All That Glitters Is My Stepdad.

ra's

voice was soft, calm, al

eaned back in my seat. "Uh...

the corner of his eye.

murmured, hoping my vo

the quiet hum of the engine and the soft early morning li

s spill out. "George... about the wedding. A

nd through his hair. "I'll go...

eyebrow. "A

just for a little while. If we could take a break from all of this... disappear, j

ted. "Disappear?

ed it. "Yeah. You and me. Somewhere quiet. Jus

"George... this isn't a movie. We can't just run

familiar comfort settled into me. "I don't want to run away fr

er his. "You really think t

not. But it might h

mean... this morning,

ound right. I mean... be together, un

lt tight, but a small part of me wanted to say yes. "Okay... fine," I s

His smile warmed me, and for a second,

nce, letting the soft music on the

rge... if I go with you, you'll come back

my ear. "Cierra... I'm not going anywhere. Not for good

I just... I don't know

u feel. Don't

ly. "You make it

t is... with you,

...about silly things, serious things,

e order from yesterday, I laughed at his ridiculous attempts to cook the p

y hand again. "You know, I never

ding not to notice the l

ings have been messed up, I've been a mes

fluttered.

ou're the first thing I think of in the morning... and the last at night. And even

want to, but because my chest was tight. I

," he said softly

ired, that's al

Cierra. T

'm scared, George. About the

. I just want you to know that if you need to step aw

his hand.

forting instead of awkward. The car smelled faintly o

ered in my seat, not wanting to leave the c

me later?" he as

l," I w

*

dialed my mom, m

, "we need to talk about... the wedding. The dress, t

. "Cierra... you're doing all t

to know how to handle it. How do I look, what do

focused on the groom's side to pay attention to you. Ju

s out. "Mum... you didn't say Geor

fened. "How do

e... I mean, he to

just remember you're the bride. Follow what I've told you. Keep

on't know how I'll manage to act

. "Just remember why you're doing

just... I need to slee

, baby. And Cierra

tling when my phone ra

smiling des

id warmly. "A

y," I said, though my

e for a

past. He asked about my favorite songs, and I told him about the new playlist I'd made. He lau

nd how much he missed me, how he wanted to make me happy, how he ju

en if it's for five minutes. Even if it's in

" I said softly. "But I

" he said, cal

s, and shared quiet moments across the line. The calm made my chest ache in

a sudde

ing...

fro

hold on,"

erra

he could speak, my hands

d came...clos

Who's there? I'm..

, broken only by the s

rd. "I swear... if t

shadow

eamed.

hissed. "Don't do this nex

ayed silent, c

he question,"

fro

you said with your