Chapter 3- Forbidden Attraction

-Veronica Langford-

I was still struggling to process everything I had just heard while my mom and Joshua were lost in each other’s eyes. What did she mean she was getting engaged? I knew my mom and dad had their issues, but I saw their connection even when they fought, and I guess I hoped that one day they would realize they were meant for each other, and they would find their way back to each other. But now, my mom was getting engaged to this man—this stranger who looked more like my peer than hers

I cleared my throat, trying to mask my shock. “Engaged?” I finally asked, my voice barely above a whisper. I couldn’t meet my mom’s eyes, instead focusing on the way Joshua’s hand rested possessively on her waist.

“Yes, honey!” she exclaimed, her face glowing with a smile. “I know it’s sudden, but when you know, you know, right?” She gave Joshua a lovesick smile that made my stomach churn.

“Mom, can I speak to you for a second?” I called out to her, interrupting their eye contact. I stood up and went upstairs, pacing the corridor and waiting for her to meet me

I walked to and fro nervously for mere seconds, but it seemed like minutes when my mom didn't appear. Did she not hear me or was she too lost in Joshua’s eyes to leave the dining table

I was about to go downstairs and call her again when I heard footsteps on the stair case. I walked over to the stairs and it was her

“Honey, are you okay? Why did you leave the dining table so abruptly” she asked, like she didn't just announce that she was now engaged to someone

“Mom, please tell me you’re joking or I heard wrong. Are you seriously engaged to that guy downstairs?”

“Ronnie, he isn't just a guy downstairs. He’s Joshua and no you didn't hear wrong. I’m actually engaged” she hummed, wriggling her fingers to show me the shiny engagement ring.

“Mom. What the actual fuck?” I yelled, continuing my pacing

“Ronnie, language” she warned, but at this point I couldn't give two fucks about my language

“For goodness’ sake, mom, you can't just get engaged to someone you just met. I’m sure as hell you don't know anything about him” I told her, “and what about dad? I thought you too were resolving?” I whispered

“Veronica, I didn't just meet him” she defended, looking at the ring with so much affection

“Really? How long have you two known each other and how long have you been dating?” I asked her with folded arms

“We’ve known each other for about a week before we started dating, and we’ve been dating for two weeks now before he finally popped the question” she chimed, completely oblivious to the seriousness of the situation

“Jesus. That is barely even up to two months” I held my head in my hands

“That's enough time for us to get to know each other”

“He didn't even know you had a daughter!!! Since you know him so well, what’s his last name?”

“Wolfe” she replied quickly.

“How old is he?” I asked

“He’s twenty-eight.”

“And what’s his height?” I kept throwing questions at her

She blinked and looked around. “Probably around six feet?”

“You're guessing. What’s his favorite color?”

“Uhhh” she looked up

“What’s his favorite meal, what calms him down, what are his hobbies, have you even met his parents? Mom, this guy may just be after your money and not you”

“Okay, Ronnie, slow down. When I met him and we started dating, he didn't know I was rich and maybe I don't know everything about him, but that’s what marriage is for. We’re going to learn about each other for the rest of our lives” she smiled, swirling the ring on her finger

Marriage? Okay, it’s confirmed my mom has gone totally crazy.

My eyes were wide with shock as I stared at her, speechless.

She walked over to me and drew me into a hug, patting my hair. “Ronnie, I know this is a lot to take in, but I really like Joshua and he makes me really happy. I and your dad….I dont see a future with your dad anymore. It would mean the world to me if you could accept Joshua and our relationship”

I hugged her back, taking in her calming scent.

“Uhmm, Claudia???” we heard Joshua call from downstairs and my mom cupped my face and placed a kiss on my forehead

“Coming” she called back to him. “You should come finish your dinner” she said taking my hands

We both walked hand in hand downstairs and settled at the dining table

“Ladies, is everything okay?” he asked, looking across from my mom to me, giving us a kind of nervous smile

“Oh everything is fine” mom reassured him, reaching out to hold his hand. We continued eating while I looked at Joshua.

Initially, I thought he might have used a love potion on my mom, but looking at him again, I realized. Who wouldn't want to spend the rest of their life with him? He was gorgeous and the way his hair fell over his face....God, I shouldn’t be thinking of him like this. He’s with my mom, for crying out loud

And he could be dangerous. For all I know, he could only be engaged to my mom for her money and my mom can't seem to see it. I was suspicious of him, and I was going to find out if he really liked my mom, or he was just engaged to her for some other reason. We finished up dinner and I cleared the table while they chatted away.

I watched Joshua and my mom kiss and made a mental note to puke later. She escorted him to the door and bid him goodbye. As soon as the door clicked shut behind Joshua, I leaned against the kitchen counter, arms crossed, watching my mom hum softly to herself as she tidied up.

I wasn’t sure if I could handle this new reality—my mom, of all people, suddenly engaged to someone she barely knew. Someone younger than her by a good decade. But the worst part? He was hot. Way too hot. The kind of hot that made my brain short-circuit whenever I looked at him for too long. How was I going to cope when I was also attracted to the guy my mother is engaged to and planning to marry? Worst of all, his intentions for my mom may not be genuine

“Are you really happy, Mom?” I asked quietly, breaking the silence as she walked back into the room. I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to hear her answer, but I had to ask.

She paused, turning to me with a gentle smile. “Yes, honey, I really am. Joshua’s different. He makes me feel…alive again.”

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Okay,” I whispered. “I just—I need some time to process this, Mom.”

I mean time to try and stop my attraction to your fiancé.

“Take all the time you need,” she said softly, walking over to kiss my cheek before heading up to bed.