Forbidden Attraction (Book 1)✔

♠Chapter 45♠

♠CHRIS♠

"My dad has my place ready... in New York," I said hesitantly, not looking at my mom as I leaned over, spelling out the word 'curious' on the scrabble board. I sat back after taking five new letters, and said, "I'm thinking of going down there next weekend. Check things out. And if... if you'd like to-"

"You don't need to ask, Christian. You're not driving two hours to go see... that man-"

"More for the apartment, mom," I cut into her rant, looking up.

She gave me a dry smile. One of the fake ones she uses when she's far from happy. "Of course." Her smile became more genuine with her next words. "While we're there you can get a feel of what kind of theme and furnishing you'd like to go with."

I couldn't help but smile back at her, shaking my head. "You're not buying my furniture mom." Her smile fell. "Dad is going to-"

"Aw, to hell with all of this 'dad this' and 'dad that'," she said nonchalantly, waving me off. I laughed. A deep, amused one from the pit of my stomach because the way my mother reacts to my dad was hilarious sometimes. There were instances where she'd go too far or I'd get slightly irritated with her jabs, but half the time I can't act like it's not fun to watch.

I used to think that was her way of covering up how much she was affected by her and my dad not working out, and sometimes I still do. I've always wanted to ask her how she felt about it even now. If she regrets how things ended and that she doesn't see her older son as much as she should. She talks to him over the phone a lot, but with both their schedules, they hardly get to see each other except for a couple of times a year. Mostly, I know that whenever she has a project or meeting in New York they always meet up, which is why I don't go. As much as I love my brother, we don't exactly get along. His constant need to outdo me for no reason just got tiring over the years and I settled with seeing him when I have no choice. For example, last Christmas.

Mom tried to convince me he's matured, and I can see it to some extent because Christmas wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. But that's mostly because I never stayed in the same room with him for more than a few minutes. I'll keep it that way for a while longer. Maybe next time I see him, I'll let his big mouth speak for itself.

"Mom, I told you," I said with a grin as she avoided my gaze by spelling out a word on the board, "You've been providing for me this whole time. He'll take care of the expenses this time. You can always help me with the layout."

Her eyes rose to mine slowly and I grinned wider, wiggling my eyebrows until her face broke into a smile again.

"Could you at least tell me what your palette is?"

I chuckled, looking down at the board because my mind immediately went to lavender. And just like that, images of Ari popped in my head and almost every piece of clothing that she's worn in that color. Of course.

"I don't know," I said instead. "I'm thinking the same for my room upstairs." I sat back after I went my turn. "I'm gonna miss that room."

Her response was a wider smile. After a short moment, she said, "We can work something out. We'll make it the same theme, with... a splash of something different. More oak brown maybe."

"Can't wait," I told her with a smile. And I meant it. But that forsaken lavender color keeps pushing itself to the front of my mind.

"Now," she started, leaning over the board and spelling out 'common', "tell me why you're home on a Saturday night playing scrabble with your mother while your friends are at the arcade?"