Inevitable

Belinda crammed the last box of her belongings into the backseat of her car, then huffed out a breath.

“I think that’s it,” she said.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to follow, so I can help you haul all this stuff into your dorm room?” her stepdad asked.

“I’m sure,” she answered. “Haley will be there to give me a hand.”

Haley was the closest thing Belinda had to a female best friend. But her stepdad, Weston had always been her actual best friend. He knew her far better than anyone else and would never betray her. So, it was difficult knowing he was the reason she was leaving.

Well, technically, her insanely inappropriate feelings for him were behind the hasty departure, but still... Belinda needed him to not be there.

She’d always had a little bit of a crush on the man. It started as the same innocent hero-worship kind of crush most girls have for their father-figures. But recently, it had developed into a full-fledged, romantic crush and that was beyond wrong.

Belinda had come to the rational conclusion that she didn’t really feel that way, she was only confusing her feelings for attraction because Weston was everything women looked for in Mr. Right. Hard working, loyal, smart, caring, yet fun at the same time.

Not to mention, he was stupidly handsome. Standing six-foot-two with dark brown hair, light blue eyes, and dimples. His job as a ranch hand kept him in superb shape with a year-round tan. Belinda had gotten her mom’s curly blond hair, and the same Irish green eyes her grandpa had possessed, yet people still mistook West for her biological dad simply because he’d raised her from such a young age.

Once Belinda was away at college, she knew her feelings would fade and she’d actually be able to laugh about them to herself one day. But at the moment, they were becoming too overwhelming to remain in his presence.

“I don’t know why you girls think you have to prove your independence the moment you turn eighteen and graduate from high school,” he complained.

“Um, because we’ve been waiting eighteen years to do it, Dad,” she reminded him humorously.

He chuckled and pulled her in for a long hug, which didn’t help her confused body whatsoever. Finally, he pulled back and kissed the top of her head.

“All right, but I still want a call as soon as you get there,” he said firmly.

“I know. I will, I promise,” Belinda vowed.

The college she’d chosen was in another state, yet only a six-hour drive away. Just far enough to put the distance between them she was looking for without having to spend a fortune in travel costs for holidays.

After backing out of the driveway, she returned her stepdad’s wave as he watched her drive off, and it tore at her heart.

It didn’t help that for a big chunk of her life, it had just been the two of them. Her mom’s parents had been well off. Not excessively wealthy, but they weren’t sweating the bills, either. When her mom had ended up pregnant while still in high school at age sixteen, they’d been so angry, they’d cut her off completely.

To add insult to injury, Belinda's biological father had been from an even more prominent family, and they’d pretty much forced her mom to take a check to keep her mouth shut with the threat of losing custody if she didn’t. Then, they’d moved their son to a completely different school and forced him to sever all ties, which he’d happily done.

Belinda’s mom had met and married Weston five years later. Then, when Belinda had just turned twelve, her mom died suddenly from a rare heart condition that no one even knew she had.

Belinda’s stepdad could’ve easily turned her over to the state to be put into foster care. He could’ve decided that being a single parent to a kid that wasn’t even his was too much to handle on top of the grief of losing his wife. But, he hadn’t. Instead, West had done everything necessary to remain her legal guardian because he was the only family she had and he’d refused to bail on her.

He’d done his best to make up for the loss of her mom, providing whatever Belinda needed. He’d not only worked hard but made sure to be there for her with emotional and academic support, as well. They’d been fortunate enough that his boss was a big family man and gave him the time when he’d needed to take it, understanding he was a single parent.

Belinda knew her stepdad had gone out on dates throughout her later teen years, but he never brought any women home to meet her. When she’d finally asked him about it, he said he’d just never met anyone he felt was a keeper, so wasn’t going to introduce them to the most important person in his life.

“Shit, Belinda, knock it off,” she cursed herself and quickly flicked on the radio.

Recalling memories like that didn’t make leaving for college any easier. Her heart hurt and every fiber of her being wanted to turn around and drive back home. But Belinda wholly believed that time away was necessary for her sanity. It would allow her stepdad to actually give dating a serious chance. No one deserved to be happy more than him.

If only that idea didn’t leave her feeling so torn. She wanted him to have the best life, yet hated the idea of him finding someone special. Someone he would deem a keeper.

By the time Belinda arrived at campus, Haley had already finished setting up her side of the room with the help of her parents. But they’d been nice enough to stick around to help Belinda when they learned she would be showing up on her own. It took a little over an hour to empty her car and get her side of the room arranged. Then, Haley’s parents stuck around for another thirty minutes just to make sure they both knew where to go and what steps to take for their first classes.

Finally, Haley shooed them off, closing the door and sagging against it with a heavy sigh. “My God, I’m free at last!”

Belinda chuckled at her friend’s flare for the dramatic, then almost instantly panicked.

“Oh, shit. I was supposed to call my dad when I got here,” she said, digging her cell phone out of her back pocket and calling him. “Hi, Dad—”

“You forgot,” he mused.

“I’m so sorry,” she said guiltily.

He chuckled. “It’s okay, honey. I’m sure you got sidetracked with Haley and all the excitement,” he said understandingly. “How was the drive?”

“Good. No problems,” Belinda answered, emptying another box of clothes to put them away.

“That’s what I like to hear. I know you’re anxious to get off the phone,” he said, making her chest squeeze with more guilt. “This is an exciting time for you girls. Just please, promise me you’ll be careful.”

“I will. I promise.”

“Don’t forget your pepper spray when you leave your dorm room,” he said for the millionth time, causing her to smile.

“I’m hanging up now, Dad,” Belinda said.

He laughed. “Fine. I love you, Bel.”

“I love you, too.”

In all the wrong ways.

Belinda tucked her phone back into her pocket and looked at Haley.

“Parents,” Haley grumbled with a roll of her eyes.

“Right?” Belinda agreed because that was normal.

And she desperately wanted to be normal.