Chapter Twelve

My mother opens the door with a smile, embracing me with a tight hug.

" hey mom," I say as she hugs me.

" come on I know the drive was long, you hungry? my mother asks.

" I could use a snack don't want to spoil dinner," I say sitting down at the counter. watching my mom rampage through the pantry, my phone dings alerting me of a text message from Dani wishing me luck.

" So how are things with mike? " my mother asks handing me a glass of wine and a tray with crackers.

" things are great mom, he's actually coming to join us for dinner," I say taking a sip of wine.

" oh why didn't you drive together?" my mother asks snobbish

" mom relax, he had a few patients at the hospital to attend to, he should be arriving soon," I say looking at the time on my phone.

" ok, well I'm just not so sure mike understands that he put you in a bad situation with his parents. that Mrs. Luciano can shove it." my mother says drinking her wine.

" mom we will be okay don't worry," I say as joseph enters the kitchen with Connor behind him.

seeing Connor made my stomach drop, what was he doing here? he looks at me awkwardly but I wasn't sure what he was thinking. by the look on his face, he didn't seem surprised to see me.

" oh hey Connor." my mom says to Connor.

" Hey," he says without looking at me.

my phone dings now alerting me of a text from the mike, apparently, he was here. a smile formed on my face as I rush to open the door. there he was standing in the doorway with two banquets of roses.

" Hello beautiful." mike says handing me my roses. mike looks behind me as my mother approaches with a slight smile on her face. Joe and Connor stood there with smug expressions on their faces.

" for you Mrs. Moore." mike says handing her roses as well.

" thank you, they are lovely. It's nice to meet you mike." my mother says nicely.

we all make our way to the living room area as I and mike sit next to each other across from my mother and joe. I was still not sure why Connor was even here.

" so dinner should be arriving shortly, beer? wine?" joe asks mike as I feel Connor staring at me.

" a beer sounds nice." mike says as joe hands him one.

" Connor you join us?" joe asks handing him a beer.

" um, I shouldn't. don't want to intrude." Connor says taking a sip of his beer.

we hear the doorbell ring as Joe heads off to answer it. assuming it's the food order for dinner.

" at least have some dinner before you go." my mother says quickly.

we all follow behind my mother to the dining room, as we take our selected seats. Joe enters the room with food, a good thing the table was all set. everyone began making their plates with a variety of Chinese food.

" oh, Connor this mike Kendra's boyfriend I just realized you haven't met. he's joes nephew." my mother says stuffing her moth with chow mien.

" Nice to meet you." mike says

" We kind of know each other, from high school days," Connor says eating his orange chicken.

" how you been doing? " mike asks

" been good. can't complain." Connor says.

we all sit in silence eating as I see joe and my mother smiling at each other from across the table. after we all finished eating my mother goes into the kitchen bringing out a big white box and another bottle of wine.

" dessert anyone? wine?" my mother asked.

mike whispers in my ear that he was ready to announce the news. slipping my ring back on that I hid in my pants pocket, mike stands up quickly as my mother begins refilling our glasses with wine.

"I and Kendra have some news to share." mike says as my mother sits down. I can feel Connor's eyes burning a hole in me now as if he could read my mind. ignoring him I stand with mike smiling.

" I asked Kendra to marry me, and she happily excepted! but I want both your permissions to take her as my wife." mike says looking at me.

" Wow, I'm surprised. you have my blessing." my mother says cheerfully. looking at her now I knew it had to be the wine. I was expecting her to object to our union.

" let me see the ring, my love," my mother says grabbing my hand now

" oh wow, mike this is beautiful. I'm happy for you both. how do your parents feel?" my mother asks as joe hugs me me tightly. making eye contact with Conner I can't read his face, was he angry? sad? happy? I wasn't sure. his eyes looked blank and dark as he stands slipping his jacket on.

" congrats to you both, thanks for dinner you two," Connor says as Joe walks him out.

mike spins me around giving me a passionate kiss on my lips, all my mind could focus on was Connor.

Connor Pov

leaving my uncle's house after just witnessing that shit! Mike Luciano asked her to marry him? I didn't think their relationship was that serious, getting into my truck pulling out of the long driveway onto the road I wasn't sure what to do now. she seemed happy and Mike's ass really was starting to annoy me. she never responded to my text from the other night, now I know why, that rich boy prosed to her. she was supposed to mine, I was in love with her. I wanted to tell her how I feel but she doesn't seem interested in hearing me out. I needed a plan to get Kendra alone. a time when mike wouldn't be around. I had to show Kendra who I was. she said she remembered me but all she remembers is how I hurt her. I needed her to love me again.

Kendra Pov

weeks have gone by since Mike proposed to me on his rooftop, our relationship was strong and I knew I loved him. we haven't discussed wedding plans, I kind of want to wait until next year to plan a wedding. leave it up to Dani she'd be already planning it. sitting up in my bed it was Friday morning, I had a shift at the children's clinic. heading into my bathroom to do my usual morning routine, I hear my phone ding as I finish washing my face, quickly answering the phone.

" Hey babe," I say already knowing it was mike

" hey, I know we had plans to spend the entire weekend together, but I've been called on a doctor convention in Washington DC. I'm actually home now packing." mike says sounding rushed.

" oh, okay it's fine maybe pick up overtime at the clinic tomorrow. ill miss you." I say sadly on the phone.

" ill make it up to you, ill call you sometime soon whenever I'm free to talk." mike says assuring me.

" Okay, love you I say." softly.

" I love you more." mike says and the line goes dead.

so much for having time together, I was really looking forward to us having alone time. by mike working so many hours and my shifts at the children's clinic we barely have time to schedule dinner together. slipping on my work uniform, brushing my hair into a bun I quickly grab my bag and phone heading out to work. I was doing a double shift today working 9 am to 8 pm only because Krisa decided to request off. at least ill be too busy working to focus on mike leaving.

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