I was making dinner in my apartment when the doorbell rang out of the blue. I checked the oven timer: still five minutes left. I turned off the flame on the stove and pulled the door open without looking through the peephole. I expected to see Fleur's face greet me, but instead I came face-to-face with a bouquet of Gardenias. Luca's face popped out from behind them, still as stoic as ever. "Hello?" I said, bewildered.
Luca sighed, audibly tired. "These are from my father. He said he'll cry if you don't accept them, so please don't make this hard for him. He'll do it, too." With that, he shoved the flowers into my arms and turned around to head to the elevator. I called out to him after a moment, "Do you want to stay for dinner?" He looked at me questioningly. "Well, you said before that you liked my cooking and I wanted to apologise for giving you a shock earlier today."
I grabbed his arm, pulling him closer. "More importantly, you seem to be really good for Evander. He's the happiest he's ever been because you came around." He nodded his head and walked past me, plopping down on the couch. For a kid with such a rich upbringing, you'd think he would have a little more decorum.
"Evander, you have a friend here to see you!" I said outside of his bedroom. "Also, dinner will be ready in three minutes." When I looked back in the living room, I immediately blanked out. Sitting there next to Luca was his father. His hands were on his knees and one of his legs bounced anxiously as he looked around the apartment. His eyes brightened when they saw me.
"Wifey!" He exclaimed excitedly. I immediately regretted what I wrote on that note. "Mr. Fentress," I forced out through gritted teeth, "What brings you here?" The little bastard grinned cheekily at me. "Why, you invited us in for dinner, my dear wifey! Also, please call me Luc or hubby. I would prefer the latter, though."
Luca looked at me guiltily, mouthing "sorry" from behind Lucian. Luckily I had made enough for four. Guess we won't have leftovers tonight like we usually do. "Luca, Mr. Fentress-" he scowled, "I hope you enjoy rotisserie chicken." The oven went off behind me. Soon enough, the chicken was on the table and all of them were wolfing down the meal. I could hardly get a bite of it with the fencing forks getting every single good part.
Dinner ended with a victorious Lucian, a cheering Evander, a satisfied Luca, and a starving Blair. "You three are cleaning up this mess," I said with finality. Lucian started to protest but I quickly cut him off with a scathing glare. "What was that, Mr. Fentress?" He mumbled something under his breath before helping the two kids. I scoured the cupboards for something more to eat while they worked behind me.
When I turned around, however, Lucian was covered in water and Luca was struggling to catch a falling plate. I rushed over to grab it, sliding like a baseball player across the tile. I caught it and placed it on the counter before turning to the father-son duo who were standing there confused. "Have you two never done any housework before?!" I asked incredulously.
They shook their heads. I clutched my head in my hands, feeling a headache come along. "Alright, Evander and I can do it. Luca, sit on the couch and please don't try to break anything. Mr. Fentress…" I took in his soaking wet suit. "Follow me. I have some things that might fit you."
I went into my bedroom and opened the door of my small closet. I pushed my round-framed glasses up, looking for the exact outfit I was thinking of. Finally, I located it in the very back. I handed him a black sweater and a pair of baggy jeans. He looked at me through hooded eyes. "Why do you have men's clothes in your closet, wifey?" He asked accusingly. I shrugged with a smug look on my face. "Oh, they're not men's. It's just that you're only an inch taller than me and so lean… My clothes will probably fit you." I mocked.
He laughed mirthlessly and took the clothes. Then, it was as if the storm had broken and the sun shone through the clouds brighter than it ever had. Damn, this boy had abs for days! I whipped around, my face pure red. I clutched my nose to make sure it wasn't bleeding. A few seconds passed before an arm wrapped itself around my shoulders. A firm chest pressed against my shoulder blades.
"Like what you see, wifey?" He asked right against my ear. I closed my eyes to rid him from my system. "It's not anything I haven't seen before, shorty." I shot back. He chuckled before pulling away. "If I'm short, then you're tiny." He said. I rolled my eyes. "Oh please, 5'6" is average for a woman. 5'7" for a man though… Face it, you're a shorty."
Lucian pouted adorably and I had to turn away again. "I'm gonna go help Evander. You sit on the couch with your son." I said without looking back. When I entered the kitchen again, everything was put away spotlessly. That's my boy. Evander and Luca were watching cartoons on the couch together, oblivious to my arrival.
Suddenly, Lucian popped up behind me with an evil expression. I got a sinking feeling in my stomach when I saw it. "Hey kids," he said. Both of them turned to him with a curious expression on their faces. "How would you two like to be brothers?" I stared at him with wide eyes. Please tell me this is not going where I think it is…
They shot up off the couch. Evander grabbed Lucian's leg expectantly. "Yes! How?" He shouted. Luca nodded frantically, also curious. I bit my thumbnail and started to interrupt. Before I could though, he said, "It's easy! Your mommy and I just have to get married!"
Oh hell no. He. Did. Not.
Evander rushed up to me this time and hugged me tightly. "Pleeease Mommy! Can you two get married so me and Luca can be brothers?" I am going to f*cking kill him. I picked Evander up and took a deep breath. "Evander, sweetie… Only two people who love each other can get married." He didn't get it.
"Then you two should love each other! I love Luca already after three days so you two can fall in love easily!" Luca pinched the bridge of his nose. "Evander, that isn't love you're feeling for me, you idiot." Evander pouted and turned away from him. "Yes, it is." He sassed back before I put him down.
While those two were arguing, I took the chance to interrogate Lucian. "What the f*ck did you say that for?" I demanded. He simply shrugged the same way I did earlier and said, "It'll happen sooner or later, so why not sooner?" I shook out of rage.
Then, before I could stop myself, I punched him directly in the face.
"Nice shot, Mommy!"