But before, a talk with mom.

I took a shower at Diana’s house and changed my clothes when I got to mine. I put on blue jeans and a button-up green shirt, afraid to look either too formal or too casual. I… also left the portrait Fernanda made for me on the bed. I would have found a good place to hang it, but like I said, I’d be moving out soon.

It was still some time before I had to leave when I heard the knock on my door, too soft and polite to be my sister. It was obviously mom.

“Yes? Come in,” I said.

Mom opened the door and Cake took the chance to slip in with her. The cat jumped on my desk while mom stood under the door frame smiling wryly at me. It worried me a little.

“Wh-What is it?” I asked her.

“For starters, I’m sad that the time for you to move out is so close, but that’s only related to what I actually want to talk about. Can I sit down?”

“Sure.” I offered her my desk chair and I sat down on my bed. Cake jumped on mom’s lap. “What is it?”

Mom sighed heavily. “I’m sorry. I’m going to put you on a difficult position here, but I wouldn’t do it unless I had to.”

I got even more worried, but I nodded. “I know. What happened?”

“Remember that last year I was traveling every other weekend to go see your aunt and your cousin?”

Admittedly, I only remembered now that she was bringing it up. Too many things were happening at the time, and since mom told me everything was okay, I put it off my mind.

If I remember correctly, my aunt was divorcing her husband and mom was there for support and to make sure the guy didn’t try anything funny.

“Yeah, I remember. Did something happen to them?”

“Nothing serious, but… The business my sister was starting didn’t work out. She can’t continue paying rent where they are living now.” Mom sighed. “I’ve been helping where I can and we’ve been discussing things. And well… This is hard for me to ask.”

I think I understood. “You’re thinking of offering them to come live here since I’m moving out?” I asked.

Mom smiled wryly. “It would only be your aunt. Your cousin needs to stay close to her university and she has a friend she can share an apartment with.”

Yeah, her education expenses, much like Isabelle’s and mine, should be covered, at least. Thanks again, grandma.

“...” An idea crossed my mind. One I’ll admit I wasn’t very comfortable with but wouldn’t forgive myself for if I didn’t bring it up. “There are plenty of spare rooms in the new house. She could…”

“No. That won’t be necessary,” mom said, stopping me immediately. “You’re about to start a new life with the people you love. I won’t ask you to receive your aunt there and neither would she. No, what I wanted to ask is if you’d let me offer her this room. I hate the thought of taking from you your place to return to, but…”

I won’t lie and say the idea didn’t bother me. I mean, it was my room. Despite moving out, I think I still believed in the corner of my mind I’d be able to come back whenever I wanted, maybe even stay over for a night or two. Clearly that was mom’s intention, too. But with these circumstances…

I shook my head and smiled at my mother. “It’s fine, mom. Do it. Having the space to help family and not doing it out of sentimentality would just be wrong. Besides I think I’ll feel better knowing your sister is here with you. I’ve been feeling guilty about leaving you and Isabelle alone.”

Mom smiled at me with tears threatening her eyes. She moved closer, chair and all, and gave me a hug.

“God, you’ve grown so much… I'm so, so proud of you, dear.”

I hugged her back. “I’ve just been very, very lucky.”

Meeting Frey, meeting the girls, hell, even meeting Thomas and the guys… So many people have helped me grow. I’ve been blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life, my family included.

“You have,” she confirmed. “And it’s good that you’re aware of it. But people don’t grow with luck. No, luck stagnates growth. You’ve taken advantage of the opportunities you’ve found and even made opportunities for yourself. Always remember that and be proud of yourself.”

When she said that, I realized something. Leaving the house and letting my aunt take my bedroom… It was like when they started building the new lab in the old music room at school. It was taking away my place to go back to, leaving me **** but to move forward, and it was scary. Absolutely so. But… So far, it seemed to work for me.

“You’ll go visit us, right?” I asked her. “I have a pool. And I’ll make us lunch.”

“You had me at the pool.”

We laughed despite the fact both of us were close to crying. You really never know how life will turn out. For the longest time, both mom and I believed I’d be the one living with her until I was, like, I don’t know, 40.

“Oh, and… um… Since you’re here already, maybe I should tell you?”

Mom raised an eyebrow. “Tell me what?”

“So… Remember Fernanda? The Brazilian girl who went to my birthday yesterday? She works at the coffee shop with Isabelle.”

“Oh my GOD, Oliver! You’re seeing six women and you’re STILL not satisfied!?”

“That’s not what I meant! Or well, um… it kind of was. I mean that we talked yesterday and… now her dad wants to talk to me. I’m going to meet him later. I know him already, actually. I met him at the gym last year.”

Mom sighed heavily. “At least you’re doing things properly. What did the other girls say?”

“It was mostly their idea and they’re pushing the hardest for it.”

“Alright, that’s it.” Mom stood up. “Oliver, I love you and I’m immensely proud of you, but I don’t think we should talk so much about THAT part of your private life.”

“Oh, so you can ask Diana for details, but when I tell you it’s weird?”

“Yes.”

Okay, fair. I didn’t want to talk about it, either.

Author's Note: Merry Christmas and happy holidays, everybody. I hope you're all doing well. Best wishes from this random dude on the internet. and eternal thanks for reading my stories. We're closing in on 700 chapters, so I'll probably have more to say then, but for now, you all have fun (within reason!).

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