I don't think he and his step-mom were romantically in love at any point in the story. His step-mom was obviously completely smitten with his father. The ending was a bit different than I anticipated, but I didn't dislike it. Just wish there was a continuation a few years down the line to see what developed.
This is a nice story. But thats all.
The only selling point is the background of "classmate mom". But the rest of it; the story, the characters, the relationship, the plot; is just "okay".