Page 11 of Steps

He snickers, entertained by my distress. “Calmdown. It’s in my room.” He gestures for me to go with him.

We ascend the shiny dark hardwood stairs to hisbedroom, which is as big as my mom’s apartment. I take in the dark gray wallswith all types of weird astronomical and abstract artwork, his black drapes,and matching furniture.

I glimpse a photo on his side table with Varen anda gorgeous woman. His mom. I see where he gets his black hair and blue eyes.Faye Kirby was clearly a stunner.

Varen drops down across his king-size bed andopens the bottom drawer of his nightstand. He takes out my diary.

Relief washes over me. I step closer to thebedas he straightens. “Thank you,” I say, reaching for it.

“Pfft.” He flattens on his back, opening my diary.“What are you hiding in here?”

“No, don’t!” I stretch over him to grab the book,but he moves it further from my reach and begins reading an entry. “October 17,2016.”One of the most horrible days.

My head and heart pound faster. “Give it back!” Igrab for my diary again. This time tumbling on top of him. I shiver from thefeel of his firmness. But nothing compares to the warmth that flows through mybody when I feel his penis against my pelvis.

Varen closes the diary and peers down at me,arching a brow.

I swallow hard. A gasp rushes from me when hispenis throbs suddenly. “Ugh!” I push up from him and snatch my diary from hishand.

He chortles as he sits up on the bed. “Was thatthe first time you felt a dick?” He angles his head to one side. “Would youlike to see it?”

“Perv!” Huffing, I twist and march to the door.

“I’m just kidding, Toya,” he calls after me. “It’sa joke. Unless…”

“Gross!” I storm out of his room. But as I descendthe stairs to the lower level and head to my new bedroom, I can’t stop thinkingabout his firm body and his penis. My gosh, it felt… interesting.

3

A late afternoon shower is all it takes to cool downand clear my inappropriate thoughts of Varen. Afterward, I browse the vastlibrary, admiring all the books on the shelves. They’re mostly nonfiction;businessmen and women detailing their life experiences and what drove them tosuccess.

I trail my fingers along the rows until findingthe fiction novels. Spotting Bernice McFadden’sSugar, I pull it fromthe shelve and sit on the tufted velvet upholstered bench by the bay window,which gives a lovely view of the enormous backyard, garden, and pool.

Footsteps come downstairs. I clutch the book to mychest and stand as Daniel turns into the library.

He beams at me. “Hey, you. Have you settled in allright? I know it’s sudden, but your mom and I thought it would make it easierfor us to get to know each other.”

I shrug. “It’s fine.” Never liked that apartmentanyway. “As long as I don’t have to change school.”

“No.” He waves it off. “We won’t interrupt yourlife to that extent.”

“Thank you,” I mutter.

Silence fills the air. I become uneasy, picking atmy sweatpants, wondering if Daniel will turn out to be like the other jerks.Will he try to touch me?

He crumples his features as if he can hear mythoughts. “Toya, do I make you uncomfortable?”

“No. I have homework.” I’m about to walk by him,but he touches my arm gently.

“Wait.”

Nervously, I jump back, ready to fight him offshould he try anything.

A frown appears on his face. “I’m sorry. Didn’tmean to scare you.”

Geez, Toya. Don’t be so dramatic.

I blow out a long exhale and try to calm down.Maybe he isn’t so bad. “It’s okay. I’m always jumpy.”

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