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— 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐀 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐀 shit-eating grin as she looked at the two red-faced teens, both of which were actively avoiding meeting her eyes.
"Have a nice nap?" She teased.
Warren's cheeks darkened, as he shot a half-hearted glare at his mom. "Māma!" He hissed, as Layla suddenly took an interest in the very fascinating plate on the table.
It was plain white.
The brunette woman held her hands out innocently, as she smiled down at her own plate. She was having fun with the situation, sue her.
Before either of the Peaces could say anything more, Layla finally spoke up.
"Dinner looks lovely, Mrs. Peace. Thank you for preparing such a wonderful meal." The redhead smiled, her cheeks losing some of the redness she had previously sported as she tried to not so subtly change the subject.
Warren nodded in agreement, and Winona decided to grant them some reprieve.
For now.
The older woman smiled back at Layla, as she waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, it's no big deal, honey. Thank you for helping me prepare this salad though. I can't wait to try it."
Layla nodded enthusiastically. "You won't be disappointed, I guarantee it. The sesame oil and shoyu is really where the flavor comes from, but I personally think the tofu and kamaboko make the dish." She rambled slightly.
Winona smiled. "Let's dig in then, shall we?"
— 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓 smoothly, and without Barron's letter looming over Warren's head, he was much more involved in the conversation.
Layla eagerly watched as both mother and son tried the salad she had taught Winona to make, excited to see their reactions.
They did not disappoint.
Winona's eyes widened as she swallowed her bite, before immediately going back for more.
"Honey, if these are the kind of dishes you eat at home — I'm gonna need you to come over more often." She said, before taking another bite.
Layla smiled, before turning to look at Warren. He chewed slowly — just enough to drag the ordeal out as a way to tease her, no doubt, before nodding his approval. "Not bad, Hippie." He said, before taking another bite.
Although his reaction wasn't quite as enthusiastic as his mom's, it was enough for the redhead to deem her dish a success.
Warren caught the proud expression on her face and frowned. "I still stand by what I said earlier, though. No. Converting. I mean it, Hippie."
Winona tilted her head to the side at his words, smirking when she saw Layla's lips form into a pout.
She didn't need to know the context behind the inside joke to see that her son purposely said that to get a reaction from the redhead.
Her smirk softened into a smile at the thought.
Winona had never seen her son like this before — so at ease with another person. She would forever be indebted to Layla for bringing that side of Warren out.
For years, Winona had been the only one to ever see the soft side Warren worked so hard to hide from everyone else. Before Barron's arrest, he had been such a happy child. So carefree, and when his father had left them — it was like he had become an entirely different person; only ever showing his true self in the comfort of their home.
It was obvious to Winona that her son had feelings for the Williams girl, but the simple truth was that he never would've fallen for her if she hadn't been able to break his walls down beforehand.
The brunette would never know how Layla did it, but from what she could see — she couldn't blame her son at all.
Layla Williams was a force to be reckoned with, and it was inevitable that Warren fell into her — that much, she did know.
She pulled herself out of her thoughts at the sound of Layla giggling, and Winona looked back to see that Warren was now smiling, his eyes crinkled and his teeth gleaming in the light of their ceiling.
Winona couldn't help but melt at the sight.
Yes, her son really had chosen a good one.
— 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐀 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 front door open, indicating that Warren had come back from walking Layla home.
She continued to wash the dishes as her son came into the kitchen to help her finish up. As he wordlessly began to dry the plates she handed to him, easing into a routine that they'd been doing for years — Winona decided to break the silence.
"She's a great girl, honey. So when are you asking her out?"
Warren's cheeks went uncharacteristically red, as he looked at the plate in his hand with great interest.
Still, he answered his mother. "Soon, Māma."
The brunette hummed, as she finished washing the last plate. She turned to face Warren as she handed it to him. "Promise?"
The pyrokinetic laughed, as he gave a small nod. "Promise."
Winona smiled, as she moved to press a soft kiss against her son's cheek, before pulling away and smirking mischievously. "Good. I want to keep her."
"You've only met her twice!" Warren said incredulously, as he finished drying the last plate. Despite his words though, Winona could see the relief in his eyes.
Her boy was happy that she approved of Layla.
As if she could ever dislike the person who brought out Warren's happiness.
Shrugging, she began to make her way to her room, ready to call it a night. "We text often. And besides, I knew I liked her from the first night you introduced us."
She didn't stick around to hear Warren's response, wanting her son to really digest her words, and merely disappeared around the corner with a quick 'Love you' and 'Goodnight'.
In doing so, she missed the soft smile on her son's face. Though deep down, she already knew that was exactly what he was doing.
Winona couldn't wait for Warren to make things official with Layla.
