do that."

And that had me wondering...

Would that ever be possible?