Part 01.3

"Julie. Come by the house, Sarah has some announcement to make."

"Oh."

"Don't be late."

Julie tossed the phone and mocked her mother as she put her head back on the pillow.

'Don't be late.'

"Humph. Who does she think she is? Ordering me around like that."

"I heard that."

Deborah's voice came out the phone, making her jump up from the bed.

"Oops. Sorry."

She hastily apologized before she hung up for real this time. She sighed at her continuing bad luck. Giving one last look at her comfy bed, she trudged towards the bathroom.

'Wonder what Sarah has to say...'

It didn't take much time for her to take a shower and get ready. Figuring that her mother must have kept a portion of breakfast for her, she got out of the house and jumped into her car. Before she could get out her driveway though, she prayed for one thing.

'Please, don't let Mike be there.'

She had been avoiding her cousin ever since he had returned and especially since the night of the party which was quite a difficult thing to do as she found out over the last few weeks. He was now working at the same place and no matter how much she tried they were bound to cross paths throughout the day. It got so bad that even the usually clueless George had asked her if everything was alright with them. But the problem was it was not getting better with time. She had continued to avoid him, not comfortable at all in his vicinity.

'I was drunk.' Was what she kept telling herself but it wasn't working because Mike had persistently haunted her in her fantasies. It was bad and she knew it. But she was helpless against the tide that was Mike. She was so ashamed of it, of herself that she hadn't even told Ashley about it. That her cousin was the man in her dreams, quite literally.

When she entered her parents' house, she found the rest of the Anderson women in the kitchen. Sarah was looking as radiant as ever and her mother and aunt were silently sipping their coffee. She greeted them lightly before moving towards the grub.

'Nice. Pancakes.'

"Now that your sister's here, finally, tell us."

"What about Dad?" Sarah asked her mother in return.

"He's left his phone here. You know how he doesn't like to be disturbed when he's playing golf."

'God forbid if something gets in the way of a round of golf,' Julie thought to herself as she poured herself a glass of juice.

"Then Uncle George must be with him."

Vanessa shrugged her shoulders without saying anything more on the subject.

"What about Mike?"

"He's out with Joe. It will take some time for him to come back."

Julie sighed in relief after listening to Vanessa. She almost dropped her glass when Sarah had mentioned Mike. She composed herself and tried to act as nonchalant as possible without drawing any attention to herself.

"Okay then..."

"I'm engaged."

There was a whole hullaballoo after Sarah's announcement. Deborah and Vanessa were fawning over her and inspecting the ring in every which way. Julie had also joined in the commotion and was hanging over Sarah's shoulders, her arms wrapped her sister's neck. The four of them had moved to the living room and Sarah was telling them about the proposal.

"Unimpressive." Julie summed up it in one word what everyone else was feeling. Vanessa playfully swatted her niece for her brashness but couldn't keep herself from smiling.

As the other three Anderson women chatted about the upcoming wedding and how they were going to have to plan everything out, Julie found that she was on the periphery, barely able to keep up with them. Feeling a little lonely and left out, she sat on the sofa to the side of them and kept watching Sarah, trying to get a read on her.

Julie was happy for Sarah, truly happy, yet there was a little voice in the back of head that was pestering her, constantly.

'Why can't I get someone...'

She was lost in her thoughts, wallowing inwardly in self pity, when her view was blocked by a towering presence.

'Shit, its Mike...'

Julie panicked at the sight of him and was unable to move an inch as she remained still, foolishly gazing at Mike's back.

Composing herself, she stood from her seat without making a sound. She started as Mike moved his feet, almost simultaneously, but he moved not towards her, instead as she held her breath he moved forwards and towards Sarah.

Julie watched him as he opened his arms and Sarah crashed into his chest, her arms wrapping around his back, crushing him with them. His head was bowed down, hidden behind the brown hair of Sarah, and it was hard for anyone else to make sense of the low murmurs exchanged between them.

Julie was silent and so were Vanessa and Deborah. The moment felt heavy to them as if they were intruding on something private. The spell was broken when Joe tugged on Sarah's leg. She kneeled down and clutched Joe to her as a sob escaped her lips.

'Why? And Mike's shirt also seems a bit wet around the shoulders. Why's she crying?'

Julie turned to Deborah to find the same perplexed look mirrored on her face.

John whispered to Deborah about the surprise he had prepared for Sarah whereas Julie and George were talking about an investment they had recently made as they all waited for Mike and Vanessa to join them. Quite different to the rest of them Sarah was pensively looking upstairs towards Mike's room.

"Why don't you just go up?"

"It's alright... Vanessa and Mike are already there."

Sarah tried to smile at Julie, it was a horrible attempt. Witnessing that John was just about to jump in with his two cents, about the unusual way Sarah was acting, but a sharp glare from Deborah was enough to make him back down. She then turned to her daughter and spoke in a soothing voice.

"I'm sure it's nothing. Just relax."

"Yea..."

Sarah absentmindedly replied to her mother. She was still looking towards the stairs when her eyes glinted and hint of relief washed over her.

Joe skipped down the stairs holding Mike hands with his fingers and looking much chipper than before. Vanessa was right behind them.

"He's fine. It was just a little stomachache."

"Good. Good."

There was a collective sigh of relief.

"So, why aren't you getting changed? We're already running late."

"Joe and I will be staying home."

Sarah didn't like this new development; she didn't like it at all. They were going out to celebrate her engagement with Rick, and his family was also about to join them. Everyone had dressed to the nines for the occasion. After all it was the first time one of the children had gotten engaged and it was a big deal for their two families. She wanted Mike and Joe to be there with her. The idea of them staying behind didn't cross her mind, not even for a second. So she voiced her thoughts.

"Should we cancel?"

"No. It's fine. You should go."

"But..."

"Come on. It's no big deal. They won't mind."

Mike went to Deborah, took hands in his and spun her on her toes, "Aunt Deb is looking so gorgeous tonight. It would be a shame if the world doesn't get to celebrate her too."

"Oh you flatter me!" Deborah placed a wet kiss on his cheek.

"Alright then, let's not make them wait for too long."

Since Deborah had indicated her intentions there wasn't a need to worry about anything anymore. John was pretty confident that Sarah would listen to her mother and won't be arguing about canceling the event anymore.

Sarah looked a little subdued and a lot less enthused than a just engaged woman, she glanced at Mike but he was talking with Vanessa and didn't notice her. Sighing to herself, she went out towards the car.

"Do you want me to stay with you? I can help if Joe feels-"

Mike shushed Vanessa with a finger on her lips, "Shhh... I can take care of it. Trust me."

Vanessa shook her head and followed behind George.

"Mom!"

Mike called out to Vanessa and hugged her lightly when she turned around.

"Enjoy yourself."

Joe who had been quietly watching Mike, dashed to her side, "Mom!" he said loudly and hugged her legs. Vanessa blushed at this, too stunned to say anything or correct Joe on his goof.

"Pfft... More like Grandmom."

"Yeah Joe, she's Mike's mom which makes her your grand mom."

John laughed out loud and went out the house towards his car; George also joined him while making a quip of his own.

Vanessa rolled her eyes at her brother and husband. She expected some smartass comment from John as he was just like that ever since they were little but she did not much appreciate her husband joining in with him. If she was being honest, she didn't dislike it when Joe imitated Mike and called her "Mom". There was something about the way the little figure of Joe running towards her and clinging to her made her feel special. She had missed this with Mike, he was already six years old when she married George and it took him some time to open up to her. So this was very much a new feeling for her and one she liked very much. But now was not the time to explore it.

"So very funny from the mouth of two old men." She bent down to kiss Joe on his forehead and stroked his hair.

Mike embraced her as she was just about out the door and whispered in her ear, "You look hot, the hottest."

Her earlier blush reemerged and deepened to a darker shade at his words.

Deborah was just about to get in with John when Julie stopped her, "I'm staying."

"What?"

"Yes. I can help Mike. Take care of Joe and stuff..."

"YOU!"

Julie felt pissed off by the incredulous look on Deborah's face. Like it was so hard for her to believe that she could do it. 'Tch... What? What's so hard about it? I can do it if I want.' She ground her teeth in frustration and her eyes turned steely, determined in her choice.

The mother and daughter kept staring at each other. Finally, after a few minutes, Deborah was the one to break silence, "Okay."

Julie smirked at her mother but then seeing how Sarah looked at the backseat, she reined it in.

"I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you."

"Great! Both of them..."

Sarah's mood worsened as they rode off.

Julie stood outside, waiting for Mike to let her in. The decision to skip the celebration party was a spur of the moment thing and now she was getting nervous. When she learned that Mike was going to stay home it was like an alarm bell rung in her head. She knew this was her chance to mend her relationship with him. Away from the annoying and eavesdropping ways of her family it was the perfect time to apologize to him. And when her mother seemed to challenge her in not so many words she just had to do it. She couldn't back off from it.

So here she was nervously pacing around, rehearsing her apology, while she waited for him.

Mike opened the door and exclaimed in surprise, "Huh! Forgot something?"

"Can I come in?" she pleaded with her eyes.

He didn't make her sweat for more than a few moments before replying, "Of course." But those few moments were excruciatingly long for her.

"The game is on. You don't mind, do you?"

"Sure."

Mike made himself comfortable across from the flat screen. He paid no attention to the awkward figure of Julie. After looking around for a bit Julie sat beside him but maintained a healthy distance between them. She flinched when he turned his head but it was only just a glance and not the scathing remark she had been expecting.

They both maintained their silence in the dimly lit room and only the noise coming out of the opposite wall kept it from being too weird. Julie had been trying for the past few minutes to start a conversation but to no avail. She was unnerved by the silent treatment. It was very different from the shouting match she expected or hoped for. She clenched her fist to gather her courage as she asked, "Where's Joe?"

Mike took a swig of his beer. It was hard to tell for Julie if he was just ignoring her or if she just spoke too low.

"Mike?"

He put down the bottle on the coffee table and answered her, "He's sleeping in his room." All the while he hadn't even glanced at her for a second.

'At least look at me.'

Once more an awkward silence reined over them. Julie tried to think of something clever but whatever she came up with seemed too stupid to her.

"Who's playing?" she asked in another attempt at making small talk.

Mike switched off the game and stared at her, his eyes giving nothing away so as to his intentions.

"What are you doing? Why are here?"

"I'm just..."

Julie mumbled, too proud and too afraid of his rejection, to go through with her previous, well thought-out, words of apology. Too proud because she did not remember ever apologizing to him and if she did it now, it would only make her feel smaller than she already did. And too afraid because she felt that there was a very good chance he would not accept her, chide her even. She knew she would, if she was in his place.

"You don't talk. You don't come by the house. Avoid me like the plague. What gives?"

"You don't understand."

"Make me!"

Julie still could not get over herself to just open her mouth. And seeing as she was not saying anything, Mike scoffed.

"Thought so..."

He continued as he got up, "... Go home Julie. Come back when you're ready to talk."

"Wait."

Julie pulled him back.

"Okay, listen. I'm sorry okay? I'm sorry."

"I know I have been avoiding you and I'm sorry for that."

Mike chuckled at her squirming figure, "Now was that so hard?"

Julie also breathed a sigh of relief. It was not as bad as she made it out to be. And Mike seemed to be just messing with her.

"But... why?"

"Huh?"

"Why did you diss me?"

Julie avoided his piercing gaze. 'Not messing about after all.' She took a few moments to gather her thoughts then turned to him, warning him with her eyes.

"You can't laugh at me."

"Okay?"

"Do not make fun of me."

"I won't. I won't." Mike halted his smiling, and tried to put on serious look on his face.

After glaring him for a bit more Julie spoke, "I did not purposely avoid you..."

Before he could interrupt her she raised her hand, "... I'm sorry. Yes, I did avoid you. But I didn't want to. It's just I didn't know how to talk to you."

Mike was puzzled by her words, "What? Are you serious?"

She struggled to speak as she felt herself choke, "I wasn't there for you and I didn't even know how much you were hurting after Robin and Phil. And now you are a father and I feel like I don't know you or I don't deserve you."

Mike embraced her as he stroked her hair. She in turn put her arms around him and sobbed silently.

"I don't blame you. It's alright. And Sarah was there, Mom for the first two weeks."

"Bu-But I wasn't."

Tears ran down her face as she gazed at him with hurt and shame in her eyes.

"Shhh... It's fine."

They remained in that position for a good while. Her head resting on his chest, her arms locked around his waist, his palms stroking her hair and back. She liked it very much, so much so that she kept getting reminded about the main reason she had been avoiding him. The only thing she still hadn't told him, 'I can't say it. I can't tell him that I want him. I can't.'

Mike was upstairs checking up on Joe. Julie meanwhile made a quick trip across the street to wash her face and get changed. She also cooked dinner for the both of them as she waited for him to come down.

'Shit... I must have looked so pathetic. Shedding tears and sobbing on his shoulders. Shit.'

Still she couldn't lie to herself that she felt a lot better even if she hadn't told him everything. 'And those broad shoulders of his are nothing to be scoffed at,' she giggled. She realized that she was fantasizing about him once more and then she got mad at herself for that. But it was hard for her to control herself. The little things around her triggered her imagination and stoked her already red hot flames.

"Hey! I'm just gonna take a quick shower." Mike's voice broke her reverie as he announced to her from top of the stairs.

Julie watched his retreating figure. There was a fog in her mind. She had this urge to follow him, to jump in the shower with him, to capture his naked form. Confused by the faint signals coming from her nether region, she went inside his room against her better judgment. Putting down the two bowls of mac & cheese on the bed side she got under the covers.

'What am I doing?'

She didn't know what her expectations were by getting under the covers, alone in his bedroom, her only respite that she had done this before for countless times. When she didn't have a thing for her hot cousin she spent many hours in this same room, lazing around and hiding from her mom, but now she felt out of place in the familiar place.

'Should I tell him?'

He might have guessed that she was in his room but she couldn't be sure. She wanted to catch him off guard if he hadn't brought his clothes with him but it could also lead to more awkwardness. She struggled with her decision. She knew she shouldn't want to watch him nude but she justified it to herself by thinking of it as a harmless prank.

*ring*ring*

After giving it some more thought she decided to play it cool and leave it up to chance. She raised her voice as she talked on the phone.

"Yeah?"

"It's all fine. He's sleeping now."

"Hmmm."

"Hmmm."

"Okay. I'll call you if anything changes."

Vanessa sounded a little drunk on the phone. Julie could imagine that they were having a good time and would not be back home until late if they didn't just decide to stay the night at the hotel itself.

'It's been so long...'

Julie reminisced about the evenings spent in this room with Mike, and Sarah too. She rolled around on the bed and took in his scent. Sniffing on the sheets and the pillows she gushed over how addictive it was.

"What are you doing?"

"Oh... nothing. Just you know..."

She was proud of herself for not panicking at being caught red handed. Mike didn't pay attention to her as he opened his cupboard and took out a pair of shorts and t-shirt. Julie stared at his ripped body. He looked delicious to her. With his shape and form all lining up with the man of her dreams, he was it. He was the man for her. She unconsciously licked her lips as he pulled the shorts over his legs and gave her a glimpse at his ass. Only towel wrapped around was a little too long for her to get a view of his package.

"You could have given me privacy..."

Julie shook her head. Naughty, very naughty, thoughts were running through her mind and she didn't want to let go of the little semblance of reality she still had a hold of.

"But I don't want to get up," she whined throwing her hands in the air and rolling around for a good measure.

"Well I see you cooked dinner."

"Mac & Cheese."

Julie announced with a rather proud tone. Mike chuckled as he sat beside her and handed her one bowl while he took the other one.

"What else!"

"Oh like you can do better."

"I can.

"Yeah, right."

"At least it's hot. There's that."

"You don't have to eat it if you don't want to."

Mike shielded himself and his dinner as Julie tried to take away his bowl from him and in the process almost spilled over hers.

"Easy!"

"Thought so..."

They both stared at each other with vary eyes and then burst into a laugh.

"So..."

"So...?"

"What happened with Ryan?"

"Dumped him."

"Really?"

"Uh huh."

"What about you?"

Julie turned her head away, nervous too find out and not that confident that she won't just give herself away after listening his answer.

"Nobody."

'Yes!' Julie inwardly exclaimed but didn't show it on the surface. There was a lull in the conversation as they both focused on their dinner. Once they were finished she asked him, somewhat guiltily, "Tell me, are you still angry that I never came out to meet you."

"Angry? No. But I was sad that you didn't."

"I'm sorry. But I was so pissed off at you that you left without a word. And you didn't even come home for the holidays!" Julie pouted at him. She still didn't understand why he never came home during all four years of college.

"I guess we're both at fault."

"I guess so..."

Julie settled in on her spot, her hand rose at the elbow and her head resting on her hand. She gazed at him with soft eyes, at his relaxed form as he leaned back against the headboard with his knee supporting the weight of his head and his other leg touching hers at their toes.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Anything." Mike smiled as he held their eye contact.

"Why did you get the custody?"

"Hmmm..." Mike shifted down to lie face to face with her, mirroring her posture. He regarded for a while before continuing, "... we were close. Real close. We three were like a couple, if it makes any sense. And I am also his godfather, so it was always gonna be me."

"Do you regret it?"

"Regret? Being a dad?"

Mike's eyes had a distant look as he continued, "I regret the why of it. But, no, I don't regret being a dad. In fact I like it. I like Joe. I love Joe. I love being his dad even though I may not be his real dad."

Julie was awed by his admission. To be with thrust with such responsibility and he was so composed and mature about it. Her eyes turned starry. Mike chuckled at her reverent expression.

"I'm not a saint. I loved them, the both of them. So it was only natural..."

Julie listened attentively as Mike recounted the highs and lows of his past few years. She felt a real connection with him. Like she could get back to the way they were and not be weird around him. But there was still that little buzz at the back of her mind. She was aroused like never before and at after every little while he would do or say something that would make her spine tingle.

And there was a question that was just eating at her, "Were you in love with Robin?"

Mike didn't seem shocked that she asked him this. He too had asked himself the same question several times.

"I did love her. But I wasn't in love with her."

"And was she? In love with you?"

After a long sigh Mike replied, "Yes. She loved me, she loved Phil. Then they got married."

"What happened?" Julie was very much invested in getting to the bottom of it. Listening to him she could tell that Robin loved him, like a wife would her husband, but she was also happily married to Phil. This confused her.

"Well, she was special. They both were. We used to hangout the three of us and as things tend to happen. She fell in love with the both me and Phil. He also loved her very much and they got married and had a kid together. That's all."

Mike didn't dodge the question but Julie felt as if he was hiding something. As if he didn't want her to know one particular thing. She wanted to know it. She wanted to know everything about him. She wanted to know about her.

"Who was it?"

"What?"

"You must have been in love with someone else to reject Robin. Who was it?"

"No one."

Julie straddled his waist and pinned his arms. Her figure loomed over him.

"Tell me!"

"Come on Julie. It was no one."

"I'll lick you."

"Are you crazy? We're not in grade school-"

Julie bent down and started licking Mike's face, from his cheek to his eyes to his nose. She was like a dog as she slowly but firmly licked him all over. Copious amounts of saliva coated his face.

"Ehh Julie. Stop."

He chuckled and tried to push her away in what could only be called as a halfhearted attempt.

She slid down on him and focused on his neck. Gradually her sticky licks turned to quick pecks and then long, wet kisses. Her breath turned hotter and her hands lost the hold over his arms. The complaints and the attempts to push her away stopped as she pushed her breasts to him. Her nose was taking in his scent, intoxicating her.

"Uhh..."

Julie leaned back to look down on him. Her hips shifted down and she had perfectly lined up with his dick. The hard feel on her pussy told her as much. She stared at him as she held his face in her palms.

"It's me. Isn't it?"

"Ju-"

Julie started panting and her voice changed to a throaty whisper.

"Tell me it's me."

Mike was panting as well. But he remained still, motionless, just gazing at her. Finally something seemed to click and his eyes turned resolute.

"Yes," he whispered, "It's yo-"

Julie kissed him. She kissed him like never before. There was gurgle coming out of her throat and her hips were rubbing over his crotch. She was like a fish out of water. Too frenzied and too manic, her only way of sustenance being breathing through his mouth.

Mike reversed their positions and pinned her down. She growled and tried to kiss him but he didn't let her. She tried again but he remained out of reach, only just. He adjoined his forehead with hers and said in a commanding tone, "If we do this. We can't go back. You understand?"
Next page: Part 01.4
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