Finn's eyes met Aveline's pearl grey eyes. He already knew it before he saw the look in her eyes. It was that time of the month again where they got paid and her mother expected her to hand over some of her money.
"You know you don't have to," he said.
"I don't wanna talk about it," she said.
"You know I'll never tell you how to spend your money. I'm only reminding you that it's your choice. Not hers," he said.
"I don't need this conversation right now," she said.
"What do you need?" He asked.
"A hug," she answered.
He smiled and opened his arms. She wrapped her arms around his waist and felt his broad arms engulf her in a much needed hug. He ran his fingers up and down her back and played a bit with her long, caramel blonde hair. She sighed and tilted her head back to look at him. He leaned down and pecked her lips.
"Have you thought more about moving to Ireland?" He asked.
"I have but I have not yet come to a conclusion," she answered. "What does Ireland have that USA doesn't?"
"Free healthcare," he smirked.
She chuckled and finally gave him one of her classic smiles. He could never grow tired of watching her smile.
"I do love it there, and your family is always so sweet to me," she said.
"I know it's scary to uproot your entire life and move to another country. I've been there. But you will have me all along the way. My company is just waiting to hear if I'll take the promotion or not, and I swear we'll find a place for you as fast as possible so you can open that cupcake shop you've always dreamed about," he said.
"Will you get angry if I say no?" She asked.
"Not at all," he assured her. "Then we'll stay here. I don't care where we live as long as we're together."
"One more kiss, please," she said.
He grinned at her before kissing her again. She wiggled out of his arms, grabbed her purse, and went out to the car. She drove to the nearest ATM first and took out the amount she always took out on payday. Then she drove to her mother Victoria who stood there waiting for her with her arms crossed.
"Finally!" Victoria said loudly. "Took you long enough. Why do you always keep me waiting like this?"
"Why do you always snap at me?" Aveline asked.
"Ungrateful brat!" Victoria muttered.
Aveline sighed and took out the money. Victoria snatched them from Aveline's hand with a huge grin on her face. Aveline no longer asked what Victoria used the money for. She stopped caring a long time ago.
"Thank you," Victoria said. "Close the door on your way out."
"Why did you have children when you clearly don't like me?" Aveline asked.
"That's just what you're supposed to do," Victoria shrugged. "When are you gonna grow up and get some? You're gonna need someone to take care of you when you get old too."
"And be a loser like you?" Aveline snorted. "Maybe if you didn't have me, you would have been able to save up."
Victoria's jaw dropped. Aveline had never spoken to her like that before. Aveline had finally opened that box and she wasn't going to close it again. She had reached her breaking point. Victoria would never be a mother to her the way she was supposed to. All Aveline would ever be to her own mother was an easy way to get money.
"What will you do if I stop giving you money?" Aveline asked.
"You wouldn't dare," Victoria said.
"Children are not a fucking retirement plan!" Aveline raised her voice.
"You motherfucking, ungrateful, little slut!" Victoria screamed. "I birthed you! I raised you! And now you wanna act as if you're better than me? You better fucking keep paying if you know what's good for you, or else..."
"Or else what?" Aveline cut Victoria off. "What are you gonna do, Victoria? What the fuck are you gonna do? How fucked up is it that I call you by your name instead of mom? Who does that? You were never a fucking mom to me, and you know it."
Aveline stormed back out to her car and drove home. She ran inside the house and threw herself at Finn who was sitting on the couch. She started crying and he held on tight to her.
"Wow, easy there, love," he said calmly. "What's wrong? What happened?"
"Why is she such a bitch?" She cried.
"I don't know," he said.
She looked up at him with tears running down her face.
"Show me some houses," she said.
"You're not gonna make that decision right now with how you're feeling," he said.
"I know. I just wanna see some houses to take my mind off things," she said. "Let's order some food and jump in our pajamas and pretend the world doesn't exist today. I just need you to be close right now."