CHAPTER THREE | COMPLICATED ADVICE
ARTHUR
I agreed to help tutor Luca and since then, I have been avoiding Ciara like my life depends on it.
I don't know if he told her about the arrangement, but I'm not willing to take any chances.
Luca is to come over everyday except Sunday by 5pm, when Ciara would have gone for her violin classes and leave before she shows up and chews our heads off.
Luca would be coming for the first time today and saying that I'm a bundle of nerves would be the biggest understatement in the world.
I am a fucking wreck…literally.
I've ordered the help to clean the house five times since I woke up. Usually, on weekends, I don't leave my room till evening. All my meals are brought to my room by the maids but today, I was up as early as 3am. Hell, I could barely even sleep. I kept turning and having very rated 18 dreams about Luca.
"You can't keep it there, it disfigures the room." I snap at the lady trying to place the loveseat I ordered at the place I don't want it. "Don't just stand there, fix it."
At this point, I am being a bitch by asking the maid to rearrange the house over and over again but I don't care.
I want everything to be perfect. Everything must be perfect when he arrives.
My mother walks in, a glass of wine filled with something I'm positive is wine mixed with another strong alcohol, walks in. "Relax, baby. Stop stressing the helps. The house has never been this perfect and I doubt it ever will be more perfect. I'm sure your pretty girlfriend would love how everything is set. Stop stressing yourself out."
Rolling my eyes, I take the glass from her hands without her resistance and give it to a maid to get rid of. "I am gay, mummy." I deadpan, wondering how she didn't see the signs that's basically dancing all over me.
"I know, honey. I just needed you to say it out loud. I didn't want to jump to conclusions." She takes her seat, patting the space next to her for me to sit.
"Oh." I whisper, taking the seat next to her.
"In that case, I'm sure your boyfriend would love the way everything is. Not only is it spotless, it's also perfectly arranged. He'll be a fool not to love it."
A blush creeps on my face, a shy smile playing on my lips. "He is not my boyfriend, mummy. He is actually very off limits. I'm just tutoring him."
"But you like him, don't you?"
I nod my head, picking my nails nervously.
"If you like him, then hit on him. Do everything in your power to make sure you win his heart. No one is ever off limits, Arthur. At least not until they are married. If he's really for you then trust me, you'll have no trouble winning his heart. Steal his heart if he'll let you. Fight for the one your heart has chosen."
Bringing my hands to my face, I begin to chew my nail, the truth I'm about to reveal is almost too much for me to handle. "He is Ciara's boyfriend, Mummy. She loves him a lot. Obsessed with him too. I can't do that to her."
My mother's eyes widens momentarily, realizing that my love interest is much more complicated than I made it seem. "Luca? You're in love with Luca?"
I look at anything but her face as I nod, afraid she'll judge me.
"Well, that's some complicated love triangle you have there. I wonder who would win. I don't blame you both though, Luca is one spicy hunk. I would totally be mad about him if I'm twenty years younger." She chuckles in amusement.
"Mum, stop…please." I cringe.
She waves her hands dismissively, her shoulders vibrating in laughter. "Okay, booboo. I was only joking…I think."
I face palm, a small amused smile on my face at my mother's antiques.
Typical of my mummy to always turn everything to a joke.
Suddenly becoming serious, my mother takes my hands in hers, squeezes it softly and draws circles on my palm. "I still stand my ground though. When it comes to the matter of love, in my opinion, there are no limits. If you love a person, fight for them. If they're meant for you, they'll come to you. Being in love with a person now doesn't mean you will always be in love with them forever and loving a person now doesn't mean you can't love someone else. Go for him, baby. If he's for you, he'll come to you even if Ciara threatens to suffocate us all to death at night. She's just a little puppy, Arthur. She's all bark and no bite. She's my daughter, after all. I know her well enough to know she can't hurt a fly. She'll get over it."
I cover my face with my hands, my mind running millions of miles per seconds. "The thing is, even if he's no longer Ciara's boyfriend, Luca isn't gay."
"How sure about that? I don't remember him writing 'I am not gay' on his forehead." My mother says, laughing at her analogy.
"Ciara said so and if he is, he wouldn't be dating her."
Getting up, mother takes a few steps towards the kitchen before turning her head back to address me. "Before jumping into conclusion, make sure he says so himself. For the three years Ciara and Luca have been dating, I've been observing Luca. Not just because he is hot as fuck but also because I want to make sure my daughter is in good hands. If there's anything I'm sure of, it's that Luca isn't gay. He is bisexual. As advice from someone with more experience than you, I'll say you should shoot your shot. From what I've noticed, he might be as into you as you are him."
With that, she walks out of the sitting room, leaving me alone with my confusing thoughts.
A maid comes in, bows and proceeds to call my attention, cutting me off my train of thought. "Young master, Mr Redington is here to see you. Should I let him in?"
"Yes, I'm heading to my room now. Bring him there."
Hastily, I rush up the stairs and into my room.
My feet tap the floor repeatedly as I anxiously wait for Luca.
I've made up my mind to follow my mother's advice and make a move on Luca.
What could possibly go wrong, right?
A knock on the door of my bedroom almost causes me to jump off my bed.
"Come in." My voice trembles when I speak.
The maid comes in, Luca trailing after her, silently assessing my room.
Bowing again, the maids walk out, making the coast clear enough to put my plan into action.
Before
I can back out, I rush to Luca, take in a deep calming breath, then place my lips on his for a kiss.