It was the summer holidays, a beautiful sunny day and I was annoyed I had to spend several hours stuck in a clapped out old car, with no aircon, as my stepson had chosen to spend his summer with us instead of returning to his mother and apparently needed to practice before his test.
His father, feeling generous, bought an old Ford escort (probably some fond memories of his youth) for him to ruin the gearbox in and saving our own in the process.
Mikey had arrived late last night and was due to appear any minute. His father had a business meeting (golf) so had snuck off early.
I was having to miss a Pilate's class and wasn't impressed at being kept waiting.
Eventually Mikey ambled into the kitchen "morning mummy" I glared at him! OK technically at 37 I am old enough to be his mother but I neither look, nor feel it.
"Morning Mikey" I said through gritted teeth.
Apart from a few fleeting visits and the occasional Facebook post, I'd had very little to do with Mikey in the 4 years I'd been married to his dad. In that time he'd become a man. Gone was the awkward boy, before me a lithe and handsome young man. He looked exactly like pictures I'd seen of his dad at 20!
"You ready?" I snapped throwing the keys at him, unsettled by the strange sensation that had just overcome me.
"Sure mum" he caught the keys and headed outside.
Once in the car, seats adjusted, mirrors altered, seatbelts fastened, sun glasses on he started the engine. As he only needed me there for legality I got comfy in my seat and stared out of the window.
We made idle conversation, him talking about Uni, me about what his dad and I had been planning for our holiday (we were heading to a health retreat, my husband has a stressful job and it's been affecting his ability to perform lately, not that I told Mikey that part)
As he drove the heat in the car increased, even having the windows open did little to cool me down.
A couple of times Mikey grazed my leg with his hand as he reached to change gear. At first I thought it accidental but on the third occasion he didn't apologise, just glanced at me with a strange smile on his face.
I peeked at him from behind my shades, noticing the muscles in his arms as he turned the wheel, I was impressed, and he'd filled out a little.
I was regretting wearing a cotton shirt and jeans. I was getting so hot. I undid a shirt button and fanned myself with a cd case from the door pocket.
"Getting a bit hot mum?"
"It's a hot day" I muttered,
He laughed to himself quietly.
We'd been driving around town, slow traffic and plate glass shop windows giving us no respite from the sun's rays. The lack of speed in traffic wasn't giving much scope for anything more than third, so after a while I suggested we head to a local beauty spot, different driving terrain, narrow country lanes, a small ford, hairpin bends, steep inclines. Perfect for hill starts.
Mikey seemed keen and was soon up and down the gears like he'd been driving years, I was slightly annoyed by him. He definitely didn't need any more practice as far as I could tell. He was wasting my morning!
As I was about to mention that too him, an ominous hiss came from under the bonnet, followed by a cloud of steam. Shit!
Mikey pulled the car over under the shade of some trees. We both scrambled out and he lifted the bonnet up. "Looks like you're not the only hot thing out here mum."
I ignored him and waved away the steam cloud. Luckily I'd got a large bottle of water with me, but everything was too hot to touch.
"Looks like we'll have to let it cool down"
"Shame" he whispered, he was stood a little way back, watching as I leant in over the engine.
I suddenly felt very exposed and vulnerable under his gaze...
I couldn't help but notice a very large swelling in his jeans. What the hell! Did my stepson find me attractive?!