CONFLICTING FLAMES

CHAPTER 3

It was two days after Brian and Amanda had made up and he had taken her to meet his family. Brian had grown up in a middle-class family home where his mother worked as a teacher and his father was a company manager.

He was raised by both parents, who he discovered were his foster parents when he was 21 years old. He had grown up together with his Foster brother and no one ever believed that they weren't blood brothers. They literally shared everything and had once dated one girl, at the same time.

Brian was grateful for his Foster family and had grown to love them so much that he didn't go looking for his own parents. That was why he listened to his mother and did whatever she wanted without looking back, most times at the expense of others.

They had invited him to have dinner since his Foster brother was back in town for his wedding. Brian decided to take Amanda with him to get more acquainted with the family, after all, they were getting married.

"Baby, should I wear my purple dress since we are going to meet your parents?"

"No baby, wear the other one I got you on your birthday."

"No, that's too short. We're going to see your parents not to club." They shared a laugh as Amanda went ahead to do her thing. She was ready in a jiffy.

Brian was ready and waiting when she walked out.

"Beautiful as always." He said and dragged her hands. "We're late already."

Amanda smiled and kissed him on the lip then they drove out.

****

It was only an hour's drive. The house was quiet and felt lonely from the outside. Amanda had wondered how Brian had grown up in such a quiet place.

Her family was a nosy one. She had five siblings and being the younger one, she always had to take orders from them. There was never a quiet moment at her house.

When Brian opened the door, a little girl went all in and gave him a tight hug. It was Emily, Brian's little sister who was always cheerful.

"Emily!" Brian received the hug wholeheartedly. It was beautiful watching them.

"Welcome home, sweetheart." Mrs. Dora replied and gave him a long hug.

Amanda was not surprised at the fact that she pretended not to even see her.

"Good afternoon." Amanda greeted, making sure she was loud enough and trying so hard to fake a smile.

"How have you been?" She couldn't let Brian go as Amanda watched from where she stood like an abandoned sheep.

"I love this family so much," Amanda whispered sarcastically.

"Amanda sweetheart!" Mr. Ruger appeared suddenly and greeted Amanda giving her a quick hug and then leading her to the kitchen. "You're looking so beautiful. " He complimented her.

Amanda smiled accepting the compliment even though she knew Mr. Ruger was only trying to be nice to her and make her feel better.

"What would you like to have."

"Thank you, Mr. Ruger. You're looking so young too." I said. "What did you do?" I asked, making a funny face.

"I started exercising, you remember what I told you last time?" He asked and they shared a laugh. It was only Mr. Ruger that Amanda could speak to freely without feeling rejected.

It suddenly seemed that Brian remembered he came home with someone and broke away from his mother's hug.

"Amanda?"

"Yes. I'm in the kitchen." Amanda answered, hiding the tint of jealousy in her voice. The smell of chicken filled the kitchen as Mother and son walked into the kitchen hand in hand.

"Amanda dear. How are you?" Mrs. Dora asked.

Even though Amanda knew she really didn't care, she replied. "I'm well. How are you too? Brain told me that you had gone to the hospital. I hope you feel well?"

"Thank you." She replied and turned to Brian. "David is home, he went out to visit a friend and would soon be home."

Just then, the door opened showing a well-built man, everyone in the room smiled except Amanda who knew where she had met the face before.

"David, Brian came with his fiancée." Mr. Ruger was more excited than David himself. "Isn't she beautiful?"

Amanda felt like the ground should swallow her just when she made eye contact with David. He was the one. The one she had made at the bar that night. The one she had a one-night stand with.

"How the hell was David, Brian's Foster brother?" She wondered as she smiled, stretching her hands for a handshake.

Amanda watched David's expression and could see that he didn't look surprised in any way. She wondered if it was in his plans after all.

"Hello, David. Nice to meet you." Amanda responded, trying not to meet his raving stare at her. She was literally shaking all over and was trying so hard not to show it.

"I'm doing okay. Brian had told me so much about you and I'm happy we are meeting today."

"Me too," Amanda replied, hoping he would let go of her hands which he held on to, tightly.

"Let's eat." Amanda was trying to distract everyone.

"Why.." David was distracted. Amanda prayed he would stop staring with his mouth open or Mrs. Dora would start getting worried.

As they ate, Amanda wondered how in the world were two unlikely people brothers.

Brian was so excited talking to his brother that he even forgot that Amanda was there.

Amanda was breathing now and very fast, she only hoped no one would notice. She ran her hands through her sweaty head but couldn't get the sweat off. The house wasn't quiet as everyone chartered while Amanda said nothing. She kept looking at David's way to make sure she was seeing exactly who she thought she was seeing.

"Is my mind playing games?" She wondered.

"Amanda, are you alright?" Mr. Ruger asked, truly concerned.

Amanda suddenly jerked back to reality. She stared at everyone in surprise as they were all waiting for a response from her.

"You've been staring into space. Is something wrong?" Mrs. Dora asked. "Or you need attention?" She asked, rolling her eyes at Amanda.

"No, Ma. I'm sorry, Ma. I was just thinking about work. Nothing too serious." She responded, trying not to get attention.

"Are you sure, Babe?" Brian asked, inquisitive to know.

"Yes, I am. Don't worry, okay?"

Amanda could feel her eyes become heavy. She just wanted to leave, she was already fed up. The presence of David had so much effect on her and she wondered how he acted so normal and as if everything was okay.

"Brian has told me so much about you," David said.

"Oh.. wow. He hasn't said so much about you." Amanda blurted out.

"I told you about David, you must have forgotten." Brian laughed as he said so.

Hopefully, the dinner ended successfully even though Amanda didn't eat so much. She packed the plates and took them to the kitchen so she could wash them. Brian was still chatting with his parents but Amanda heard someone come in and it was David.

"We meet again."

"Did you do this on purpose?"

"Do what?" David asked.

"Did you plan this? Did you know that Brian was my fiancé?"

David laughed. "I'm as surprised as you are."

Amanda couldn't help staring. He was a good-looking man and had the attributes a woman would want in a man. She took note of his gorgeous features, his dark hair was trimmed by the side, his eyes a light green, and his perfect tan skin glittered under the sun. He looked so much better than Brian.

"You're staring." David broke into her thoughts.

"You should leave or we'll both be in trouble," Amanda responded, about to turn her back at him but stopped.

"You look beautiful." He said as he got more relaxed, leaning on the kitchen wall opposite Amanda. His gaze was not fixed on Amanda but on her neck and slight exposure of her chest. "You really are."

Amanda felt beautiful truly but then his gaze became uncomfortable.

"Don't stare at me like that."

"Like how?"

"You know what I mean. They'll find out, especially your mother."

"Don't worry about my mum."

"Oh, she's supposed to be the least of my worries?" Amanda laughed, ironically. "Just leave."

"But we need to talk," David said, closing the space between them.

"Talk? There's nothing to say. We agreed that whatever we had was for that night only. So there is simply nothing to discuss." Amanda agreed.

"But I saw you again."

What does that even mean?" Amanda asked. She wanted to leave and never come back. The thought that she had s*x with her fiancé's brother made her feel nothing but guilt.

Taking a glance back at David she told him that she was leaving with Brian.

"Just like that?"

"I see you guys are getting along." Brian barged into the kitchen, slightly startling Amanda.

"Yes. She said she wanted to leave, now." David said in a sad tone.

"Babe?" Brian asked.

"I'm not feeling too good."

"I'll take you home," Brian said and again, Amanda was grateful that she had a caring man.

"No, you should stay and catch up with David. You know you're mother won't be happy that we're leaving so early." Amanda responded, hoping he wouldn't agree to it.

"I won't let you go alone."

"I'm so happy for you guys." David smiled at them.

Amanda had two hurdles facing her currently. She was getting married to Brian and his mother hated her and the fact that she found out that she had slept with her husband's brother.

She was getting married to the man she loved but then David surfaced and she didn't understand how she felt about David.