Chapter 1: Opening Image
“Could you pass the salt please, Em?”
Jo sat at the head of the table, her blue eyes scanning the disapproving expression on her daughter’s face. Emma, with her dark hair pulled back into a tight ponytail, picked up the salt shaker and placed it on the table with a slight thud, a clear sign of her irritation.
“Why do you insist on eating these late dinners?” Emma asked, her voice laced with sarcasm. “It’s like, pasta for breakfast.”
Jo sighed, pushing her pasta around her plate. “I’m not hungry at noon, Emma.
Some of us have jobs that require more than just showing up and looking pretty,” Jo retorted, knowing her words would strike a nerve.
Emma’s eyes narrowed. “I work, Mom. I’m a cheerleader, it’s a job. And I’m good at it.”
Jo rolled her eyes, “Cheerleading is not a career, Emma. It’s a hobby. One that you’re very good at, I’ll give you that. But it’s not like you’re curing cancer or anything.”
Emma slammed her fork down, “I’m not supposed to be curing cancer, Mom.
I’m supposed to be a freshman in college, not dealing with all this divorce bullshit. Again.”
Jo felt a familiar surge of anger, but she swallowed it down. She looked at her daughter, really looked at her, and saw the pain behind the anger. “Em, I’m sorry. I wish things were different. But sometimes, people just don’t work out.”
Emma scoffed, “Yeah, well, you seem to be an expert at that.” She pushed her chair back and stood up, her plate still half-full. “I’m out of here.
I’ll be at Dad’s if you need me,” Emma said, her voice cold as she stormed out of the kitchen. Jo watched her go, the slam of the front door echoing through the house. She sighed, running a hand through her long blonde hair. She really didn't have the energy for this tonight.
Just then, the doorbell rang. Jo got up, her slippers slapping against the cool tile floor. She opened the door to find Billy, Michael’s son, standing there with a box in his hands. His awkward smile was a stark contrast to the stoic expression he usually wore.
“Hey mom… I mean Jo ,” he corrected himself, his cheeks flushing slightly.
“Hi Billy,” Jo said, stepping aside to let him in. “You can still call me mom if you would like… so What’s in the box?”
“Just some of your stuff you left at the house,” he replied, setting the box down on the kitchen table. “Dad said you might want them.”
Jo looked at the box, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion. “I don’t remember leaving anything behind.”
Billy shrugged, “It’s just some old clothes and stuff. Dad thought you’d want them back.”
Jo opened the box, her eyes scanning the contents. She laughed, pulling out a bright pink bikini top.
“Oh, wow. I don’t think I’ve seen this since the 90s.”
Billy chuckled, “Yeah, you should’ve seen Dad’s face when he found it.”
Jo smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her at the memory of Michael. “He always was a bit of a romantic, wasn’t he?”
Billy nodded, “Yeah, he is.”
Jo looked at Billy, really looked at him. He was only 20, but he had a maturity about him that belied his age. “How are you holding up, Billy?”
He shrugged, his eyes avoiding hers. “I’m fine, really.
I’ve just been busy with school and stuff,” Billy mumbled, his gaze shifting to the box.
Jo nodded, but she wasn’t convinced. Billy had always been more perceptive than he let on. She knew he was hurting, just like she was. “I’m sorry, Billy. For everything.”
He looked up at her, his hazel eyes meeting hers. “It’s not your fault, Jo. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Jo smiled softly, “Maybe not. But I still feel responsible. I didn’t want this for any of us.”
Billy nodded, looking down at the box again. “I know… What about this” he said, holding up a tiny white thong bikini bottom . “I bet this could still fit.”
Jo chuckled, “I doubt it. That thing is ancient. I used to wear it in my early twenties. I was a lot smaller back then.”
Billy’s cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red. “You’re still… you know,” he stammered, his eyes darting away from hers.
Jo raised an eyebrow, amused. “I’m still what, Billy?”
Billy sighed, running a hand through his sandy hair. “You’re still hot, okay? You’re way hotter than girls half your age.”
Jo laughed, trying to hide her shock. “Well, thank you, Billy.
That’s very sweet of you to say.” Jo smiled, looking back at the box of old bikinis. “And you know what? You’re right. I should at least try them on.”
Billy’s eyes widened in surprise, a hint of panic flashing across his face. “You’re going to try them on? Now?”
Jo laughed, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Why not? Besides I’m going to need an unbiased opinion whether to keep or throw out?” She winked at him, making him blush even more deeply.
Billy looked around the kitchen, his eyes landing on the hallway leading to the bedrooms.
“Uh, yeah, sure. I can, uh, make myself scarce while you change.”
Jo laughed, shaking her head. “Relax, Billy. You’re my stepson, not my son. And you’re old enough to know that women change clothes in front of each other all the time. Now, let’s see if I can still fit into these ancient things.”
Billy gulped, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat. “Okay, if you say so.”
Jo smiled, stepping into the laundry to change, deliberately leaving the door open a crack. She heard Billy’s soft footsteps retreat into the living room, the sound of the TV turning on soon after. She slipped off her jeans and t-shirt, standing in her lace bra and panties. She held up the bright pink bikini first, “Well here goes nothing I guess”. She slipped off her bra before quickly slipping on the top, she then slipped her panties off and slipped on the bottoms. She noticed her bikini line was in need of a trim, but it was too late to worry about that now.
“Okay, here I come ,” Jo said, taking a deep breath and stepping out into the lounge room .
Billy was sitting on the couch, his eyes glued to the 48 yr old MILF as she approached.
“What do you think?” she asked, striking a pose. “Do I look like a 90s beach bunny or a barbie doll thats seen better days?”
Billy couldn’t take his eyes off her . He swallowed hard, trying to find his voice. “You look… You look great, Jo. Really.”
Jo chuckled, spinning around to give him a full view. “Come on, Billy. You can do better than that. I need honesty here.”
He looked up at her, his eyes meeting hers briefly before darting away. “You look bloody amazing.”
Jo smiled, appreciating his honesty. “Amazing huh, I’ll take that, Thank you, Billy.” Jo said, giving him a playful wink. She turned to walk back to the laundry to try on the next bikini, feeling a strange mix of satisfaction and nostalgia. She glanced back at Billy, who was staring at her ass, his eyes wide with surprise. “You can shut your mouth now, sweetheart.”
Billy snapped out of his trance, his cheeks flushing a deep red. “Sorry, Jo. I just… I never thought…”
Jo smiled, understanding his embarrassment. “It’s okay, Billy. I’m not offended. I appreciate the compliment.” She disappeared back into the laundry m, this time forgetting to float the door all together. “Hmm, what’s next?” she mused, looking through the box. Her fingers brushed against something soft and silky, pulling out a tiny black bikini that was little more than strings and hopes. “Oh boy, this one’s going to be interesting.”
Jo slipped off the bright pink bikini, her athletic body bare for a moment before she pulled on the tiny black one. She had to adjust the strings several times before she got the hang of it, but finally, she stood before the mirror, appraising herself. “Well, at least it still fits,” she muttered to herself. She took a deep breath and stepped back out into the living room.
Billy was still on the couch, but his eyes widened even more when he saw her. She struck a pose, hands on her hips, one foot slightly in front of the other.
“What do you think, fashion critic?” she asked, a playful smirk on her face.
Billy looked like he was trying to swallow his own tongue. “Uh… Jo… you look… incredible,” he managed to squeak out.
Jo laughed, twirling around to give him a full view of the barely-there bikini. “You know, I’m not sure if this is a compliment or not.
You’re looking at me like I’m a piece of meat,” Jo teased, her hands on her hips, the tiny bikini barely covering her assets.
Billy’s face turned a deeper shade of red. He looked away, trying to gain some composure. “No, it’s… it’s a compliment. I just… I didn’t expect you to look like this. Ever.”
“Well, I am a woman,” Jo said softly, a hint of sadness creeping into her voice. “And despite what your father might think, I’m not just a mom or a stepmom.”
“You are definitely much more than that mom” he said as he looked her up and down .
Jo gave him a soft smile. “Thank you, Billy.”
She turned away from him, walking back into the laundry to change into the final and most daring bikini. It was a tiny, white string bikini that left very little to the imagination. Jo slipped off the black bikini and now Billy, who had a perfect view from the living room, could see her naked body for a moment before she quickly put on the last bikini. "Alright, here we go, the grand finale," Jo said, taking a deep breath before stepping out of the laundry.
Billy looked up from his phone, his eyes widening as he took in the sight of Jo in the tiny white bikini. "Wow," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You look... wow."
Jo laughed, spinning around to give him a full view. "I take it that's a yes on this one?"
Billy nodded, his eyes roaming over her body. "Definitely. You look...
incredible, Jo. Really."
Jo smiled, pleased with his response. "Good, because I was starting to think that none of these would fit."
Billy looked up at her, a hint of embarrassment in his eyes. "You look great in all of them, Jo. Really, you do, but this one is something else entirely."
Jo nodded, stepping closer to him. "Thank you, Billy." She replied almost shyly as she gave him a little twirl, forgetting that this actually had a g-sting bottom , the tiny white string disappearing right between her perfect ass cheeks.
He was having a hard time looking away, and Jo noticed his eyes were glued to her ass. She chuckled softly. "You know, I think this one might be a keeper. The 90s called, they want their bikini back."
Billy finally managed to tear his gaze away from her, his cheeks still flushed. "I don't think anyone would complain about seeing you in it."
Jo smiled at him, then added playfully, "Well, that's what I like to hear. Now, how about some dinner, are you hungry?
I could make us something quick?” Jo asked, breaking the tension that had built between them. She needed a moment to compose herself and get her mind off the fact that her stepson was finding her incredibly attractive.
Billy nodded, “Yeah, sure. I could eat something.”
Jo walked to the kitchen, her hips swaying slightly, making sure to give Billy a good view as she went. She knew it was wrong to flirt with him like this, but it felt good to feel desired again. Plus, she was curious about his reaction. She pulled out some ingredients from the fridge and started to prepare a simple pasta dish and some salad.
“So, how’s school going?” she asked, trying to keep the conversation light and casual.
Billy shrugged, his eyes still lingering on her body. “It’s okay, I guess. Just the usual boring lectures and assignments.”
Jo nodded, “Yeah, I remember those days. Seems like a lifetime ago now.”
Billy looked at her, his gaze softening. “You don’t look like you’re in your forties, Jo. You could pass for someone in their twenties, easy.”
Jo smiled, appreciating the compliment. “Thanks, Billy… you know I’m glad you called in today, it’s great to get a little break from the never ending job of unpacking”
“No worries, I could stay over tonight and help some more in the morning if you’d like .
I mean, I’m supposed to be at Dad’s, but I can always text him and let him know what I’m doing.”
Jo hesitated, considering the offer. Having Billy around was comforting, and she hated the thought of him going back to Michael’s house, where she knew he’d be reminded of the divorce. Plus, it would be nice to have some company.
“Sure, that would be great, thank you. I’d appreciate the help and the company.”
Billy nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. “Cool, it’s settled then.” He said, taking out his phone and sending his father a short text.
They sat down to eat, the atmosphere between them lighter and more relaxed.
Jo had changed into a loose t-shirt and shorts, but Billy couldn't shake the image of her in those tiny bikinis. He tried to push the thought aside, focusing on the food instead, but a message from his father popped up on his phone, interrupting his train of thought.
**Michael:** Emma's staying with me tonight. Where are you?
Billy typed a quick reply, trying to keep his response casual.
**Billy:** Just helping Jo out. Might crash at hers if that's cool? Did text you earlier??
He waited for a response, but none came. He looked up at Jo, who was watching him with a knowing smile.
"Everything okay?" she asked, taking a sip of her wine.
Billy nodded. "Yeah, just Dad. He was wondering where I was."
Jo raised an eyebrow. “Everything okay?
You seemed a bit distracted there,” Jo prodded gently, her blue eyes reflecting genuine concern.
Billy hesitated, then decided to be honest. “It’s just… Dad’s text. He said Emma is staying over tonight… and he reckons he didn’t see my text from earlier .”
Jo’s expression softened, and she reached out to squeeze his hand. “You know what he is like with that phone, he’s lucky to be able to make a call”
Billy nodded. “Yeah, you’re right there”
Just as they finished their dinnerBilly’s phone went off again . He glanced at it, his eyebrows furrowing as he read the message.
**Michael:** say nothing about here okay… I trust you can keep your mouth shut””””Billy looked up at Jo, his face flushing red again. “Dad says he trusts us both
Jo raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a small smile. “That’s good to know. I guess we better not do anything to betray that trust, huh?”
Billy gulped, the tension in the air thickening. “Yeah, no, of course not.”
Jo stood up, collecting their empty plates. “Well, I’m going to take a shower. Then head to bed… I’ll see you in the morning hey?” Jo said, breaking the silence, trying to lighten the mood.
“Yeah, sure.” Billy replied, his voice barely audible as he kept his eyes on the table, avoiding Jo’s gaze.
Jo made her way to her bedroom, leaving Billy to clean up the dishes. As she entered her bedroom, she felt a mix of emotions swirling within her. She was thankful for Billy’s company, but she couldn’t shake off the awkwardness that had settled between them after the text from Michael.