Marcus

The morning sun filters through the half-closed blinds, casting a warm glow across the room. I'm in that hazy space between dreams and reality, the last remnants of sleep clinging to my consciousness. The softness of the bed cradles me, and for a moment, I revel in the tranquility.

A gentle touch brushes against my cheek, a feather-light caress that pulls me further into wakefulness. My eyes flutter open, adjusting to the brightness. A voice, sultry and familiar, whispers in my ear, "Wake up, sexy."

Karla.

Her face hovers inches from mine, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. I blink a few times, my mind catching up with reality. Karla leans back slightly, her eyes locking onto mine. "Finally woke up, huh?"

I jolt up, distancing myself from her touch. "What the fuck are you doing here?" The words spill out, edged with anger.

Karla pouts, feigning innocence. "Marcus, baby, it's time we stop playing games, don't you think?"

Anger coils within me, tightening its grip on my chest. "I'm not playing games, Karla. Now, leave my room."

She smirks, undeterred, and starts unbuttoning her blouse. "Come on, Marcus, we're going to have a really good time. Just give in."

I step forward, frustration boiling over. "I'm not interested in you. When are you going to realize that?" My words come out sharper than I intended.

Karla traces her fingertips down my chest, a slow, deliberate motion. "That's not true," she purrs, her hand reaching for a destination it's not welcome.

I grab her wrist, stopping her. "You're delusional. I was never interested in you, and I never will be."

With a swift motion, I push her out of my room, my heart pounding against my ribcage. Anger boils beneath the surface as I slam the door shut behind me.

"Natalie!" I call out, hoping my sister can contain her friend. The door opens, and Natalie appears, looking between Karla and me with an exasperated expression.

"What the hell did you do?" Natalie asks Karla.

I clench my jaw, restraining the anger bubbling within me. "Natalie, can you please make sure she stays in your room and away from mine?"

Natalie rubs her temples, clearly frustrated. "Karla, how many times do I have to tell you? Marcus is not interested in you, and he's seeing someone else. Just leave him alone."

Karla scrunches her nose, feigning disinterest. "Oh, Melanie, right? She's not worth it, Marcus. You can do better."

My patience snaps, and without thinking, I grab Karla's wrist, forcefully pushing her against the wall. "You need to stop this delusional fantasy. Melanie is worth more than you can ever be, and you should be more respectful."

Karla whimpers, fear evident in her eyes. I hold her gaze, my anger unabated. Natalie places a calming hand on my arm, her voice steady, "Let go, Marcus."

Reluctantly, I release my grip on Karla, who still appears shocked and afraid. I turn my head to Natalie, frustration etched on my face. "Never bring her here again."

Natalie nods, giving Karla a stern look. "Wasn't planning on it."

Karla looks at Natalie with shock, attempting to salvage the situation. "Natalie, come on, you know I didn't mean it that way."

Natalie's response is sharp, "Save it. It's obvious you're not here for me; you're here to harass my brother."

Karla opens her mouth to retort, but the words don't come out. Instead, I intervene, my patience worn thin, "Get the fuck out of here."

Karla's eyes well up with tears, and she rushes past Natalie, heading downstairs.

Just as she disappears, Natalie and I hear our mom's footsteps coming up the stairs. She catches sight of Karla rushing past her and then turns her attention to us, a curious and concerned expression on her face.

"What's going on?" she asks, her gaze shifting between Natalie and me.

Natalie takes a deep breath, frustration evident. "Karla told me she was going to the bathroom, but she actually went into Marcus' room and woke him up."

Our mom widens her eyes, a disapproving frown forming on her face. "I never really liked Karla."

Natalie throws up her hands in exasperation. "Why didn't you ever say anything?"

Mom sighs, her expression softening. "I didn't want to meddle in your life, honey. Would you have listened if I told you something?"

Natalie blows out a breath, muttering, "Probably not."

Mom smiles knowingly, "I thought so. Now, both of you, come down for breakfast."

Natalie heads towards the stairs, and before I step back to my room, I assure them, "I'll be right there." My anger still simmers beneath the surface. I can't believe Karla had the audacity to intrude into my bedroom while I was asleep. Fucking Karla.

I take a sharp breath and reach for my phone on the nightstand. I need to see Melanie. Unlocking my phone, I intend to text her, but to my surprise, I find a message from Melanie sent over twenty minutes ago. Fuck. She's probably wondering why I'm not responding. The message reads, "Good morning, how did you sleep?"

A smile plays on my lips as I type back, "Good morning, beautiful. I'm sorry that it took me so long to answer. I slept well, even though I missed you." I reread the message before sending it, then sink onto my bed, eyes glued to the screen, anxiously awaiting Melanie's response.

Melanie's response comes quickly, and it reads, "It's okay :) What are your plans for today?" I smirk; the response is too easy. I type back, "Seeing you."

My heart pounds in my ears as I wait for Melanie's response, and it comes swiftly, "Then why aren't you here yet?" I jolt up, my heart now beating even faster, if that's possible. I type, "Be there in 5," and throw my phone on the bed before rushing to the bathroom.

I splash some cold water on my face and quickly brush my teeth. I return to my room, throw on a pair of deep red sweats and a grey hoodie, and dash downstairs.

Calling out to my family that I'm heading out, I leave, making my way to Melanie's apartment. I mount my motorcycle, tearing out of her building in under two minutes. Parking outside, I rush to her apartment, eager to be with her.

Cold water splashes on my face, and I hastily brush my teeth. Returning to my room, I throw on a pair of deep red sweats and a grey hoodie. Grabbing my phone, I find another message from Melanie, "Can't wait."

Me neither, baby. Can't fucking wait.

I rush downstairs, calling out to my family that I'm heading out. Without waiting for a response, I'm out the door, headed to Melanie's apartment. I mount my motorcycle, tearing out of her building in under two minutes. Parking outside her place, I rush to her apartment, anticipation building with every step.

I ring her bell, anticipation building, tying my stomach in a knot. The door opens, and there she is—so beautiful, even in her simple, comfortable clothes. For a moment, I'm frozen, caught in the swell of emotions. The urge to hug her is overwhelming, but a hesitation lingers, stretching the seconds into a lifetime. Then, in two swift strides, I close the distance. I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close. Everything feels right again as I hold her tight, her head buried in my chest.

Any lingering tension from Karla's intrusion earlier evaporates. I kiss the top of her head, savoring the familiar scent of her hair. "I missed you, baby," I murmur, my voice a mixture of relief and longing.

Melanie looks up at me, her eyes sparkling with warmth and affection. A smile plays on her lips as she replies, "I missed you too."

I smile back at Melanie, the warmth of her presence soothing my soul. Reluctantly, I let her go, to close the apartment door behind me. As I turn around, I find her looking at me, biting her lower lip and playing with a strand of her hair. My heart aches at the sight, a powerful desire to pull her close and kiss her washing over me. But a thought stops me.

I need to talk to her about what happened with Karla this morning. There's no avoiding it, and she needs to meet my sisters soon. I can't let anything come between us again. I just can't handle it. I clear my throat, take a step forward, and gently hold Melanie's hands in mine, locking eyes with her.

She smiles at me, her eyes filled with warmth, and asks, "Coffee?"

I nod, "Yes."

She pulls her hands from mine and heads to the kitchen, with me following closely behind. As she prepares the coffee, I take a moment to gather my thoughts. I need to carefully choose my words, the is no room for misunderstanding.

Melanie hands me a cup of coffee, the comforting aroma filling the air. We head back to the living room and settle on the couch, sitting close to each other. I turn to face Melanie, taking a deep breath to steady my nerves. It's time to have this conversation.

I look into her eyes, trying to convey the sincerity in my words. "Mel, there's something we need to talk about."