Chapter 32
I glance at Max. “Did you leave anything at the café?” I ask Max and he smiles cheekily.
“Brielle is here?” he asks hopefully.
I nod, and the moment I do, he is racing out the door. “Max!” I yell out when I hear my phone ring. Growling, I move toward it while opening the mindlink.
“Max is on his way down, watch him while I take a call,” I tell Damian.
Snatching the phone, I move to the window. Standing by the window, my gaze is fixed on Brielle and Max in the courtyard. He leads her out as she tries to keep up with him. He’s roped her into pushing him on the swing making me laugh. I watch her movements… graceful yet full of life. The sunlight catches in her lavender and pink hair, creating a halo effect that only adds to her ethereal presence.
Her laughter, light and melodic, blends with Max’s joyous shouts, creating a scene of pure happiness I rarely see on his face with Blair. I push the window open more so I can hear them better when I’m jolted from my reverie by the yelling of my mother’s voice, reminding me that I had answered her call but didn’t actually say anything.
I step away from the window, my gaze still on Brielle as she laughs and plays with Max. I shake my head, trying to clear the spell of her presence as I answer the phone.
Chapter 32
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“Hello Soren? Are you there?” My mother’s voice floods the line, filled with the usual mix of concern and subtle prodding about my personal life.
“Yes Mother I am right here, no need to screech.” I tell her.
“Good good, you will never believe who we ran into? We met an old friend’s daughter who is single, Soren,” my mother suggests, her tone hopeful. At her words, I snap out of my reverie and move toward the desk.
“Mother, you really need to stop playing cupid, and exactly how did you run into her?” I reply.
“Well I was visiting Sancha, and her daughter happened to be joining us.” she says happily.
“So you didn’t run into her at all, you went hunting for the poor girl.” I tell her. I shake my head at my mother’s antics.
“We just want you to be happy, and what is a king without a queen, son, people are talking. There have even been suggestions that you are gay, and that is why you refuse to take the hand of another,” she tells me.
“Let them talk, I don’t care what they say,” I growl. We have had this conversation more times than I care to remember.
“We worry about you, you haven’t been with anyone in five years, aren’t you lonely?” my mother says. I grow tired. Every time I speak with my parents, they bring this up. At one point, I almost said yes just to shut them up. I’m glad I didn’t.
“No, and I am not interested in whomever you’ve tried to line me up with,” I reply as politely as I can before adding. “Also, it‘ s not even necessary.”
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Chapter 32
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“Is it because you are gay? I could perhaps try to find you a husband, people would talk, given your status but we can work that out. I could… could get on board with this, don’t be ashamed now son, Damian has mentioned a few times that you seem a little a queer.” she says and I scoff.
“Like that time he called you a… I’m sure I could get your father to come around to the idea.”
“I’m not gay mother, I am just not looking for a wife.”
My gaze drifts back to Brielle as she laughs with Max, and the warmth in her eyes is unmistakable. Before I can stop myself, the words spill out of my mouth.
“I have a fiancée, Mother. Her name is Brielle.”
There’s an extended silence on the other side of the line before my mother responds: “Brielle? Did you say ‘Brielle?” My father echoes in surprise.
Chapter 33
