A Step Closer to Love

The day went by in a flash and Kieran knew that the calls from his mom by the time it was close to closing hours indicated that his parents had made up and Ethan had transferred the information between parties.

Everly must have now been aware of the situation and must have wanted to hear from him. He sent a text to her explaining he was busy and that he would call her later when he was free.

“I think both our parents know” Kieran said as he drove home.

“Both our parents?” Arabella shrieked as she turned to him with wide eyes.

“Mom has been calling me nonstop stop and Dad caught us in the morning at home. I am guessing that she had told him and also that she might have told your mom”

“My sister knows as well” Arabella said biting on her lip and trailing off as she spoke. “And I think I might have been the one to let your mom in”

“What?” Kieran asked turning to her briefly before turning back to the road.

“I mean when you first asked me out, I was so flustered and disturbed that I was distracted. She noticed that something was up and then asked me about it, since I needed advice I decided to tell her” Arabella rambled.

“What?”

“I only told her because the words weighed on my mind and I had no one to talk to”

“Well, what did she say?” Kieran was hoping his mom put in a good word for him. Maybe that might have been what would determine her changing her mind so quickly.

“If you are asking if she was in support of you then I am sorry to burst your bubble” Arabella said slowly. She watched the excited look in his eyes die down.

“She spoke so highly of you but…”

“That’s okay, I don’t want to hear anymore,” he said squaring his jaw before looking out from the window beside him “I can’t believe that woman” he muttered to himself.

“All that matters is that we are together,” she said in an encouraging tone. Her hand went over his huge hands and it was like a wasted effort because it could barely cover anything.

Kieran overturned her hand and covered up her hand in his. He sent a small smile to her and she felt her stomach beat in excitement.

“You know you have a very…” she trailed off. She had wanted to compliment him and she did not want to sound weird.

“I have?” he asked tugging on her hand. He wanted to listen and hear everything she had to say.

“You have a beautiful smile, I wonder why you don’t smile more often” she finally let out after a little time of consideration.

“Do you want me to smile often?” he asked and she nodded before taking a moment to think it through.

“Wait,” she said lifting her free finger in the air. “Don’t smile at other women, they might get lost in them” she said with a serious expression.

“So to you alone?” he asked. She was not sure if he was teasing her or not but she went along with it because she was dead serious about it so she nodded.

“I had no intention of smiling at other women anyway”

Ethan stopped them in the living room as though he had been waiting for them. He had made up with his wife with the help of his son and he knew it was time to address what he had seen in the morning.

“I want to talk to you,” he said. “Both” he added when he saw that Arabella was about to escape.

“Me?” she asked pointing to herself.

“Yes you,” Ethan said with a nod.

“Okay,” Arabella said pressing her lip into a thin line and walking toward the couch.

“Let’s sit” Ethan gestured to the couches. Arabella sat and Kieran sat beside her. She shifted a bit to give space between them because of the embarrassment she felt by the situation. She guessed that Ethan might want to talk about what he had walked in to see and she was very right about it.

“Do any of you want to explain what I saw this morning?” Ethan finally let out after contemplating for a while.

“We are dating” Kieran said without missing a heartbeat.

“I think I was able to deduce that from the situation,” Ethan said before making a sound at the back of his throat.

“Oh, you were?” Arabella let out in a squeak.

“How did this happen? Was this you?” Ethan turned to Arabella. Before she could defend herself or say anything Kieran was ready to speak.

“I went after her because I realized my feelings for her. So I was the one who started everything and not her. I just want to say I won’t stand by and allow you to give her a tough time for being with your son. Doing that only makes you look and feel like a bully” Kieran went on and on without stopping.

“Wait what?” Ethan asked stopping him from saying any more.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“Aren’t you calling this meeting because you disapprove of the relationship?” Kieran asked when he saw the expression on his father’s face.

“Disapprove?” Ethan asked confused.

“I know you don’t like me sir but your son…”

“I don’t like you? Where did you get that from?” Ethan asked. He could not help but feel bad about the notion Arabella and Kieran had of him.

He had been happy for his son, at least he had found a way to be happy. He had seen him express emotions in the morning, they were the kind of happy eyes he had never seen on his son.

“Isn’t that it?” Arabella trailed off now realizing that it was possible that she had gotten the wrong idea of the situation and was being paranoid for nothing.

“I was only asking her if she approached you because the Kieran I know would not go after a woman but I am glad to hear that he was the one who went after you and also I like you Arabella, you are like a breath of fresh air to his stuffy house”

Ethan slapped his thigh before pushing himself up. “I am glad that you two can find something within each other”