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The day is uneventful after my talk with Phoebe. A couple phone calls and avoiding any major contact with the bane of my existence takes up the majority of my morning. It also helps me ignore the fact that my daddy dearest is still not in the office, lord only knows what he is up to. As I finish off my sister's letter of recommendation, I hear the unmistakable voice of my mother. Glancing at my Rolex, I see that it's a little before noon.
"Lunch time, Teddy," I say to myself as I send out Phoebe's letter and walk out of the office.
"Mother,'' I greet as I spot her standing alongside my overly smiling dad, and a giggling Andrea. "I thought I was picking you up?''
"And have you cancel on me?" She replies as I bend to give her a kiss on the cheek, before turning to dad.
"You're late," I tell him.
"I still own the place. I make my own hours," he shrugs, giving me his trademark smirk.
"Yeah, well, thanks. I had to take all your calls, you owe me."
"I gave you, life," he jokes, wrapping his arm around mom's slim waist.
"Technically speaking, mom gave me life," I roll my eyes.
"If it hadn't been for me," he laughs back.
"Like I said, the stork brought me from Paris," I gag as I see his hand wandering too close to her derriere.
"Actually I think we made you in London," mom adds.
"Gross, mom! I don't need the specifics, let's just go to lunch," I huff, before turning to a silent Olivia.
"Man the desk," I order.
"Yes, Mr. Grey," she replies from behind her computer.
I hated how we were being so cold towards each other, but it was for the better. She was an employee and I was her boss. I had to get rid of that stupid fantasy.
"Will you be joining us?'' I ask my dad.
"No. I'll let you and your mother have the afternoon. Besides, I had her all night," he says with a wink in his eye.
"Dad-you know what, I don't want to know. Shall we?" I ask, offering my arm to my giggling mother.
"Thanks for the ride handsome," she purrs to dad.
"Laters baby," he replies.
"God, I need new parents."
….
….
….
…..
The ride to Tilikum is quick and soon we're placing our orders. The massive windows give us a clear view for people watching. Families are strolling about, other's walking their dogs or doing some shopping, and then the couples. I frown as I spot a few kissing or sharing a pastry from that overly pink bakery.
"You'll wrinkle if you keep on glaring,'' mom says as she sips on her Cosmo.
"I'm not glaring," I reply, taking a chug from my own drink.
"Sure you aren't," she arches a brow, waiting for me to open up and spit out my guts.
"I'm not glaring," I say in my best Christian Grey voice.
"Okay," she smiles knowingly, putting her hands up in surrender.
"I'm fine,'' I throw at her.
"I never said you weren't," she replies.
"Then stop looking at me like that," I mumble, picking at a breadstick.
"How am I looking at you?"
"Like I'm some defenseless puppy that just got ran over."
She sighs, setting down her bright red drink. "Theodore-"
Uh oh, she just used my full name, I think to myself.
"I'm worried about you-"
"Mom, I'm FINE."
"Fine isn't an emotion."
"It is for most people," I say back, taking another swing from my drink.
"I want you to be happy," she spits out, ignoring my previous reply, as only Anastasia Grey could.
"I've said this a million times and here it goes again: I AM HAPPY!"
"And I'm your mother. Which means, I know you more than anyone else and I know you aren't happy."
"Enlighten me," I say as if I were talking to a business partner.
"You need to stop fucking those annoying girls," she says, shocking me at her use of vulgar language.
"Mother! Did you just cuss?''
"Got your attention, didn't it?" She smiles proudly.
I huff in annoyance and with a flick of my hand tell her to continue.
"It's been years, you need to live your life and let go of the past! Stop having sex and find the girl you want to make love to."
I sigh in annoyance and try to find my patience, "There's too much going on in my life, mom. I don't have time to go on dates or having what you and dad have-"
"There's always time, Teddy! Besides, you have time to screw those blonde bobble heads-"
"Because they don't expect anything besides sex," I snap, making sure no one was listening into our conversation.
"That's what you think. God forbid you get a woman you don't love pregnant-"
"I'm always careful. Now, can we please move on?''
"No, we can't-"
"Mother, enough."
She looks at me in sadness and I instantly hate myself for making her sad, but I just hated how she could never just stay out of the love life I didn't have.
We sit in an uncomfortable silence, until our food is placed in front of us. I suddenly don't feel hungry, but I take a bite out of my savory tart. The taste is bitter and I feel like I want to throw up during each bite. Glancing at my mom, I see she is cutting up her salad with the same enjoyment I'm eating.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell at you mommy," I whisper, taking her hand in mine and kissing her hand.
"It's alright. I know I shouldn't pry and your dad has said the same, but I'm your mother and you'll always be my baby. It hurts me when I see you so lonely-" I try to cut her off but she holds up her hand.
"You have us, yes. But it's not the same. You need to stop running and just walk. Yes, you're about to be head of the company, but that shouldn't stop you from living and neither should your past mistakes. Theodore, be you. Don't be what you think people expect you to be. Just live."
"It's not that easy," I whisper, finally telling someone that deep down I'm not okay.
"Oh, Teddy," she sighs, sadly.
"I want to move on, I do. I just don't know how."
"You never had closure," she replies and I instantly know what she means.
You never did acknowledge what Lillian did, that annoying little voice in my head mocked.
"It's too late for that," I say more to myself than to her.
"It's never too late, Teddy. Your dad didn't have closure with his birth mom until years after and when he did he was able to move on."
"Even if I could get closure, I wouldn't know how to do it."
"Teddy, I hate myself for saying this but I think you and I both know what you need to do for that much needed closure."
I did know. I knew exactly what I need to do, but that wasn't an option. I couldn't face her. I didn't want to. How many times had I tried to confront her? The same number of times I had gotten drunk and screwed the first girl I saw.
"No. I can't."
"Daddy said that too, but he faced his pain and he was able to enjoy all the love he had."
"Mom, please," I beg for her to stop. I knew that I should be a man and just face the woman that had humiliated me and wronged me, but I wasn't strong enough. Deep down I was still that little boy that hid behind his parents and the safety of their love.
"Just keep it in mind, my darling boy," she moves to peck on my nose and I give her the smile she loves so much, the one she says reminds her of my dad's so much.
"You'll always be my number one gal," I wink.
"You're going to make me blush,'' she giggles, pretending to be flushed.
"Eat,'' I order her.
"So much like your dad," she laughs.
"Eat up, Grey," I pretend to glare.
"So bossy…''
Our lunch goes on smoothly after our one on one and any thoughts of her are pushed aside. We talk about the family, about her job, and about her and dad's upcoming second honeymoon. I hadn't realized how much I had needed this time with my mother, how much I craved her adoration and profound love for me. Times like these, I remember being an only child and having her absolute attention all to myself. Don't get me wrong, I love my little sister but I can still remember bits and pieces of my time as the sole heir to the Grey name.
After finishing off a delicious lunch, we head back to the car and drive off to Grey House Publishing. The car ride is less tense than the first drive to the restaurant and I enjoy every bit of the peaceful silence, and of the soft melody of Clair de Lune that sounds through the car.
"Have you talked to your sister, lately?'' She asks as we come to a halt, the late afternoon traffic already on its way.
"Today, actually," I reply.
"I'm worried about her," she says looking at me.
"Here I thought you only worried about me," I tease, earning a giggle.
"I always worry about my babies," she replies.
"What are you worried about? Phoebe is the perfect little girl," I joke, knowing well mom worried Phoebe was a little too spoiled.
"That's the problem, she isn't a little girl anymore. I think your dad has made her a little too spoiled. I love her and I love how happy she is, but at her age I-"
"Mom, Phoebe is just enjoying life and she's being careful. You got married at twenty-two and had me right after, and just because Phoebe hasn't done what you did doesn't mean she isn't happy. She graduated with honors and studied art under some renowned artist, be proud. Let her make her mistakes and fall as many times as she has to. She's a Grey, she'll climb that ladder in her Jimmy Choo pumps."
"She does love those pumps," mom laughs, thinking about her little girl.
"Phoebe is doing good mom. She's going to surprise everyone when she's back-"
"Surprise? Please tell me she isn't bringing home some guy. Daddy is going to have a heart attack with that girl…''
"No, no guy. Though, you will be surprised. It's a good surprise, don't worry," I soothe her, all the while keeping my sister's secret.
"Tell me," she orders.
"I promised not to,'' I reply.
"I'm your mother," she mock growls.
"She's my sister and I promised," I laugh.
"Fine. Don't tell me, but will I need to be monitoring your dad's blood pressure?"
"Noooo," I drawl but then look at her, "make sure grandma is there just in case.''
"That's reassuring," she sighs.
"I'm just kidding."
….
….
….
"Olivia, get me a tea," I order her as I pass her desk and walk towards dad's office.
"Yes, Mr. Grey," she replies softly.
Without knocking, I enter my future office and find dad on the phone with his usual glare and a pencil held tightly in his grip.
"I don't give a damn! You'll be here next week and then we can handle what you fucked up!" And with that he tosses the phone in its holder.
"What happened?" I ask as I sit down in front of him.
"People. You'll learn soon enough," he growls, but his eyes soften when he realizes I'm his son and not some employee. "How was lunch?''
"Good, I needed time with mom," I reply, letting go whatever had him annoyed before.
"She misses you. Sometimes I think she's ready to have you move back in," he chuckles.
"Don't give her any ideas," I laugh.
"The house does seem lonelier than ever, though. No kids laughing or running about, I miss it too," he says honestly, smiling at the photograph of me holding a baby Phoebe.
"A lot of good memories in that house," I agree and then I frown, remembering how mom and dad had always wanted more children but Phoebe's birth had left mom infertile. "My childhood was a dream, but I do enjoy living on my own and I know deep down you're enjoying having mom all to yourself."
"Well, when you put it that way…" he teases.
"No info please. Anyway, Phoebe is moving back. I'm sure you'll have her running around the house and annoying you to no end," I smile at the thought of my happy sissy.
"She hasn't been home in almost five years, permanently I mean," he smiles, recalling when our little Phoebe moved to New York for school, then to Holland, and finally Italy. She had been enjoying the traveling life and dad had been all but ready to have a heart attack at the thought of his baby all over the world.
"I think she'll enjoy being back home and having you at her beck and call," I tease, knowing well she had him wrapped around her finger.
"Like she doesn't already," he laughs.
Knock. Knock.
"Come in,'' dad speaks up and in walks the girl I want at my beck and call.
"Your tea, Mr. Grey,'' she says, handing me my usual tea.
"Thanks," I tell her, avoiding any unneeded eye contact.
"Is there anything else you need?'' She asks, standing next to me like a good little girl.
You, I want to say.
"No. You are free to have your lunch, Olivia," I tell her as if she were some mere thing next to me.
"Thank you, Mr. Grey,'' she replies before turning on her heel and walking off, shutting the door behind her with a soft click.
"What was that about?'' Dad questions, arching his brow at my and Olivia's distant display.
"Like you said, I have to keep my distance and I promised mom I would stop with my silly affairs," I shrug.
"And you're actually going to listen to us? Since when do you follow orders?'' He chuckles.
"I am my parent's child. If I don't follow orders it's because of the two of you. Anyway, mom got to me."
"She has a way of making us Grey men listen," he smiles fondly.
"Indeed she does. Indeed she does…"
Maybe one day, I'll have someone like that too…
*******FSoTG*******
The days go by and each day it becomes harder to ignore the blonde beauty that is only feet away from me. Every moment of seeing her and not being able to have her is torture, and I don't care how cheesy it sounds. I wish I could see that fireball I first met, but she seems she has locked her away and is now a carbon copy of the Barbie secretary.
To say I'm happy that the week is finally over and I won't have to see her until Monday would be an understatement. I was all but jumping in joy at the thought of some much needed relaxation and seeing my family tonight. Phoebe and Ava had arrived this morning and their homecoming dinner would be an event, Aunt Mia would not have it any other way.
Shutting off my computer, I fix my dark blue suit and give my bruised nose a final once over. No doubt, Ava and Phoebe would make fun of it the moment they heard what I had done to earn a bruise.
"Olivia, you're free to go," I let the blonde know as I spot her working with one of the new interns I had hired.
"Yes, Mr. Grey. Have a good weekend," she calls after me.
"You as well," I reply without looking back at her, but I do hear what the intern says as I step into the elevator.
"God, he's hot! Don't you think?''
I'm not able to hear Olivia's response as the doors shut and the elevators begins to descend, and I try telling myself it didn't matter. I shouldn't care what Olivia had to say, if she thought I was attractive or not. She and I wouldn't be, no matter what we both thought.
….
….
….
The drive to my grandparent's Bellevue estate is all the relaxation I needed after a day of long and frustrating meetings. Even as a child I loved long car rides, I recall mom telling me that the moment dad or anyone else began to drive I would be out as a bulb. Driving gave me a sense of calm and allowed my mind to stop all the useless thinking. On the road, I could be me. Just me.
Pulling into my grandparent's now busy driveway, I spot Taylor and the rest of my dad's security team. Ryan, who has been Phoebe's loyal bodyguard since babyhood and has traveled the globe with her stands next to Taylor, looking completely tired and jetlagged.
"Ryan!" I greet as I step out of my car.
"Mr. Grey, how are you?'' He smiles.
"First off, it's Teddy or Theo and second, better than you look. Has Phoebe finally scared you off?''
"It's always an adventure with Ms. Phoebe," he smiles and before he can say more, I'm tackled by a copper haired blur.
"Teddy bear!" The blur shouts happily in my ear.
I laugh knowing immediately who it is that tackled me, "Phe Phe!" I hug back just as tightly, before pulling away to look at the little beast.
Dressed to kill like all of us Greys and in her usual high heels, Phoebe carries herself with the same grace mom does. Her gray eyes shine with happiness and a childlike spark that makes me think that the world is a safe and perfect place.
"I've missed you!" She says, before pulling me back in for another hug, "I got the job," she whispers.
I pull away and give her a "are you serious" look, but she immediately quiets me down when she sees the rest of the family making their way outside.
"Cousy!" Ava greets, looking her clean and polished self.
"Ava, you aren't drunk!" I tease, pulling her into a hug.
"Ha. Ha. Very funny," she playfully glares at me as she pulls away.
"If it isn't my grandson! Heavens, he lives," grandma Grace calls out to me as she makes her way down the steps.
"Grandmother!" I smile like a little boy, enveloping her in a massive hug.
"You could at least call once in a while," she says once she pulls away.
"Like I told mom, it only makes it all the much better seeing you after a long time of not doing so," I say, kissing her perfectly coiffed hair.
"Uh. Hmm." She gives me a huff and a look that says she didn't believe me one bit.
"Come on, everyone is inside," she says, pulling me and the girls into the breathtaking house.
"Teddy bear!" My cousin, Mila shouts, bouncing her way over to me.
Mila was her mother's daughter, with the same raven dark head and statuesque height, but with her father's green eyes. She was a fashion lover and like Phoebe, enjoyed life at the fullest.
"Hello Mila," I laugh as she clings onto me tightly, before pulling away and mock hitting me on my chest.
"I've missed you! One would say I only have girl cousins," she pouts.
"I've been busy, but I'll make it up to you," I say.
"Don't tell her that or she'll make you watch Legally Blonde over and over," I hear Declan say as he walks out of the family room,
Like his twin sister, Declan was dark-haired and shared their father's green eyes, but unlike his sister he loved medicine over the high fashions. When he was born I had been ecstatic, knowing that I would finally have a boy cousin to play with.
"I was thinking a day out on the boat, but now that Declan mentions it-"
"Thanks Declan," I mock glare at him, before giving him a pat on the shoulder.
"Ready for Stanford?'' I ask him.
"Ready as I'll ever be,'' he smiles, excitedly. Ever since he had been accepted into his preferred university, he had been over the moon. I could probably quote the alma mater by heart now and I hadn't even gone to the school myself.
"Dinner is served!'' I hear Aunt Mia announce from somewhere in the dining room.
Grandma takes my arm as I lead her to where everyone else is waiting, while the girls all giggle and practically strut their way to the family room. My parents are happily talking with Uncle Elliot and Kate and grandpa has Uncle Ethan locked in a conversation of Psychology as we walk in.
"All my grandchildren together! This brings back memories," grandpa smiles, standing up to greet me and take grandma into his arms.
"You make it sound like we haven't been together in years, grandpa," Ava laughs, wrapping her arms around his.
"Don't tease your old man, sweet pea," he laughs, pecking her on her blonde head.
After saying hello to everyone and pulling mom into a bear hug, Aunt Mia enters the family room, clicking her heel impatiently.
"I said dinner is ready. Teddy, how are you?" She asks giving me a noisy kiss on my cheek, like she used to when I was a child.
"Handsome," I joke, earning a giggle from her.
"Charming as ever, dear nephew. Alright, there is a massive dinner waiting for us and I did not kill myself over the stove for nothing," she smiles, leading us all towards where the feast is being served and feast it is.
Roasted duck covered in orange sauce sits in the middle of the grand table and surrounding it are plates filled with mashed potatoes, freshly baked bread, various kinds of vegetables and sauces, and cheeses. I feel myself drooling a little at the feast, Mia Grey knew how to throw a dinner and I was ready to devour it.
"God! This looks amazing!" Ava squeals, quickly placing herself in a chair. "The French know how to cook, but did I miss a good home-cooked meal."
"Amen," Phoebe agrees, gracefully falling into her own chair and eying the food like she wanted to marry it.
"What, the French didn't cook everything your dark hearts desired," Uncle Elliot teases.
"Bite me, daddy," Ava glares playfully.
''I might die," he laughs, earning a slap from his wife.
"Oh, hush up Grey. Last time we went to France you were ready to go into the chef's kitchen and cook yourself," she jokes.
"It wasn't my fault! I just said that my mom cooked better," he shrugs, making us all let out a laugh.
"You're such a child," dad says as we begin to place food on our plates.
"Still bigger than you and in all the ways that count," Elliot throws back.
"Elliot! There are children present," grandma scolds, causing us children to laugh.
"Grandma, we haven't been kids in ages," Declan chuckles.
"You're all still my babies to me," she tells him, running her hand through his dark hair in a doting manner.
"Some more than others," Ava looks pointedly at me.
"I love you all equally," grandma replies.
"Then why are you fixing Teddy's plate as if he were still a baby?'' Mila laughs.
"I am not fixing his plate. This is for Declan," she says, continuing her serving.
"Awe, thanks gran but I'm allergic to nuts and mom put that in the gravy. However, Teddy loves that gravy and you know it," Declan laughs at grandma's blushing face.
"Okay, okay. So I know what my little Teddy bear like, sue me," and with that hands me a loaded plate.
"Thanks, grandma," I smile charmingly.
"Totally feeling the love nana," Phoebe giggles.
"You have to admit gran, Teddy is the favorite around these parts," Mila joins in the giggling.
"He is not the favorite…" grandma replies, shushing the girls.
"He was just born first," grandpa says, "which, oh, you're right. He is the favorite."
Everyone laughs at grandpa, no one taking his words into offence. We were loved equally, but as the eldest I had gotten a bit more of their love until Ava joined the club.
"Alright, no more of this. You are all loved, end of story. Now let's enjoy this meal that my darling Mia has prepared," grandpa tells us, giving his thanks to Aunt Mia.
She smiles at the praise and Uncle Ethan pecks her gently on the cheek, before Gretchen-the family's maid- begins to serve the wine.
"None for me, Gretchen," Phoebe tells her, covering her glass with her manicured hand.
"That's right, you're the adopted one," I tease her. For some odd reason, she hated the taste of wine and all just found it hilarious. Dad was a wine lover and mom was close behind, and to have Phoebe hate it was just funny.
She sticks out her tongue at me like a five year old and I retaliate like anyone else would, I stick out my tongue too.
"And to say, that is our future CEO," mom laughs.
"I thought we were all adults here," Aunt Kate pipes in.
"Please, he is only going to be the next CEO because I didn't want the job," Phoebe teases, squeezing a lemon into her sparkling water.
I laugh at that and can't help but tease back, "The moment you took control of the companies, we'd be bankrupt."
"Not true!" She pouts and glares at dad when he begins to chuckle, but covers it up with a cough.
"You're right. First order of business would be painting the company pink."
"Theodore," mom scolds, holding back her own giggle.
"I'm going to wait for your apology," Phi continues to pout, taking a bite out of her glazed duck.
"So, how was Monaco?'' Ethan asks the girls and immediately Phoebe stops her pouting.
"Breathtaking!" She and Ava say together, and give us tale after tale of their wild adventures and what they had bought during the trip.
"Next time you have to go Mila! The shopping was to die for," Phoebe smiles wistfully.
"Isn't shopping in Monaco like shopping here?'' Declan asks, arching his dark brow.
The girls including my aunts all look at him as if he just killed a puppy and said he enjoyed watching it die.
"You shouldn't have asked that," I laugh at him.
He shrugs, not knowing how he had just hurt the ladies of the house with his senseless words against shopping.
"Anyway, we brought gifts! You're all going to love them," Ava claps and continues on with her stories about all the stores and restaurants she and Phi had been to.
The evening is perfect as we enjoy the meal and all the stories the girls had brought from Europe, but it wouldn't be a family dinner without grandma's berry pie.
"Who wants ice cream with their pie?'' Gramps ask as he carries a bucket of vanilla ice cream, followed by Gretchen carrying a tray holding cherries, whipped cream, and all the trimmings for sundaes.
"I do!'' The girls shriek.
"You know the drill," he smiles at his grandkids. "The bigger the news, the bigger the scoop."
Indeed we knew the drill. It had been a tradition that he had invented when we were kids and at the time we had adored his game. He would ask us to tell him something that had happened to us and in return he would reward us with a dessert.
"Grandpa," everyone moans, while I let out a chuckle with the rest of our parents.
"Who wants to go first?'' He asks.
"I guess I'll go," Ava declares, making sure all eyes were on her before delivering her news. "As you all know, I will be going to law school come fall…"
We all nod, wondering what she was going to say.
"What you don't know is…'' she looks around the table, keeping the mystery.
"Oh come on!'' Declan rolls his eyes.
"I have my first internship at Slade and Hoffer's law firm!" She announces with her 'I'm perfect, yes I am' smile.
"Oh sweetheart!''
"That's my baby!"
Praise is thrown her way and she eats it all up, enjoying every minute of it. Ava absolutely loved being the center of attention, but her ego was just as big as her heart. She loved us all more than anything and her love made us ignore her sometimes vain nature.
"That's an amazing firm, Ava. It's one of the best in Boston,'' grandpa tells us, his face showing absolute pride for his granddaughter. "However, it's also a very difficult internship so I've heard."
"Please," Ava waves him off, "I'm a Kavanagh Grey. You see this?'' She points to her eyes, smirking.
"Focus! Well, contacts but behind that is FOCUS!" She continues to smirk, making us laugh.
"Well, we wish you the best of luck darling girl," grandma smiles, blowing Ava a kiss
"Thanks, nana," she smiles in return.
"To my baby girl! I made her," Uncle Elliot pretends to shed a tear as he raises his glass.
"Dad!''
"Oh, Elliot," Aunt Kate giggles.
"Gross, dude. Kate is still my sister," Ethan groans.
"Well seeing as that was amazing news, Ava you get a whopping two scoops," grandpa smiles, making Ava her sundae and topping it off with all the trimmings.
"Who is next?'' He asks us once Ava holds her bowl of ice cream.
"I'll go," Phoebe announces.
Grab on to your hair dad, I think to myself, guessing what her news will be.
"Alright, here goes," she says to herself and then like Ava holds our gaze. "You are looking at the Seattle Art Museum's new assistant director!''
Everyone gasps at her news and unlike with Ava, most remain quiet. If I hadn't known Phoebe had applied for a job I would too be shocked and I would have to go see her in action to believe her, actually maybe I'll do just that.
"You have a job? When? How!'' Dad asks, looking for the first time ever: Surprised.
Phoebe sighs and then tells us the whole story of how she applied and had an interview via skype, and how her boss was a woman, so dad had nothing to worry about. We were all engrossed by her story and trying to picture Princess Phoebe in the working world.
"Well? Aren't you guys going to congratulate me?'' She huffs in annoyance.
"Sweetheart," Mom tries speaking, the words ending up lost in her throat before turning to me.
"You knew about this?'' She asks me.
"Some of it. I just didn't know she would start up so high," I reply.
"Princess, are you sure you want to work? You know we just tease you. You don't actually need a job," dad tells her, earning a glare from mom.
"Daddy, I went to college to study art and now that I have the degree, don't you think I should start using it?'' She replies, sounding like an actual adult.
"Well, yes but…''
"What your father means is that we're so happy for you, sweetheart," mom smiles, giving Phe a kiss on her cheek.
And with mom's words the praise follows, Anastasia Grey really knew how to handle a situation. We all give Phoebe our love and she giggles like a little school girl. I really do hope she makes it in this job. I loved my sissy, but working was not her area of expertise.
"Now that was how you deliver news!'' Grandpa cheers, handing Phoebe a massive bowl of ice cream with extra whipped cream.
"Thanks grandpa," she smiles, kissing him on the cheek.
"That's a tough act to follow, who's next?'' He asks.
Declan follows, announcing he will be taking a pre-medical class before the semester started in September. Mila goes next and tells us that she will be working for her grandmother at her boutique, her desire to be a stylist still holding strong. It was known that Mila wasn't the most decisive of people and she changed her major often. She wanted to be a florist, then a dancer, after that a chef but she didn't inherit her mother's cooking streak. Finally, she said fashion had always been her love and she would make a living off of it.
When Mila is handed her ice cream, everyone turns to me. I sip on my wine and remain silent, as if no one was looking at me.
"There was a time where you always went first," grandpa tells me, "So what's your news?''
"I bought a new suit," I try.
"Boo!'' Everyone shouts.
"Come on, Teddy. You can do better than that," he tells me.
"There's nothing new going on," I shrug.
"Someone isn't getting ice cream," Ava teases.
"Fine," I huff, rolling my eyes. "I'm going to practice celibacy."
As the words fly from my mouth, I hear mom choking on her wine and the others stunned by my frank confession.
"Well…'' Grandpa stares at me in shock, not knowing what to say to that.
"Dad give him some ice instead of the ice cream, he's going to need it for his-"
"Elliot!'' Everyone shouts, shutting him up immediately.
"What? It's true," he shrugs.
"Who want's coffee?'' Grandma asks trying to change the subject, her face just as red as Ava's blouse.
"Can I have my ice cream?'' I ask.
And all eyes are on me.
Hope you enjoyed and thanks for all the love! Review please.