Wanting You (Book 1)

Love In The Air

Astrid's POV

It was clear that Trent was furious, and as for my feelings, I didn't know how to feel about this sticky situation. His dad and my mom liked each other and were fond of each other.

We ick as they locked lips together, then blushed like the highschoolers we were. Trent and I looked at each other.

"This isn't happening," he repeated, and I agreed.

~

"Mom, just how serious are you with Timothy?" I asked my mother when the day came to an end, and we were back home in the living room.

"We are getting to know each other. He communicates well. He likes most of the things that I like to do, especially bake. He enjoys the outdoors and nature. He loves his son, and I love you," she said, the last part warming my heart and making me smile.

"I love you too, mom," I responded to her, wrapping my arms around her for a comforting hug. Then I remembered Trent's words and wondered how he and his dad were getting along at their end of things.

"But I don't know how I feel about Timothy," I found myself saying. Mom broke the embrace.

"You mean you don't like him?" she asked.

"Well, I don't know him," I shrugged my answer.

"That's okay. You've only officially met him once, and that was today. You would have to get to know him better, spend more time with him, and so on."

"You really think you two are going to be together long enough for that to even be a possibility?"

"Excuse me?"

"Mom, have you even googled him? He's a millionaire! He's completely out of your league, this man."

"Astrid, you need to stop right there."

"Mom, you need to think long and hard about this. I don't want to see you getting hurt again, especially at a time you're most vulnerable."

"And I appreciate your sincere concern, but it's my decision to make."

"He's not the one," I attempted to enforce.

"I'll determine that. Thank you very much."

"This isn't going to work!"

"You need to stop attempting to throw a tantrum. I'm not one of your fellow peers, I'm your mother."

"I'm well aware," I answered. I excused myself from her presence and went up to my bedroom.

~

"We can work together," I said to Trent one afternoon after school. We were in an unoccupied classroom, and I watched in worries as he paced the floor, hands deep into his pockets while he was deep in thoughts.

"We'll never work together on anything, especially this," he hissed and ceased his pacing.

"Fine. I'll try to keep my mom away from your dad, and you try to keep your dad away from my mom. Simple as that," I shrugged.

"You're not going to 'try'. You're going to do it."

"In all defense here, they're the adults, and they're going to do whatever it is that they want to do regardless of us trying to stop or put a dent on things."

"Glasses!"

"My name is Astrid!" I corrected him sternly.

"Whatever! Look, my dad is the catch here, not your mom! Keep that leech away from him!"

"Excuse me, what did you just call my mother?"

"You think he hasn't been down this road before with women like your mother, huh? Acting all innocent, all in love.. when they were only in it for the money."

"My mom is nothing like those women! She is and always has been hard-working, independent, beautiful, and loving. She didn't crawled behind my very father when he left us with nothing but debts. She took up the mantle and carried the weight! She doesn't need a damn thing from your father!"

"That was impressive pitch and a nice speech. An 'E' for effort."

"Why don't you just kiss my ass then!" I snapped, blood boiling to the point where I wanted to slap the handsome off his face.

"Wow! Who knew you had that side of you? I'm actually impressed. Those romance books you're usually reading in a quiet corner are awaking a whole new side of you."

"Why don't you just go to hell!" I finished and stormed out of the classroom without wasting another moment with that obnoxious jerk!

How dare he!

~

"Mom, I've been thinking about how selfish I've been, perhaps maybe inconsiderate of your feelings also. I was more focused on me, instead of you," I started a conversation with my mother after she came home from work one evening.

"What are you saying all this to say?" she asked as she removed her chunk heels and laid back on the couch.

"I'm rooting for Timothy and you," I said.

She looked in my direction, a pleasing smile played upon her lips.

"Thank you. I appreciate you getting on board with things. He asked for the four of us to meet again."

"I'm looking forward to it," I responded, and a sinister laughter echoed in my mind. I wasn't saying this for my mom's happiness.

At that moment, I didn't care about her happiness. I wanted a one-up on Trent Ambrose. I wanted him to eat his words and his uttered disrespect. I wanted to wake and bask in his misery for all the years he had made my life a living hell at high school. I wanted the last laugh.

~

It was another Saturday evening. Timothy, mom, Trent, and I were sitting around a dinner table, indulged in drinks and a warm conversation as the sunset on the horizon sky.

"Dad, another excellent dinner. You do know how to pick them," Trent said to his father. I searched his words and expression for any sarcasm.

"Thank you, son. I do have good taste," Timothy responded and looked at my mom as if the words were meant for her. Mom blushed and sipped from her glass of wine.

Moments later, a bit darker out, a waitress walked up to our table with surprise desserts of cheesecakes and ice cream.

Immediately, I indulged myself. Cheesecake was my favorite dessert, and the ice cream was a bonus.

Then mom was served a very special and different plate. In chocolate syrup, the words read, 'Will You Marry Me?' and a dazzling diamond ring competed with the evening stars for shine.

I was shocked.. and speechless.

"Wait.. I think she gave me the wrong plate.. Excuse me!" mom called after the waitress.

"No, Marjorie, it's not the wrong plate," Timothy said. My eyes traveled between him and mom.

He got up from his seat and kneeled down before her.

"Dad, what are you doing?" Trent asked in disbelief too, but his father ignored him completely. He took the ring off the cake and held it so mom could see.

"I know our time together has been brief," Timothy started.

"Exactly! That is why you shouldn't be doing this!" Trent's voice rose and interrupted, but his father continued to ignore him.

"You've made an instant impact in my life," Timothy continued.

"So did Bethany!" Trent snapped, and I eyed him.

"Please do me the honor of becoming my wife. Will you marry me?" Timothy finished.

"Oh hell no. I'm not sticking around for this.. Why am I even here?" Trent said. He picked himself up and left the table fuming. I smiled to myself.

"Yes! Yes, I'll marry you," mom answered. Timothy placed the ring on, and mom wrapped her arms around his neck as he stood up tall and pulled her closer to his chest. Their lips sealed the moment.

I left them to their moments and found Trent skipping a stone into a small pond.

"It's official," I said. He turned to look at me, dark blue eyes screaming with rage and anger.

"You're loving this, aren't you?"

"They're grown," I answered.

"And when she breaks his heart like you women always do.. he's going to break down like a little boy, and I'm going to have to pick him up once again!"

"Quit complaining.. you've done nothing but jinx yourself."

"Which is what exactly?"

"I'm going to be your step-sister," I smirked.