Page 158 of Forbidden Fruit
I laugh. “So… what’s going on with you two?” I ask casually, watching her reaction closely. A light blush colors her cheeks—confirmation.
“We’re… seeing where things go,” she says, tucking a curl behind her ear. “Right now,youare our priority. We didn’t want to throw our drama on top of everything else.”
“He told me you two were sleeping together. Was he the man you were with when you left me alone with Calvin for a month?”
Her shoulders sag. “Yes. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know how to tell you.”
“I’m fine, Mom. You don’t have to keep apologizing. Honestly… I’m happy you’re working things out.”
She smiles at me, misty-eyed.
“What?” I ask when she doesn’t respond.
She chuckles through her tears. “I’m just not used to hearing you call me Mom. It’s… surreal.”
I roll my eyes, grinning. “You’ll live.”
A voice calls from the hallway, “Girls, we should head out soon. We don’t want to be late.”
“A few more minutes, Dad! We’ll be ready soon,” Abigail calls out.
She turns back to me with a satisfied smile. “There, all done. What do you think?”
I glance at my reflection in the mirror. She’s styled my curls into soft, defined waves that frame my face beautifully, cascading over my shoulders with just the right touch of volume and polish.
“I love it. Thank you,” I say, still a little stunned at how put-together I look.
“Good. Now put your dress on while I take a quick shower,” she says, already heading toward the en-suite bathroom.
Once she disappears behind the door, I carefully slip into one of my own designs, a low-cut white dress that hugs my curves in all the right places. It feels like me, elegant and a little daring. I step into my red-bottomed heels and take one last look at myself before quietly slipping the ring off my finger and tucking it safely away. I haven’t told my grandparents yet. One surprise at a time.
I pull on my graduation gown and let it drape over my shoulders, the fabric falling perfectly over my dress. I’m like a woman who’s about to step into a whole new chapter.
“Oh, sweetheart… You look lovely,” Grandpa says as soon as we step downstairs, where he, Grandma, and Calvin are already waiting.
My grandmother is fussing with Calvin’s collar, and I have to stifle a laugh; he’s bent at an awkward angle so she can reach, and the sight is oddly adorable. She’s a tiny woman, barely reaching his chest, but Calvin’s letting her adjust him without a word.
They both turn when they hear my footsteps.
“Blair,” she gasps. “You lookbeautiful!”
“Thank you,” I say, beaming.
Calvin steps forward, wearing one of my own designs: asleek black suit, tailored to perfection, with a crisp white shirt and a slim black tie. He looks unfairly handsome. In his hands, he holds a bouquet of stargazer lilies.
“Where did you…”
He grins, handing them to me. “Ambition. Prosperity,” he says.
My heart swells. I willneverstop wanting flowers from this man.
“You look breathtaking,” he whispers, brushing a kiss against my cheek. It sends a ripple through me, the kind that makes me want more, his touch, his kiss,him.
But Abigail clears her throat dramatically. “Alright, you two. We get it. Let’s go before we’re late.”
I bite back a smile, clutching the bouquet close as we all head out together, stepping into a moment I’ll remember forever.
We all pile into the car, with me seated between my mom and grandmother in the back while my grandfather and Calvin occupy the front seats. Calvin and I exchange seductive glances through the rearview mirror. There’s no doubt in my heart that I want to be with him for the rest of my life.
