Page 124 of I Was Always Yours (RCA: Royal Crown Academy)

“I’m going to go find my mum. She’s probably in the kitchen if you want to meet us there when you’re done?”

“Sure,” he says, straightening and watching me walk away with a heated look. He hasn’t stopped looking at me like that since I intervened with his mother.

When I get to the kitchen, I find my mum with her back to me, working side by side with Lauren, our chef, to prepare dinner.

“Mum,” I call to her, and she turns around. Her eyes light up when they see me, like they always do. “How’s the hangover?”

“Completely gone, thanks to Lauren. Turns out I just needed carbs, and lots of them.” She says, and we both laugh. “And you? I’m glad to see your smile is back,ma chérie. What’s got you happy like this?”

“Hello, Mrs. Tellier,” I hear come from behind me.

I turn to find Phoenix striding purposefully into the room, his even steps taking him straight to stand beside me.

“Ah.” My mum says with a knowing smile, “Of course.”

She rounds the massive kitchen island and comes to stand in front of the both of us before wrapping Phoenix in a warm hug.

“I didn't know you were in town, Phoenix, it’s so lovely to see you. And please, call me Adélaïde. You’re going to be my son after all,” she beams up at him.

She has no idea how timely her words are, how much he probably needs to hear them. Witnessing the one-sided confrontation with his mother made me realize that when Astor died, Phoenix didn’t just lose a brother, he lost his entire family.

I had no idea, although obviously that’s exactly how he wanted it. If he would just let the past go, if he stopped pushing me away, maybe we could be a new family for him.

“Thank you for the offer, but your husband would kill me if I called you that.”

She laughs, stepping back. “You know,il fait plus de bruit que de mal. How would you translate that,chérie?”

“He’s all bark and no bite,” I say with a grin to Phoenix.

“I’m pretty sure he has access to the nuclear codes, so I’m not going to put that theory to the test, if you don’t mind.” He replies, looking unconvinced.

She laughs again. “Fair enough.” She turns towards me, “I guess that means one day you’ll be Mrs. Sinclair to your own children’s’ significant others, assuming you decide to take Phoenix’s name once you’re married.”

I blush to the roots of my hair. This is the last conversation I want to be having right now. Or ever.

“We haven’t discussed it.” I say, not looking at him.

“She’ll take my name.” Phoenix counters smoothly.

My mum raises a perfectly shaped brow. “No discussion needed?”

“No discussion allowed.”He corrects. “I want everyone to know who she belongs to when she introduces herself. That’s not up for debate.”

“Il est comme ton père, celui-là.”She mutters under her breath to me with a laugh. Louder, “And are you staying for dinner?”

I clear my throat. “About that, Mum. Do you mind if Phoenix stays here while he’s in town? It’ll only be for a few days until I leave for Paris.”

She frowns ever so slightly, but doesn’t ask any questions, exactly like I knew she wouldn’t. “Of course he can stay.”

“I don’t fucking think so.”

I turn to find my dad stalking into the kitchen. He cups my mum’s neck and kisses her briefly before dropping his hand to her lower back and facing us.

He’s wearing a button down and fancy trousers, all traces of a hangover long gone. Although, if his current mood is anything to go by, he might still be feeling it cranially.

“Papa,” I start.

“Don’t ‘Papa’ me, darling. I used to be an eighteen-year-old man as well, I know what they’re like, what theythink.” He glares at Phoenix. “I’m not letting him sleep anywhere near you.”

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