Her Sweetest Mistake (Amelia) novel Chapter 39

Step–Taboo

My stomach dropped, and I immediately tried to shut the door in his face.

“Amanda, wait!” he said, holding the door open before I could close it. “Please, just hear me out.”

“Go away, Xavier!” I snapped, trying to push the door shut again.

“Please, Amanda,” he begged. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. Just let me explain.”

“I don’t want to hear it!” I yelled, tears already starting to form in my eyes again. “Just leave me alone!”

But he didn’t listen. He pushed the door open and stepped inside. “Amanda, please. I stopped sleeping with Amelia as soon as I met you. I swear. I haven’t touched her since. And Alexander cheating on your mom? That has nothing to do with me. I didn’t know how to tell you, but I swear I wanted to. It just didn’t feel right telling you, it wasn’t my place to. Please tell me you understand.”

I stared at him coldly. I wanted to scream, to cry, to tell him to leave and never come back. But before I could say anything, another voice interrupted us.

“What?“What did you just say?” she asked again.

Xavier and I both froze. Slowly, we turned toward the door, and there she was. My mom. And standing next to her, looking just as shocked, was Alexander. His face went pale, and for a second, he looked like he might run.

My mom’s eyes darted between us, and I could see the confusion and hurt already forming on her face. She turned to Alexander first.

“Is it true?” she demanded shakily. “Is it true you’ve been cheating on me, Alex?”

Alexander looked like he wanted to disappear. He stared at the floor, avoiding her eyes, and finally, he gave a small, pathetic nod.

That was it. That tiny nod shattered everything.

Tears welled up in my mom’s eyes, but before she could completely break, she turned to Xavier, who looked worse than he did when he’d come here earlier.

“And you,” she said, her voice trembling. “Have you been sleeping with Amanda?”

My throat tightened, and tears formed in my eyes. I couldn’t even look at her. My eyes moved to Xavier who nodded slowly.

She took a step back, covering her mouth with her hand like she might throw up or cry. Or both. “Oh my God,” she whispered. Her knees wobbled like she might collapse. I instinctively moved toward her to help, but she threw her hand up to stop me.

“Don’t,” she said coldly. “Don’t come near me, Amy.” I stopped in my tracks, my stomach twisting.

She turned away from us and walked down the hallway to her room. The door slammed shut, and I heard the lock click. I stood there, frozen, staring at the empty hallway like an idiot.

Alexander cleared his throat awkwardly. He glanced between me and Amamda with confusion and frustration.

“Amanda…” he started, but I cut him off.

“Don’t,” I snapped. “Just… don’t.”

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I didn’t wait for him to say anything else. I couldn’t. I turned and walked to my room, slamming the door behind

1. me.

I threw myself onto the bed, curling up on my side, staring at the wall. I’d fucked up. I fucked everything up. I was

such a mess.

****

Everything felt like it was falling apart the days after. My mom barely left her room, and when she did, she didn’t say a word to me. Not even a glance. The silence was worse than yelling. At least if she yelled, I’d know she still cared enough to be angry.

Alexander was barely ever home. Part of me was relieved, less tension, less awkwardness, but another part of me hated the way he was just running from the mess he’d made.

And Xavier…. I’d been ignoring his texts and calls. I didn’t want to have anything to do with him right now.

Life just sucked.

The only thing that kept me sane was Shawn. I told him everything and he just listened, nodding along and letting me get it all out. I really owed him one.

One night, after spending the day with Shawn, I came home to the sound of shouting. My stomach dropped. Shit.

I opened the door slowly, stepping inside, and froze. My mom was standing in the living room, yelling at Alexander. Her face was red, tears streaming down her cheeks, and she was yelling.

“You lied to me!” she screamed. “You’ve been lying to me for years!”

“Please, just listen….” Alexander started, but she cut him off.

“No! I’m done listening! I’m done with your excuses!” she snapped. “You cheated on me! You betrayed me! And now you think I’m just going to forgive you? Forget it ever happened? Stay with you like nothing’s wrong? You have a freaking child on the way!”

Alexander sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly.

“Sorry?” my mom spat. “Sorry doesn’t fix this. Sorry doesn’t undo the years of lies.”

She pointed toward the door. “Get out. Get your stuff and get out. I don’t want to see you again.”

“Please, just let me explain…”

“Get. Out.”

Alexander hesitated, but when my mom crossed her arms and stood her ground, he grabbed his bag, slinging it over his shoulder, and headed for the door.

As he passed me, our eyes met for a brief second. He looked like he wanted to say something, but I turned away

before he could.

The door closed behind him, and the house was silent again. My mom stood there for a moment, staring at the spot where Alexander had been, and then she broke down.

I couldn’t just stand there and watch. I walked over to her and wrapped my arms around her. She cried into my shoulder, her whole body shaking.

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