Alec

Alec shrugged. "We each have a lot of money... and none of us ever lived on our own before. We saw no reason to until Bronagh, Branna, and you came along. Myself and my brothers are very close, we only had each other growing up."

I frowned. "I know, babe."

Alec smiled at me. "Then it's settled we can buy a house soon, preferably in Upton, and you can focus on writing as your work."

I smiled only because I didn't trust myself to speak.

"What's wrong?" Alec asked.

I shrugged.

"Tell me."

I sighed. "I've takin' care of meself all me life. I refused me uncle’s help at every turn and banned me mother's. I don't feel right lettin' you just buy a house for us-"

"My money is your money. We're engaged Keela, what's mine is yours and what's yours is mine."

I sighed. "I guess... but it still feels weird."

"This all feels weird because we jumped into things very fast. We will get used to it, just give it time."

I nodded my head.

Alec smiled. "So your book... when do I get to read it?"

I gasped. "You're not readin' it."

"Why not?" Alec asked, hurt in his voice.

I flushed. "Because I don't want you to read the... dirty scenes."

Alec smirked. "Kitten, I'm sure your scenes are things I've done to you-"

"Exactly so you're not readin' them."

Alec snickered. "Don't get your panties in a twist about it."

"I'm not a violent person Alec. God knows I'm not, but I swear to him that if you call knickers 'panties' one more feckin' time, I will strangle you with a thong!"

Alec shook his head as he laughed.

"Come on, I like reading. I won't read it as your man, I'll read it as a bete reader person."

I laughed. "You mean beta reader?"

"If that's what you did for your friend Yessi and Mary on their books, then yes, that."

I groaned. "I just finished the first draft, I don't even know if I'm goin' to self-publish-"

"Why not?" Alec cut me off.

"Because what if no one approves?"

Alec arched a brow. "You mean readers or people you know i.e. your mom?"

I nodded my head. "She will slam it when she finds out about it, she doesn't like smut books."

"What is smut?"

I shrugged. "Books that have erotica in them. Sex."

"But your book has romance too, sex is a part of romance."

I laughed. "Not with my mother."

"Baby, I mean this in nicest way possible but fuck your mom. If you want to publish a book about sex and love then fucking publish a book about sex and love. Fuck everyone who has a negative opinion on it. They only hate on your ideas and dreams because they have no ideas and dreams. Do this for you, no one else. Do you understand?"

I felt my heart pounding against my chest. I loved him for having so much faith in me.

"I hear you, I really do, but what if I'm not good enough? What if this is impossible? Just writin' a book isn't enough. The fuckin' line I need to cross to actually self-publish might as well be invisible. I can see it, but can't get to it. It's so damn hard."

Alec gripped my shoulders. "Those who can see the invisible can do what seems impossible."

I leaned my head forward and rested it against his chin. "You're amazin'."

"I know."

Smartarse.

I pulled back and stared up into his eyes. "You're gettin' very deep on me."

Alec's hands gripped my behind. "I'll be getting very deep in you if you keep looking at me like that."

I couldn't help it, I giggled.

"The only person who can stand in your way is you, kitten, no one else." Alec brushed his nose against mine. "And that's not an option, right?"

I nodded my head. "Right."

Alec smiled. "So I can beta read your book?"

I sighed. "Sure, why not?"

Alec punched the air in delight and it made me laugh, but my laughter stopped when three loud bangs thudded against my hall door.

"Gird your loins, the devil is here," I murmured.

I walked over to my door, looked through the peephole and sighed when I saw my mother's less than amused face on the other side. I opened the door and let her in.

"Hello, mother."

My mother walked inside my apartment.

"Keela, Alec." She nodded.

I closed the door already wishing she was walking back out through it.

"You missed your cousin's wedding, Keela."

I sighed and turned around. "Yes mother, I did."

My mother was furious.

"I can't believe you would be so selfish."

Selfish?

"You don't know what you're talkin' about, mother."

My mother began to pace up and down. "Your uncle tried to make excuses for you. Even Micah was okay that you couldn't be there, but I wasn't. You should have been there."

"Well, I wasn't and you know somethin'? I don't care that I wasn't there. Me and Micah are not close ma, I don't think we ever will be. I can't stand Jason, he is a disgustin' person so when the opportunity came for me to leave the resort I took it. So sue me."

My mother snarled, "You always think about yourself."

I laughed. "No, ma, I don't think about meself enough."

"I can't believe I birthed such an evil cow."

Her words stung but I could do nothing but laugh.

"That is all you ever did. You gave birth to me, that's it as far as bein' a mother goes for you."

"Why you ungrateful little, bitch! I gave you everything growing up!"

I exploded.

"You gave me toys and other materialistic things! You never gave me love. You made me feel like a burden, you still make me feel like a burden and I'm fuckin' done with it. I'm done with you!"

My mother stepped back like I’d slapped her.

"What would you do without me?"

I looked at Alec and smiled. "I will be happy."

My mother looked at Alec then back at me.

"Fine, enjoy your little romance but when it goes belly up and this one leaves you for a better looking woman don't come crying to me."

The fucking nerve!

"I can assure you, you will be the last person I ever go to for help or comfort."

My mother took a step closer to me. "You're like your scumbag father, impossible to love."

I wanted to cry but I refused.

"You know what, ma? It's doesn't matter what you say or think about me. What matters is the way I feel about myself and I fuckin' love meself!" I said with my chest pushed out and my head held high.

"I love herself as well, just putting that out there."

I stood a bit taller when Alec came to my side and put his arm around my waist.

"This won't last," my mother hissed.

"Get out of me house and don't ever come back."

My mother stayed put.

Alec cleared his throat. "I believe my fiancee asked you to leave, ma'am."

My mother was so shocked at Alec's declaration that she only stared at us both.

I moved away from Alec and walked to the door, opening it wide.

"Goodbye, mother."

My mother composed herself and stuck her chin out. She left my apartment and turned to face me before she walked down the hallway. "I won't miss you."

I swallowed. "I feel sorry for you. You're a bitter woman with nobody. I have a fiancé and a new family that means a million times more to me than you ever did. Have a nice life mother, because I sure as hell will."

I closed the door in her face and froze.

Did that just happen?

"Kitten?"

I took a deep breath. "I'm fine, I'm okay."

I turned to Alec and smiled, but at the same time tears fell from my eyes.

"Baby," Alec whispered.

I moved to him and wrapped my arms around his body.

"I'm not sad, I'm relieved."

Alec kissed the crown of my head. "I'm proud of you."

I hugged him tightly. "I'm proud of me too."

We were silent for a few minutes until Alec spoke.

"You know what I think you should do now?"