It started off innocently enough. My husband’s cousin, Jake, was in town and needed a place to stay for a few days. He’s a bit of an oddball, but I figured it would be a short visit, so I didn’t think much of it. However, what was meant to be a casual few days has stretched into an uncomfortable situation that I’m not sure how to handle.

At first, Jake was polite enough, but I quickly noticed small things that began to make me uneasy. He would linger a little too long when talking to me, his compliments felt forced, almost like he was trying too hard to make me feel special. I’m no stranger to polite conversation, but there was something about the way he looked at me that felt invasive. I brushed it off at first, assuming I was just being overly sensitive, but as the days went by, it became harder to ignore the unsettling behavior.

He started making comments about how I looked, how my outfit was “so sexy,” or how “fit” I was. These were things I would expect from someone flirting, but not from a family member. When I would laugh it off or change the subject, he’d just smile awkwardly and then make another odd remark. And the worst part? My husband didn’t seem to notice. Or at least, he didn’t say anything.

Jake started hanging around the house more than I was comfortable with, showing up at times when I thought he’d be out with friends or off doing something else. He’d hover around the kitchen, watching me cook or clean, offering unsolicited advice or commenting on how well I managed everything. The longer he stayed, the more I felt like I was walking on eggshells, trying to avoid his gaze or his presence.

I’ve tried to make myself scarce when he’s around, but it’s hard when he’s practically glued to the couch, and I can’t escape his attempts to engage with me. Every time I feel like I’m getting a break, there he is, lurking in the background, making small talk that feels more like a way to get closer to me than a genuine conversation.

I’ve tried to bring it up to my husband, but he brushes it off as just Jake being “awkward” or “too friendly,” not realizing the true discomfort it’s causing me. I’m torn between saying something to Jake directly and addressing it with my husband, but neither option seems like a solution that will put this all behind me.

Every day feels like I’m trying to navigate a situation that I don’t know how to control. I’m left wondering if I should trust my instincts or if I’m just overreacting. Either way, I can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right, and I’m unsure how much longer I can tolerate this invasion of my personal space and boundaries. The thought of confronting either Jake or my husband fills me with anxiety, but I know something needs to change before I’m pushed any further out of my comfort zone.

This visit was meant to be temporary, but I feel trapped in a situation that’s slowly starting to feel more like a nightmare than a casual family stay.