CHAPTER 29
**WINTER**
I felt like I was trapped in a nightmare with no way out.
My panties, still faintly damp from his cum, clung uncomfortably to my skin, distracting me from everything else around me. It felt as though his presence was still imprinted on me, as if I could almost feel his hands on my mouth, holding me tightly. The lingering sensation stirred an unfamiliar feeling within me—one I couldn’t quite grasp or comprehend.
"How about these?" Jenny asked, lifting a pair of denim shorts in front of me. "I think they’d look great on you."
She was determined to pick up a few essentials for me before college began, making sure I had everything I needed. I responded with a small smile and a nod. After a moment of studying me, she sighed and offered a soft, apologetic smile.
"Winter, I’m sorry about Zion," she said, her voice laced with regret. "I know he can be harsh at times..."
Harsh? That barely scratches the surface.
"...but deep down, he has a good heart. I just don’t get what went wrong between you two. You were so close once."
Her words lingered, and honestly, I was at a loss for how to reply.
Jenny was making an effort to mend things before college started. She genuinely wanted to fix the rift between Zion and me. But she didn't understand that it was an impossible task. The Zion I remembered was gone; the person now was a stranger, entirely different from the boy I once knew.
“Well anyway, I was…” Her voice faded away as my mind drifted away, lost in its thoughts.
I couldn't wait to get home, wash these damn panties, and try to forget how out of control everything had gotten.
Better yet, I'd toss them in the nearest trash can and be done with it.
"Earth to Winter, come in, Winter." Jenny’s voice broke through my thoughts, her brows knitted in concern.
"Sorry, what did you say?" I asked, trying to refocus.
She shook her head. "It doesn't matter. Are you okay? You don't look so well."
Before I could respond, my phone pinged. I glanced down and saw a message from an unknown number:
"Having fun, Snowflake? How's the panties? I'm sure you can't stop thinking about me."
I muttered a curse under my breath.
It was a stark reminder that Zion could invade my space whenever he pleased. He'd done it when I wasn't there, and even when I was.
And now, he had my phone number.
Shit.
Thankfully, Jenny decided to call it a day when she noticed my lack of enthusiasm for the shopping spree. We headed home, and to my relief, Zion was nowhere to be seen.
...............
I spent most of the afternoon hiding in my room, only sneaking out to grab some snacks from the kitchen before retreating inside. It felt strange staying here, eating food without asking.
This place didn’t feel like home—it felt like I was more of a guest…an unwanted guest at that.
Fortunately, Zion was nowhere to be seen.
It was evening when I heard voices carrying through the house; I popped my head out of my bedroom door and into the hallway. I didn’t see anything at first, but then I heard the familiar tones of Jenny and Dad.
I reached the bottom step and saw Dad pulling luggage down the hallway.
"Winter, we’re about to head to the airport," Dad greeted me.
"We?" I asked, glancing at Jenny. She hadn’t mentioned any travel plans earlier.
"Oh, okay," I said, trying to keep the hurt out of my voice.
By now, I should be used to his letdowns. He never has time to sit and talk to me. I feel like one of those kids who wait outside all day for their parents to pick them up, but they never come.
That’s my dad—never showing up, never caring.
“So I expect you to be on your best behaviour,” Dad’s voice was stern, his gaze hard as he continued. “I don’t want to hear any more stories that would disgrace me. You have a habit of getting into trouble, and I don’t want to deal with the fallout. I’m trusting you to keep it together while we’re gone.”
My fists clenched at my sides, knuckles turning white as I struggled to keep my composure. His words felt like a punch to the gut, always presuming the worst of me, never allowing me the benefit of the doubt. It was as though he saw me as nothing but a constant source of disappointment, incapable of meeting his expectations.
He didn’t even bother to say goodbye.
Without another look, Dad starts wheeling out a suitcase; I notice someone moving behind him—Zion. The atmosphere around me seems to crackle with tension, and the fine hairs on my arms stand on end at his arrival.
Back when we were kids, I thought he was cute. Now, I’ve come to see Zion for what he truly is: a dark allure wrapped in temptation.
“There you are. I need to talk to you before we leave,” Dad says, setting the suitcase down by the door.
“What is it? I’m busy,” Zion replies sharply, barely glancing up from his phone. His posture is rigid, but when he finally lifts his gaze, it locks onto mine, intense and knowing.
His eyes trail down my body, lingering exactly where the panties would be if I were still wearing them. A smirk spreads across his face, clearly pleased with himself.
I’d thrown the panties in the trash as soon as I got home, so his smirk didn’t bother me.
Not really.
His gaze holds me captive as if an invisible force anchors me to the spot. Every time I try to look away, his eyes seem to pull me back, a magnetic force I can’t resist.
He’s acutely aware of his allure, radiating an intense charisma that commands every bit of attention in the room. His presence is overwhelming, almost tangible, filling the space with an electrifying aura that makes it impossible to ignore him.
He despises me, and I definitely shouldn't be admiring him. As I take in his appearance, I notice he's wearing a pair of Wrangler jeans that hang casually on his hips, paired with a simple cotton T-shirt and black boots. He looks more like the boy I once knew than the high-fashion figure he appeared as yesterday.
My eyes linger on him despite myself, and I can't help but wonder about the body hidden beneath that plain shirt. Does he have a six-pack? Are his muscles carved from stone?
I mentally scold myself for these thoughts. How can I find him attractive after everything he’s done, especially forcing me to wear those dirty panties?
He's the enemy now!
I snap out of my trance, quickly licking my dry lips. I hope I’m not drooling. The last thing I want is for him to sense that I’m still drawn to him, especially now that he’s nothing more than a tormentor from my past.
Dad barely reacts to Zion's hostility, clearly accustomed to his attitude.
“Your mom and I have to go to Greece for an urgent meeting,” Dad says, not bothering to hide his annoyance. “It was a last-minute decision, so I need you to step up and look after your sister—”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Zion interrupts, his eyes flashing with barely contained rage.
“She’s not my fuc*ing sister, and she never will be.”
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