Read Online London Bound: New Adult Romance (Chase Brothers) by Nana Malone - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nana Malone
Ads: Link
attention.”
His mother laughed, and it made him smile. Her laugh was one of his favorite things. “Well, that’s a change. There was a time not so long ago that you would have both deteriorated into an all-out shouting match.”
“Yes, I like to call that period last week.” He sniggered.
“My, how you’ve matured since then.”
“Well, having it out with him would have ruined my birthday, and I’m not willing to do that.”
She was quiet for a moment. “You sound different.”
He had to roll his eyes. She was constantly trying to slink into mother hen mode. “No, I’m not sick. I’m eating, and I’m not working too hard.”
“Oh, stop. Let an old woman worry.”
“I doubt anyone would have the courage to call you old.”
She laughed. “They’d better not. But no.” She paused. “It’s something else. You sound lighter, somehow. Happy, almost.”
Yeah. Almost. “I don’t know what you mean.” Except he did. He’d be seeing Abbie again tonight. Except tonight, he was going to content himself with seeing her from afar. If he got too close, he’d do something stupid.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you met someone.”
He coughed. “Mum, stop. Have you forgotten, I’m with Gemma?”
His mother sighed. “No. I haven’t forgotten. I’m just saying as much as I adore Gemma, I don’t think you’re particularly passionate about her. I don’t think she inspires this kind of levity in you. Everyone deserves passion, Lex.”
“Uhm, Mum, this is fast becoming a very awkward conversation.” He shoved a hand into his pocket as he said a silent prayer that she didn’t expound on everyone needing passion.
She sighed. “Fair enough. I mostly just called to wish you a happy early birthday and tell you that your present will be delivered to the Brixton Youth Center tomorrow. I figure you’ll want to be on site for it. I’ve arranged for that basketball player Beef Bryant to visit.”
He frowned. “Uhm, do you mean Kobe?”
“Oh, yes, that’s the one.”
He laughed. “Thank you, Mum. That is a brilliant gift. Just send me the details. The kids will be so excited. I can’t wait to see their faces.”
“I’m glad you like it. After all, what does a mother get for the son who has everything?”
“It’s brilliant, Mum. Honest.”
“Good. But Lex?”
“Yeah?”
“I meant what I said about passion. I’d hate for you to let the past stop you from finding someone you can really love. No matter who that might be.”
Chapter 10
If Abbie was going to continue hanging out with Sophie, she’d have to get some comfortable shoes and hydrate better.
Bending over, she adjusted the strap of sexy, black, sling-back stilettos. When Sophie had come home to the flat, Abbie and Tamsin had both been surprised, but their friend had only been there to grab an outfit and drag Abbie out the door with her. Tamsin had been smart enough to beg off with the excuse of having to work.
The glitterati life was fun, but Abbie was starting to see it for what it was. The same crowd at different venues, looking vaguely bored and searching for something to entertain them. A month ago, she never would have dreamed of this place. A few weeks and a transatlantic flight later, she was bypassing club lines, hanging out in VIP, and being flirted with by guys who were so beautiful they made her feel inadequate. Like Evan .
Nevertheless, she was kidding herself if she thought she was skipping Alexi’s birthday. Just the idea of seeing him again made her heart race. She didn’t want to examine those feelings too closely. Because then she’d have to think about what that meant.
As usual, Max and the boys took care of her while Sophie flitted about, hugging and air kissing the beautiful people. Abbie had always wondered how her friend managed it—to be equal parts sincere, but fabulous.
Two sake shots, and one absinth drink later, Abbie still hadn’t seen hide nor hair of the birthday boy. Head
His mother laughed, and it made him smile. Her laugh was one of his favorite things. “Well, that’s a change. There was a time not so long ago that you would have both deteriorated into an all-out shouting match.”
“Yes, I like to call that period last week.” He sniggered.
“My, how you’ve matured since then.”
“Well, having it out with him would have ruined my birthday, and I’m not willing to do that.”
She was quiet for a moment. “You sound different.”
He had to roll his eyes. She was constantly trying to slink into mother hen mode. “No, I’m not sick. I’m eating, and I’m not working too hard.”
“Oh, stop. Let an old woman worry.”
“I doubt anyone would have the courage to call you old.”
She laughed. “They’d better not. But no.” She paused. “It’s something else. You sound lighter, somehow. Happy, almost.”
Yeah. Almost. “I don’t know what you mean.” Except he did. He’d be seeing Abbie again tonight. Except tonight, he was going to content himself with seeing her from afar. If he got too close, he’d do something stupid.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you met someone.”
He coughed. “Mum, stop. Have you forgotten, I’m with Gemma?”
His mother sighed. “No. I haven’t forgotten. I’m just saying as much as I adore Gemma, I don’t think you’re particularly passionate about her. I don’t think she inspires this kind of levity in you. Everyone deserves passion, Lex.”
“Uhm, Mum, this is fast becoming a very awkward conversation.” He shoved a hand into his pocket as he said a silent prayer that she didn’t expound on everyone needing passion.
She sighed. “Fair enough. I mostly just called to wish you a happy early birthday and tell you that your present will be delivered to the Brixton Youth Center tomorrow. I figure you’ll want to be on site for it. I’ve arranged for that basketball player Beef Bryant to visit.”
He frowned. “Uhm, do you mean Kobe?”
“Oh, yes, that’s the one.”
He laughed. “Thank you, Mum. That is a brilliant gift. Just send me the details. The kids will be so excited. I can’t wait to see their faces.”
“I’m glad you like it. After all, what does a mother get for the son who has everything?”
“It’s brilliant, Mum. Honest.”
“Good. But Lex?”
“Yeah?”
“I meant what I said about passion. I’d hate for you to let the past stop you from finding someone you can really love. No matter who that might be.”
Chapter 10
If Abbie was going to continue hanging out with Sophie, she’d have to get some comfortable shoes and hydrate better.
Bending over, she adjusted the strap of sexy, black, sling-back stilettos. When Sophie had come home to the flat, Abbie and Tamsin had both been surprised, but their friend had only been there to grab an outfit and drag Abbie out the door with her. Tamsin had been smart enough to beg off with the excuse of having to work.
The glitterati life was fun, but Abbie was starting to see it for what it was. The same crowd at different venues, looking vaguely bored and searching for something to entertain them. A month ago, she never would have dreamed of this place. A few weeks and a transatlantic flight later, she was bypassing club lines, hanging out in VIP, and being flirted with by guys who were so beautiful they made her feel inadequate. Like Evan .
Nevertheless, she was kidding herself if she thought she was skipping Alexi’s birthday. Just the idea of seeing him again made her heart race. She didn’t want to examine those feelings too closely. Because then she’d have to think about what that meant.
As usual, Max and the boys took care of her while Sophie flitted about, hugging and air kissing the beautiful people. Abbie had always wondered how her friend managed it—to be equal parts sincere, but fabulous.
Two sake shots, and one absinth drink later, Abbie still hadn’t seen hide nor hair of the birthday boy. Head
Similar Books
