Chapter 98: All Over Again

SELENE’S POV

Things were moving faster than I had expected.

Now he was asking me to come to his house to meet his mom. He had mentioned before that he lived with her, so it wasn’t a complete surprise ... but still. This was becoming more serious by the day.

Meanwhile, Lucian and I were growing distant inside the chambers, even with how close our living quarters put us. He didn’t want the distance. I did. I wanted no relationship with him whatsoever ... not romantic, not emotional, not anything beyond what was absolutely required of me in that palace.

I kept myself occupied. I would be in the kitchen talking to the chef about the menu ... what to make, how to make it ... and Lucian would walk in under the pretense of inspecting. I knew he was really looking for me. I never gave him a single reason to approach.

After that night ... the night I told him clearly to leave me alone and stop treating me like his responsibility ... he had pulled back. Not completely, because the man was stubborn as a wall, but enough. His stubbornness wasn’t going to keep me from seeing Aiden or meeting his mother. That was already decided.

"Yes, I’ll meet your mom," I told Aiden.

We settled on the next evening at five. The following day was a weekend, and while there wasn’t a single day that passed where I didn’t work before everyone ate, I figured I could allow myself a little leniency just this once.

The next day came faster than I expected. I had been so eager, so quietly excited, that time seemed to blur at the edges.

I told Ms. Ashlyn and my squad ... my family, the only people I truly trusted. They all supported me without hesitation.

"Text me when you get there," Valerie said.

We hugged and I left. It wasn’t even far. In no time at all I was standing outside his place.

Aiden was the first one out, already waiting for me at the front.

"Hey, Aiden," I said.

"You’re looking stunning today, Selene," he said.

I felt heat rise to my cheeks like it always did around him. It was just my mascara and lip balm, honestly. And I didn’t think there was anything particularly special about the dress either ... but the way he said it made me feel otherwise.

"My mom’s inside, she’s already expecting you. Let me take you in!" He spoke softly, with that quiet energy he always carried.

We stepped inside and I immediately greeted her.

"Oh, is this her, Aiden? She’s so beautiful." His mom smiled the moment her eyes landed on me.

She looked older but not aged in a frail way ... there was life in her face, a warmth that reached her eyes before her words did. I liked her immediately. Something about her felt familiar and safe.

"How are you, dear?" she asked.

"I’m fine. My name is Selene," I said.

"Seleneee." She stretched my name out with a smile, like she was tasting it. "Yes, Aiden told me all about you. Have a seat."

She disappeared into the kitchen. Aiden sat across from me and started winking like it was the most natural thing in the world. He had gotten so comfortable around me that the winking barely registered as flirting anymore. It was just him.

His mom returned carrying a plate that smelled incredible before I even saw what was on it.

"I made some chocolate biscuits for you to try," she said, setting the plate down between us.

"Thank you so much," I said.

I reached for one. Aiden reached for one too. I took a bite and my eyes widened slightly.

"This is literally the best biscuit I’ve ever tasted," I said, and I meant every word. "It’s so good."

She laughed, pleased. "I’m glad you like it. I’m also preparing dinner, so just give me a little while." She left the remaining biscuits on the table and slipped back into the kitchen.

Aiden and I looked at each other across the living room.

"Say something, Aiden," I said, smiling.

He was quiet for a moment.

"Your beauty is leaving me speechless," he finally said.

I laughed. "Then I guess we’ll just stare at each other."

And that was exactly what we did ... a full staring competition, right there in his living room. After a long stretch of silence and locked eyes, he gave out. He blinked.

I burst out laughing.

He genuinely hadn’t expected to lose. But I stared at books all day long without so much as flinching. There was no version of that game where he was beating me.

"You beat me online and you beat me in real life," he said, shaking his head.

"That’s just the way it is," I said, still laughing with a piece of chocolate biscuit in my mouth.

His mom called us to the dining table not long after. She had made spaghetti ... proper, well-seasoned, the kind that told a story. Aiden had mentioned to me once that spaghetti was his favourite, and it showed in the way she had prepared it. She had learned his taste over years and it was in every strand.

"Hope you like this one," she said.

I smiled and nodded, and we both dug in.

It was at the dinner table that she really started talking to us.

"He said you two met at an event," she said.

"Yes, that’s right, ma’am," I replied.

"You know, ever since he met you, his face has brightened up considerably." She paused, looking at me steadily. "He has never been this happy about meeting a lady. You’re one of a kind, Selene."

"Thank you, ma’am," I said.

I understood what she was doing. She was telling me, in the gentlest possible way, not to leave her son. She had taken one look at me and made a decision. The warmth she was extending wasn’t just politeness ... it was intention.

"I’ve always had a soft spot for intelligent women. I was top of my class back in school myself." She glanced at my glasses with a knowing look. "Everything Aiden told me, and now seeing you here in person ... I know you’re a perfect match for him."

I was jumping on the inside. I kept my face composed but everything inside me was doing cartwheels. I had genuinely grown to like Aiden and his company. He was a good man. And now his mother was sitting across from me giving her quiet approval without being asked. I was so happy I could barely sit still.

We finished every last bite of the food she had made.

"Thank you so much, ma’am. It was really lovely," I said when the plates were clear.

"The pleasure is mine, Selene." She smiled. "And it’s Victoria. You can call me that."

"Alright," I said with a smile.

There was absolutely no way I was calling her Victoria.

"Okay, Mom, it’s time for her to head home," Aiden said.

"Wait, wait..." She held up a finger and vanished into the kitchen again. She came back with the remaining chocolate biscuits, neatly wrapped. "Take these home with you."

I placed the package carefully in my bag. "Bye! Thank you again."

By the time we stepped outside, it was already eight in the evening. The street was dark and the only thing giving us light were the street lamps lining the road.

"Your mom is a really interesting person," I said as we walked.

"She really likes you," Aiden said.

"How would you know? Haven’t you brought other ladies home to meet her before?"

"No." He said it simply, without hesitation. "You’re the first."

He had never lied to me up to that point, so I believed him without question.

"Let me take you home," he offered.

"There’s no need, Aiden. I came on my own so I’ll get back on my own."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course. It’s late ... go be with your mom."

"Okay, at least let me walk with you until you find a cab," he said.

We walked and talked until we reached a bus stop. That was where it made sense to part ways.

"So this is it," I said. "Until the next time."

I moved to take a step forward when I noticed the shift in him ... a subtle change in his posture, the way he leaned slightly toward me. He was going to kiss me. I could see his pulse moving at the left side of his neck. He had worked himself up to it.

I didn’t pull away. I let him close the distance.

We kissed softly on the lips. Three seconds, maybe four, and then we pulled apart.

We both laughed at the same time.

"That was awesome," he said.

"Yeah," I managed. "See you."

I was already blushing so hard I couldn’t look directly at his face. There were butterflies in my stomach doing things I had no words for.

I flagged down a cab and climbed in. He waved at me from the pavement. I turned my head to face the front as the car pulled away.

It felt like falling in love for the very first time all over again.