Page 1 of Corrupt Obsession

Chapter 1

JESSE

“Please keep an open mind,”Mom pleaded.

Jesse stared out the car window without taking in the scenery. This was the fourth guy Mom dated that she had introduced him to. The others hadn’t lasted, and he didn’t have high hopes for Isaac either. The men seemed nice enough, but no one could measure up to his dad. He knew it and so did Mom, but that didn’t stop her from trying to find someone. She waited a year after Dad died before she started dating. He thought it was too soon, but late at night he heard her sobbing and knew she hated being alone. That didn’t mean he had to like these guys, though.

“Isaac’s a firefighter,” Mom said.

He glanced at her, interested despite himself. Firefighters were bad asses. Not as cool as his dad being in the Air Force, but at least Isaac’s job was more interesting than Tom, the store manager or Brian, who worked the front desk at a dentist’s office. Mom briefly dated another teacher, Mr. Harding. He taught History, spoke in a monotone, and had awful coffee breath. They’d all been duds.

“Isaac can take you to the station and show you the firetrucks.”

His lip curled, but Mom didn’t see, since he’d turned back to the window. He wasn’t a kid. He wasn’t going to be bribed into liking this guy by a trip to the station… Though, it would be cool to sit in the driver’s seat of a firetruck or slide down a pole.

“How did his wife die?” he asked.

Mom hesitated long enough for him to glance at her.

“Mom?”

“She walked out.”

“Walked out?” he repeated, unsure what that meant.

“He woke up and she was gone. She packed a bag and left him with their two-year-old daughter. That was eleven years ago.”

He jerked forward, making his seatbelt lock.“Daughter?”

Mom gave him an innocent look. “What’s wrong, son?”

“You can’t date a guy who has a daughter!”

Mom’s lips twitched. “Why not?”

“Girls are annoying! They’re always giggling, talking, crying…” He glared as Mom snickered. “Find a guy with boys or no kids at all.”

“Sorry, honey, that’s not how this works.”

“A girl,” he said in disgust. So far, none of the men Mom dated had kids, so it hadn’t even occurred to him that he could have a step sibling.

“Her name’s Violet.”

“What kind of name is that?”

“Violet’s a lovely name. It’s a beautiful color, flower, and a candy I’m quite fond of.”

“Have you met her?”

“No, we’re going to meet her for the first time together,” Mom said as she turned into the park. “I’m sure she’s sweet. You two are just a year apart. You should have a lot in common.”

“She’s a girl,” he growled. “We won’t have anything in common.”

Mom pulled into a stall and killed the engine before she turned to him, her expression unusually grave. She reached out and cupped his chin. “It’s been hard since your dad died.”

Her eyes watered, but she smiled anyway, pushing through as she always did.

“That’s an understatement. Losing your father is the hardest thing that’s ever happened to us, and it’s been rough. Some days I wasn’t sure I could get out of bed, but you helped me pull through. You’re your father’s son, all right. Strong, brave, wise beyond your years. I’m not sure I would be intact without you, but…” She stroked his cheek. “I don’t want you to shoulder more adult responsibilities than you already have. You shouldn’t worry over things I need to take on. I want you to have a childhood and enjoy life, even though the world seems a little less bright without your dad in it.”

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