"Pregnant?" Nick and Charlie asked in unison.
"I mean-I'm not a hundred percent sure," Tori said as she walked into the house, "But I'm a few days late and experiencing nausea, cravings and every other symptom."
"So, it's too early to tell?" Charlie asked.
"It's been three weeks since the insemination, so a pregnancy test can't pick it up right now. But I plan to make an appointment next week to confirm."
Nick and Charlie exchange looks with each other.
"What's going on?" Tori asked with a bit of concern in her voice.
"Well…" Nick started, "Charlie-"
"Is super excited for this!" Charlie interrupted. He walked up to his sister and gave her a hug. "I can't believe it," he said as he kept a stunned look.
Tori hugs him back and looks up at Nick who had a dumbfounded look on his face. "How are you feeling, Nick?"
"I-I-I-I mean… The pregnancy just happened so fast," Nick said trying not to sound too suspicious. "I mean, it's only been three weeks."
"I know!" Tori said rubbing her tummy. "They're eager to meet you two I guess."
Charlie looked over at Nick. "Looks like you carry Olympians, huh Nick?" he laughed.
"CHARLIE!" Nick shrieked as a blush spread across his face.
Charlie laughs at his husband's embarrassment before turning his attention back to his sister. "Is there anything you want me to make you?"
"I'd kill for something sweet right now."
"Tara brought puff puffs here not too long ago. You can snag some," Nick offered.
"That actually sounds nice."
"We'll meet you in the kitchen in a second. I need to speak to Charlie for a sec."
Tori nods before heading off to the kitchen. When she is finally out of earshot, Nick looks at Charlie ready to give him a piece of his mind.
"You're insane, aren't you?" Nick asked.
"You have no idea," Charlie mumbled.
"Charlie, you just told me you had second thoughts and now you're telling Tori you're excited. That's not okay."
"I know! I know!" Charlie said with a bit of stress in his voice.
Nick takes a deep breath, steps a bit closer to Charlie, and squeezes his shoulders. "We really need to talk when Tori leaves."
Charlie nods before they go to the kitchen to accompany Tori.
Charlie ruffled his hair with his towel as he walked into the bedroom.
Nick was typing something on his laptop before he looked up and saw Charlie coming in. He quickly finishes up what he was typing before stashing it away.
Charlie gently sat on the edge of his side of the bed and looked over at Nick and Nick returned the look back.
"Will you come closer?" Nick asked.
"No."
Nick sighs. "Charlie, I'm not mad, but I just really need to understand. Why tell Tori and I that you're okay with the surrogacy when you're not?"
It was Charlie's turn to sigh. "I thought I was at that moment."
"But?"
"I don't know. It's just…" Charlie trailed off as he began to rub his hands together anxiously. "These ridiculous thoughts and this ridiculous recurring dream I keep having."
"About what?" Nick asked as he scooted a bit closer to him.
"Well… I know that the process was going smoothly, but something feels off for some reason. This is also Tori's first pregnancy, usually they want surrogates that have already given birth, but because she met other requirements and stated that she doesn't want kids and would rather give them to me if allowed, they gave the go ahead. But what about later down the line? What if they missed something and something happens to Tori?" Charlie then crosses his arms and takes a sharp breath. "And that dream. That stupid dream."
"What dream?" Nick asked. He reached out and grabbed Charlie's hand, giving it a light squeeze.
"The dream always starts the same and ends the same and the middle always changes."
"What happens in it?"
"Tori always dies in labor and Michael gets angry with me. The baby is either dead or alive. Today it was just organs in a blanket. But in the end-" Charlie stops.
"What?" Nick asked. "What happens?"
"You always leave," Charlie whispers. "You always look at me with disgust on your face and say the meanest things, then you leave."
"Charlie-"
"I know it's just my mind being silly, but these thoughts are having a chokehold on me right now." He looks at Nick. "I'm feeling every emotion right now for this baby, but I can't help but feel like I might cut my sister's life short and if something happens to the baby, then you'll leave me."
Nick was finally close enough to Charlie to pull him into a hug. "Nothing like that is going to happen, I promise." He pulled away a bit, so he was making eye contact. "The doctor found nothing wrong and even if that scenario was to play out, I would never leave you. Not like that and not ever."
Charlie buried his face in Nick's neck. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be," Nick said as he ran his fingers through Charlie's hair. "We're going to be fine; I promise."
Charlie returned the hug and gripped tightly on to the back of Nick's shirt as he silently hoped that he was right.
Tori sat on the doctors' table and swung her legs. She began to bite down on her thumb nail. "What the hell is taking this doctor so long?"
"They just want to make sure everything is legit," Charlie laughed.
Tori swung her head toward Charlie. "You callin' me crazy?"
Charlie scoffed. "I'm just saying Tori. You could just be so excited that your brain is tricking you to feel all those symptoms."
"Oh, come on Charlie! The mind is powerful. But so powerful to the point it makes me delay my period? If it was that strong, I would've been delaying the damn thing ages ago."
Charlie knew she was right and that there was a strong possibility that she was pregnant, but he silently hoped she was not. The thought was horrible, but Tori not being pregnant might put an end to that awful dream.
The doctor then walked in while reading his clipboard. "Hello you two."
"Hello," Charlie and Tori replied.
The doctor then sat on his stool and flipped through more of the papers. "Well good news guys, Miss. Spring is definitely pregnant."
Tori gasped in excitement, but Charlie's heart dropped.
"Are you sure?" Charlie asked.
"Yes, Mr. Spring-Nelson", the doctor said as he scooted over to the computer. He did some typing before turning the computer monitor towards them. "See here?" The doctor said circling a small grey dot with his mouse, "That's the baby. From the size of it, Miss. Spring is in the very early stage of pregnancy."
Charlie began to twiddle his thumbs. "Oh wow," was all that he was able to muster out.
The doctor stood up and reached out to shake Charlie's hand. "Congratulations. Parenthood is a wonderful thing."
Charlie shook his hand and let out a weak thank you before the doctor left.
"Is something bothering you?" Tori asked.
"Why?" Charlie said a bit anxiously.
"You just don't seem that happy, Charlie."
Oh no, was it that obvious? Charlie straightened up and quickly spat out an answer. "NO! I'm excited, I swear. It's just everything's- ya' know- just happening so fast."
Tori leans towards him a bit. "You sure? You better not be lying."
"I'm not, I swear." Charlie quickly changes the subject. "I gotta call Nick and give him the news," Charlie says as he texts Nick to call him as soon as he was free.
Tori gives Charlie a skeptical look before she decided to drop it. She hops off the table and picks up her bag. "Tell Nick I said hi," she says before exiting the room.
Charlie couldn't help but feel bad. He should be excited. He should have been jumping for joy and doing cartwheels around the room, but he just couldn't.
He makes his way towards his car. Before he starts it, his phone rings.
"Hello?"
"Charlie? Is everything okay?"
"Yeah… She's pregnant," Charlie sighed as he leaned back.
Nick let out a small chuckle.
"What did you just think just now?"
"Charlie, we're going to be parents by next year. This is all so exciting for me," Nick said gleefully.
Charlie could hear the squeaks from him spinning in his office chair.
"How are you feeling?" Nick asked. "I know you're having a bit of anxiety about the situation, but tell me what you're thinking?"
Charlie let out a loud groan. "I want to be happy. I really, really, really do. But I still worry for Tori, ya' know?"
"Yeah. Maybe you should talk to her," Nick suggested. "Just to put you at a bit at ease?"
"You think so?"
"Yeah. She's your sister. I'm sure she'll understand your concerns."
Charlie ran his fingers through his hair and groaned again.
"No more of that groaning," Nick laughed. "How 'bout we go shopping today? For a crib and stuff?"
"You don't think it's too early?"
"I mean, better now than later, right?"
A small smile appeared on Charlie's face. "You're paying for everything right?"
Nick chuckled. "Don't I always?"
While the couple was sharing a laugh on the phone, Monica was about to walk in, but stopped herself when she realized Nick was laughing on the phone and the quick adrenaline of jealousy entered her body.
"BABY!" Monica said loudly in the best flirtatious voice she could put on, "Ruben needs you."
Nick's expression quickly changes to shock as he looked over at Monica.
"Baby!?" Charlie asked a bit irritated. "Who was that?"
"Uh! It's no one. Just a VERY annoying intern," Nick said as he shot Monica a pissed off look.
Monica gave him a devious smile and wink before walking away.
"Listen, I have to go. Ruben needs me."
"Mm-hmm."
Nick pouted a bit. "You're not angry, are you?"
"Nope," Charlie said quickly.
'He's pissed,' Nick thought. "Okay. I love you."
"Hmm."
"Are you not gonna say it back?"
"Get your intern to do it, "baby"."
"Char-!"
Before he could say something else, Charlie hung up the phone and drove himself home.
Nick stared at the phone in disbelief. "He hung up on me!?"
He walks outside his office to find Monica but accidentally bumps into Jason and knocks his donut and coffee out of his hands.
"Jason, I'm so sorry!"
"Argh. I guess this is the universe's way of telling me to lay off them," he sighed. He looked over at Nick who looked stressed out. "Geez SN! I said it was fine."
"It's not that, it's Monica."
"Oh?"
Jason and Nick began to walk towards Ruben's office while continuing the conversation.
"What happened with Monica?"
"I was on the phone with Charlie, and she called me baby."
"What? Are you going to report her?"
"I don't want to report her. Just want to talk to her."
"But you should though. She can't be all flirty with you like that, especially if it makes you uncomfortable." Jason said as he put his hand on Nick's shoulder. "She said something outlandish when you were on the phone with your husband for Christ's sake. She should know boundaries!"
"I thinks it best that I talk to her first," Nick said. "It's just Monica being silly, and she always jokes like that."
Jason crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "She only "jokes" like that with you."
Before Nick could argue back, Ruben popped out of his office. "Nick! Just the man I wanted to see!" He smiled.
Nick shot Ruben a quick hello. He turned back to Jason who still had his arms crossed.
"Go on. We'll finish up this conversation later."
Nick nods before entering Ruben's office.
Oliver knocked on Tori and Michael's front door and waited for someone to answer.
Michael opened the door and raised his eyebrows in surprise at who was at his doorstep. "Oliver? What are you doing here?"
"I was just in the neighborhood," he laughed as he scooted pass Michael to get in.
"Tori! Your brother is here!" Michael called out.
Tori exited the bedroom and turned the corner. "Oli? Aren't you supposed to be on campus?" she said as she got closer with her arms crossed.
"School is boring! Let me hang with you guys for the day. Look, I've come bearing gifts." Oliver then raised a plastic bag that had a yellow smiley face with THANK YOU underneath it. "It's Fish and Chips!"
Tori then caught a whiff of the fish and immediately became nauseous.
"Tori?" Michael asked in concern.
Tori couldn't hold it any longer and puked all over Oliver's shirt.
Oliver stared at Tori and back at his shirt repeatedly with his mouth agape.
"Uh, Oli-"
"EXPLAIN YOURSELF!"
After letting Oliver use their shower and getting him a fresh shirt, Michael and Tori sat him down and explained everything to him.
"Holy shit…" Oliver whispered. "I should suggest things more often to people! Forget this engineering degree. I'm switching majors!"
"Don't get crazy, Oliver," Tori said rolling her eyes.
"But in all seriousness, wow Tori. You're really going to have Nick and Charlie's baby."
"Right?" Tori smiled.
The excitement Oliver first had then quickly disappeared. "Wait, no!" he said as he sunk deeper into the couch. "This is insane."
"Geez kid. Why the change of heart?" Michael asked.
"I mean… Mum and dad must've gone crazy at hearing the news, right? You having Charlie's baby must sound so abnormal to them."
Michael and Tori gave Oliver the same blank stare.
"You all told mum and dad, right?"
"SHIT!" the couple said in unison as they quickly stood up.
"Tori! Have you and Charlie lost your minds? How can you guys do something this big and not tell our parents? Especially mum?" Oliver stressed.
"I know! I know!" Tori groaned as she massaged her temple with her fingers. "It's just that we got excited with all the planning and things were going so smoothly. Crap!"
"Should we call her over the phone and tell her?" Michael asked.
Tori sighed. "As much as I would prefer that, I think it's best if we announce the pregnancy face to face."
"Yeah, like a dinner maybe?" Oliver suggested. "Call Nick or Charlie and see what they say."
Tori quickly scrolled through her phone to find Charlie's number and put the phone on speaker.
Charlie answered his phone while he was looking at a pair of baby shoes. "Are you okay, Tori."
"Yeah, I'm good. It's not me, it's mum and dad."
"What about them?" Charlie asked, a bit worried. "Are they sick?"
"No, it's about the surrogacy. We didn't tell them."
Realization hit Charlie like a ton of brick. "SHIT!" he shouted.
Customers nearby looked over at him and gave him a dirty look.
Charlie quickly fled the scene and went to a different part of the store that had less people. "I've completely forgot to tell them. As a matter of fact, we haven't even told Sarah yet."
"Oh God! You people are a mess!" Oliver laughed.
"Oli's with you?" Charlie asked.
"Yes, he's playing hooky."
"Congrats on the baby, Charlie!" Oliver shouted. "But I still think that's a bit crazy that you guys didn't tell anyone."
Charlie sighed. "Thanks Oliver."
"We should really plan a day to tell them soon and very soon," Michael said.
"Yeah of course. Don't stress out, Tori. Nick and I will come up with something."
"Keep me updated."
"We'll talk later," Charlie said as he hung up his phone.
He goes off to find Nick and finds him in the stroller section.
"Nick, we have to talk."
"Are you mad at me?"
"Huh?"
Nick began to nervously rub his hands together. "It's just that you haven't really spoken to me since that call we had, and you were so quiet and short with me in the car and when we got to the store you automatically went to shop on your own."
"Oh… I'm not angry, I promise. I just have a lot on my mind," Charlie said as he began to reach out for Nick's hand. "And I know you're more concerned about the "me not saying I love you back" part than the other things, you big baby," he laughed.
Nick pursed his lips and looked back at the strollers. "Whatever."
Charlie pulled Nick's arm around him and slowly wrapped his arm around Nick's waist. "I'm sorry I didn't say it back, okay? But then again, no one else should be calling you that but me."
Nick turned back towards Charlie. "Sorry about her. Monica's crazy and she knows how easily flustered I can get, so she always jokes with me."
"Is she only like this with you?"
Nick thought back to the conversation that he had had with Jason at work. "Well…" he started, "I used to believe she joked like that with everyone, but Jason says she only acts like that with me."
"And you don't think so?"
"No. I mean, I've seen her pull the same type of jokes with other people."
Charlie removed Nick's arm from around him so he could stand in front of him. He gently squeezed Nick's shoulders. "And you're okay with these jokes? Right?"
Nick stayed quiet for a moment and thought back to all the jokes Monica said to him in the past. "I think I'm okay with it. She just likes to see me flustered is all."
Charlie continued to look at his husband with concern.
"She's like twenty-one and her jokes are no different than Oliver's. At the end of the day they're just jokes," Nick said hoping that his answer will assure Charlie.
"You sure, Nick?"
"Yes, Charlie. I promise. What is it you wanted to tell me anyway?" Nick asked as he laced his finger with Charlie's.
Charlie didn't believe Nick at all, but it was obvious he really wanted to move on from the topic, so he decided to drop it… For now. "Well, before I group you with me and Tori, have you told your mum about the surrogacy?"
Nick's eyes widened in realization. "FUCK! How could I forget to tell her something like this?" Nick asked himself as he began to rub his forehead. "And you forgot to tell your parents too?"
"Like a moron," Charlie chuckled. "Michael and Tori want to set up something to tell them."
"We can try to get them together for this Saturday. We can do dinner at our place, yeah?"
"Yeah. You going to invite your dad or David maybe?"
Nick sighed deeply. "You know how flakey my dad can be and David's just too much of a headache. I think I'd prefer telling dad over the phone."
"And David?"
Nick did another sigh. He let go of Charlie's hand, walked over to a pink baby shirt that was hanging on a rack and began to study it.
"Nick?"
"I don't think I will tell him," Nick finally answered. "Let mum spill the beans to him or something. It's not like we talk like we used to anymore and plus would he even be understanding to the situation? I can just see him saying something stupid."
Nick hasn't spoken to David since their wedding last year. Nick never went into complete details with Charlie on what happened that day, but from what Charlie knew, Nick sent out multiple invites to David that he never responded to. He then randomly showed up on the day of the wedding and they exchanged some harsh words with each other in the dressing room before David stormed out.
As much as he wanted Nick to have the same relationship he had with Tori and Oliver, Charlie knew that Nick was right. With his mum already being there, it would just be too over stimulating to have David there as well.
Nick looked over at Charlie with a small smile on his face. "Should we get this shirt?" he asked, snapping Charlie out of his thoughts.
"Yeah, it's pretty."
It was finally the Saturday that Charlie and Tori had secretly been dreading.
Tori was setting up the table while Nick was putting the final touches on the meal they were going to have. Nick then walked into the dining room and placed the food in the center.
"Michael ran out to get wine," Tori stated to Nick.
"That's fine. Have you seen Charlie?"
"He said he was going to get dressed not too long ago," Tori answered.
Nick pulled out his phone from his pocket and looked at the time. "Shit. I have to go get ready too."
"I can set up on my own," Tori reassured him. "Go. You reek of garlic."
Nick rolled his eyes. "Thanks, Tori."
Nick went up the stairs and into the bedroom to quickly pick out an outfit before hitting the showers. He walked in and saw Charlie buttoning up his shirt.
"Hey you. Sorry I couldn't help with the cooking," Charlie said.
"Oh honey, don't be sorry. I don't want you in my kitchen. You'd probably accidentally poison the family if you were helping," Nick laughed.
Charlie gasped. "You act like I'm horrible at cooking," he said as he sat on the bed putting on his socks and shoes.
"Because you are, Charlie!" Nick laughed. "And that's okay. I don't love you any less because of it."
Charlie rolled his eyes at Nick. "I made you that omelet that one time and you said you liked it."
Nick was looking through the closet for a shirt. "Yeah, you also made me those cookies that chipped my back tooth, that raw baked chicken, and those burnt burgers that could skip across a river," he responded back while laughing.
Charlie laughed at the memories of his days trying to be romantic and cook for Nick. "I'm still sorry about your tooth."
Nick turned around with a black button up draped on his arm. "I've made peace with it."
Charlie looked at Nick's top. "We should color coordinate. You have something brown right?" he asked, walking over to the drawers.
"I should. Can you pick me out something while I shower really quick?" Nick asked as he tossed his towel over his shoulder.
Charlie nodded as he continued to dig through Nick's clothing. After some debate, Charlie settled on pairing Nick's top with brown trousers that had a plaid design on them.
Nick came back from his shower and looked at his outfit on the bed. "You sure know how to put an outfit together, Char."
"I didn't spend all that time in the closet for nothing."
There was then a loud knock at the door.
"That must be them," Charlie said. "I'll entertain them for a bit while you get ready."
Before Charlie could leave the room, Nick pulled him by his arms.
"What is it?"
"Are you going to be okay?" Nick asked.
Charlie faced him and laced his fingers with his. He took a deep breath before responding "I think I'll be okay. I hope I'll be okay."
Nick kissed the top of Charlie's head. "I'll meet you downstairs in a bit."
Charlie nodded before exiting the room. He walked down the stairs and saw his parents and mother-in-law talking to Tori and Michael.
"Hey, everyone," Charlie said as he approached the group.
"Charlie!" Sarah said excitedly as she walked around Julio and Jane to give him a hug. "It feels like it's been ages."
"I've missed you too," Charlie chuckled as he hugged Sarah back. He looked up at Julio and Jane. "Hey mum. Hey dad."
Charlie made his way over to do a group hug with his parents.
"Where's Oliver?" Charlie asked.
"He texted me saying he had something to take care of really quick before coming over," Julio said.
"That boy. He's always up to something fishy," Jane commented.
Charlie cringed at his mom's comment and quickly changed focus. "Let's head off to the dining room, shall we?"
"Where's Nicky?" Sarah asked.
"He was so busy preparing dinner he had little time to get ready himself. He'll be down soon," Charlie responded.
They all began to sit at the table when Nick finally appeared as he was fixing the buttons on his shirt.
"Sorry for the wait," Nick said breathlessly. He quickly gave Sarah and Jane kisses on the cheeks before he sat at the head at the table next to Charlie. "Where's Oliver?"
"Running late," Charlie responded. "I don't think he'll mind if we start without him."
"Okay then." Nick then stood up and clapped his hands together. "Let's start digging in everyone!"
Everyone was enjoying the food and having side conversations when there was a knock at the door.
"I'll get it," Nick said. "It's probably Oliver."
Tori turned towards Michael and asked him to get her another sweet tea from the kitchen.
Jane took notice of this. "No wine tonight, dear?"
Tori almost choked on her meal. "Uh, no I'm just not in the mood," she tried laughing it off.
Jane narrowed her eyes at her and took a sip of her wine.
Nick entered the room with Oliver.
"Sorry for being so late guys! You saved some for me, right?"
"Are you in your Cinderella phase or something? You're so late," Michael laughed.
Oliver mimicked his laugh back. "And for your information, I had to put the final touches on my project," he said as he dropped his bag on the floor and took a seat next to Nick.
Nick took Oliver's plate and started to fix him his meal.
Jane cleared her throat. "How about your other classes, Oliver?"
"They're fine," Oliver said sternly.
Charlie exchanged a puzzled look between his mother and his brother. Jane continued to look on at Oliver while she sipped on her wine while Oliver began to play with his phone.
'Did they have a fight?' Charlie wondered. He made a mental note to talk to Oliver about it later.
Nick took hold of Charlie's hand. "Should we say it now?"
Charlie squeezed his hand back and just nodded.
The couple stood up and Nick cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.
"So, as you all probably may know, Nick and I have a big announcement we would like to share with you all."
"Out with it then, you two," Sarah laughed.
Nick and Charlie exchanged looks with each other.
"You say it," Charlie said as he nudged Nick.
"Really!?" Nick laughed. He rolled his eyes and looked back at their family. "Charlie and I… are getting our baby."
Sarah and Julio gasped.
"This better not be a joke!" Julio said as he couldn't contain his excitement.
"No joke dad. We're going to be parents soon."
Julio stood up and gave a tight bear hug to the couple. "I'm going to be a grandfather!" He pulled away and gave quick glances at them. "When are they getting here?"
"Next year," Nick answered.
Julio raised his eyebrow.
"We're doing surrogacy dad," Charlie said.
"Surrogacy?" Jane asked. "Do you even know where they're coming from?" she scoffed.
"Yes mum, we do." Charlie looked over at Tori.
Tori sighed and stood up. "The surrogate is me, mum."
Jane whipped her head around to look at Tori. "What!? I thought you didn't want kids."
"I don't. The baby is Nick and Charlie's."
Jane became baffled at what she just heard. "So, you're carrying Nick's baby?"
"Nick and Charlie's baby," Sarah corrected her.
"It's not Charlie's baby! It would be his nephew!" Jane said angrily. She turned her focus on Charlie. "You can't seriously be thinking of raising you sister's child as your own, can you?"
"Why do you have to be so negative all the fuckin' time, bro?" Oliver asked as he crossed his arms.
"Watch your mouth when you speak to me! And I won't be gaslit into thinking this situation is normal!" She then looked over at Michael. "And you're okay with this?"
"Yes…yes I am," Michael smiled.
"And a lot of same sex couples do this, mum," Charlie said, trying his best not to blow up on her. "And baby won't be Tori's. It'll be mine. Mine's and Nick's."
Julio pulled Charlie by his shoulder and faced him towards him. "And we're going see them that way and still love them," he smiled at his son. "Right, Jane?" he said as he faced his wife. His expression quickly changed to serious.
Jane's face was twisted with anger. She picked up her purse and stormed out of the house. Seconds later, everyone inside heard the car start up and drive off.
Everyone stayed silent till Sarah decided to break it. "I still have all of Nick and David's baby things. It'll save you guys some money instead of buying a whole new wardrobe that the baby would grow out of in a blink of an eye."
Charlie gave her a sad smile and began to hug her as he tried his best to hold back tears.
Sarah rubbed Charlie's head. "Don't focus on the negative, dear." She pulled away and placed her hands on Charlie's cheeks. "You and the love of your life are going to be parents!"
"Yeah," Charlie chuckled.
Julio went over and hugged his daughter. "You're so brave to do this for Charlie. You really are your brother's keeper."
Tori rolled her eyes as she blushed at her dad's words. You're so corny, dad…" she mumbled.
Oliver walked into the living room and connected his phone to the radio's Bluetooth. "Let's dance the night away guys!" he called out.
Everyone exchanged looks with each other and moved the group to the living room.
"I came with Jane," Julio laughed.
"I'll take you home dad," Oliver offered.
"Thanks Oli. Let me just collect the food I packed for myself."
When Julio left, Charlie approached Oliver. "Oli, may I speak to you briefly?"
"Of course."
The two brothers made their way to the backyard and sat on the bench swing.
Oliver pulls out a cigarette and begins to light it.
Charlie was taken aback. "When did you start smoking?"
Oliver chuckled at his brother's reaction and began to think when he started smoking. "Probably my final year of secondary."
Charlie continued to look at him in shock and Oliver continued to laugh at his expression.
"We'll talk about this later young man. What I really called you out here for was to talk about mum."
Oliver's expression slowly went serious. "What about her?"
"When she asked you about school, you seemed so short with her. Like you were mad or something."
Oliver took a long drag of his cigarette. He blew out a puff of smoke before he answered. "I am mad at her and to be quite honest, I really can't stand to look at her right now. I don't really like her right now and her acting like she's this perfect person in front of everyone makes me fuckin' sick."
Charlie was shocked at what his brother was saying about their mother. Her golden child, the one that she wished he and Tori were like, and the one that was always smiling, was talking about her like this.
"Oliver, what happened?"
Oliver's jaw tightened. He wants to say something, but the words won't come out.
Charlie placed his hand on Oliver's shoulder. "Oli, you know you can tell me anything, right?"
Oliver nodded. He threw his cig on the ground and smushed it with his foot. "Is it even my place to say?"
"What do you mean? What happened between you two?"
Oliver looked at Charlie with a hurt expression as if he was trying to hold back tears. "Charlie… I caught mum having an affair."