'Rufus, I don't know how to tell them.' Lily sat on Rufus' couch and nervously played with her hair.
'Lily – relax.' She glared at him and he immediately thought of the old saying 'if looks could kill'.
'Don't tell me to relax Rufus, because I assure you that I won't.'
'Five minutes.' He taunted and her eyes narrowed even more, if that was possible.
'Stop that.' He collapsed next to her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Despite her annoyance, she instantly cuddled into him. 'They reacted so well to us dating, but how will they react to us moving in together in an apartment we already bought in Soho. I mean, Jenny only just came back to her senses –' he silenced her with his lips and she eagerly responded. But after one minute of duelling with their tongues, Lily abruptly pushed him away. 'Stop distracting me Rufus.'
'You'll be fine sweetheart.' He whispered into her ear before brushing his lips lightly against her forehead.
'Don't you dare sweetheart me.' She lowered her head back onto his chest and nervously tapped her foot against the plush sofa cushions. Just as they settled into a comfortable silence, they were interrupted by four teenagers bursting in thought the door.
'Hey mom. Rufus. What was so urgent?' Serena asked, clutching her beaded Fendi bag.
'Well, there's no easy way to say this, so why don't you –'
'We're moving in together.' Rufus interrupted and Lily exhaled as loudly as she could. But Lily's eyes expanded as soon as she saw her daughter's grin.
'Congratulations!' she laughed, throwing her arms around Rufus.
'Yeah, congrats.' Smiled Jenny, hugging a still shocked Lily.
'But you – you're all okay with this?' Jenny released Lily who immediately stood up and stared at Serena, waiting for an answer from the girl who, over a year ago, had told her to leave the love of her life and marry someone else.
'Mom, Dan and I are just friends now and Rufus makes you happy. Happier than I've ever seen you, actually. I'm done being selfish.' She wrapped her arms around her mother as tightly as she could. 'You have my blessing.' She joked before letting go of Lily and exclaiming 'So come on, let's celebrate! Dan, put on a Lincoln Hawk CD and Eric, pour the champagne – or orange juice.' She quickly corrected herself once her eyes met Rufus'. As their children laughed and absorbed some of Serena's hyper energy, Lily smiled with relief and moved closer to Rufus. His hand found hers and he squeezed as tightly as he could.
And she squeezed back.
