After Tom and Harry had dropped off Candace at Bryan's new place, they went to the lounge where they usually used to hang out until Lucy showed up in Tom's life with all the accompanying drama.
After they were seated and sipping from their wine glasses, Harry turned to Tom, "So? What's up with you?" Harry asked with interest.
On their way they had agreed to only discuss personal stuff during this hangout, and not talk about work or business.
Tom shrugged, "I'm alright. Sort of anxiously waiting to get the result tomorrow," Tom confessed.
"Why didn't you ask them to speed things up? I mean, they could have easily done that because it's you," Harry said and Tom sighed.
"I didn't want to," Tom said, and Harry raised a brow.
"Why not? You'd rather be anxious all weekend than get the answer you seek easily?" Harry asked and Tom looked away for a moment before looking back at him.
"I suppose I just wanted to have a normal weekend with Lucy. I thought things might change when we get the result and I wanted us to be at ease," Tom explained and Harry nodded in understanding.
"Did she do or say anything to make you think she would walk away if the result comes back positive?" Harry asked and Tom shook his head.
"On the contrary her behavior has been sort of really encouraging. It's beautiful and scary at the same time," Tom said, and Harry chuckled.
"Beautiful and scary?"
"Yeah. It's beautiful because I would love for it all to be true. I sort of feel like our relationship has improved a lot this weekend despite the whole Kimberly thing. And I'm scared because I'm worried she might be in denial or something and if she realizes for real that the kid is mine, she might just withdraw," Tom said with a sigh.
"Well, I'm very sure you're overthinking it. This is the reason you should have pushed for the test to be carried out faster. That way you would save yourself all this stress. The way I see it you're only postponing the inevitable," Harry said as Tom sipped from his glass.
"I suppose you're right. Tomorrow is almost here now, so we will know," Tom said, and Harry eyed him curiously.
"Have you decided on what you would want to do if she turns out to be yours?" Harry asked and Tom nodded.
"My mom and Lucy suggested I invite them down here to meet with the family. I also would want to talk to Kimberly to see how we can coparent from the distance. Perhaps she can live with me and start school here, then spend her holidays with Kimberly, or she can school there and spend her holidays with me," Tom said and Harry nodded in understanding.
"Yeah. I think that's the only way it can work due to the distance," Harry said thoughtfully.
"I can also visit from time to time while she is over there. I wouldn't want to wait months to see her," Tom added and Harry nodded once again.
"That sounds fine. You seem to have given it a lot of thought," Harry said, and Tom shrugged.
"I don't think I had much of a choice. Lucy wants to be friends with Kimberly," Tom said and Harry raised a brow.
"And why does it seem like you don't want her to?" He asked, and Tom sighed.
"I don't know. I just don't want a repeat of the whole experience with Anita…"
"I don't think there is any reason to worry. Both situations are very different. The stuff with Anita happened only because you weren't honest from the beginning. Lucy would never have gotten close to Anita had you clearly told her your intentions from the onset or at least told her precisely that Anita was your ex. Lucy is going into this fully aware of who Kimberly is, and she doesn't need to be told to be careful until she can tell if Kimberly is friend or foe. Both situations are not the same," Harry stated confidently, and Tom pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I suppose you're right…"
"Of course, I am. When have I ever been wrong?" Harry asked with a smug smile and Tom chuckled.
"I could list a couple…"
"I don't want to hear them," Harry cut in and Tom laughed.
"So, how do you feel about Bryan getting married?" Harry asked, and Tom raised a brow.
"What's this? Therapy? You don't have to worry about…"
"I'm not worried, just curious," Harry corrected.
"Well, I never would have imagined that Bryan would get married before me or that I would be actively considering not getting married, but I'm fine. I had plans of finding a way to change Lucy's heart about the whole marriage then, but then life threw me a curveball and now marriage is the least of my worries as I'm too busy trying not to lose her as my girlfriend. I've decided that I'm just going to take life as it comes," Tom said dismissively before looking at Harry with interest.
"Enough about me. Let's talk about you. What's happening with you? How does it feel to be in a relationship?" Tom asked with a grin and Harry chuckled.
"I'm not sure. It's all good I think," Harry said since he didn't feel like much had changed since he started dating Jade.
His love for Jade was a constant. And his thoughts of her were the same. The only difference was his growing desire to make love to her, and even though Tom was his best friend he could hardly tell him that he couldn't wait to have his sister under him.
"And Sara?" Tom asked, and Harry shrugged.
"She's awaiting the DNA test result to ascertain if Crystal is her daughter. I spoke with Bar. She has tried to arrange a meeting with the supposed head doctor at research institute, so I've arranged for someone to meet her. But I think she would be putting that on hold for the time being," Harry explained and Tom raised a brow.
"Why?"
"Because she wouldn't want to miss out on this opportunity to get a free lobe of healthy liver or the whole of it for that matter. If she's anything like I think she is, she would want to get a transplant first," Harry said and Tom mulled over it for a moment.
"The good thing is that either ways, she falls into our trap," Tom said, and Harry nodded.
"I would rather she makes an attempt on illegally harvesting Crystal's liver so she can be arrested. Duping her through the research institute scheme wouldn't be good enough for me," Harry said and Tom smiled.
"There are a lot of things we can do to her. And there is no reason we can't make her do both," Tom said confidently.
As though summoned by their discussion, Harry's phone started ringing with a phone call from Sara and he raised a brow and showed Tom the caller's identity.
"Speak of the plastic devil," Tom muttered as Harry received the call.
"Hey, mom!" Harry greeted cheerfully and Tom scoffed.
He'd rather choke on his own balls than refer to someone as Sara that way.
"Don't call me that! Call me Sara!" Sara hissed impatiently, and Harry raised a brow.
"Why? It's not like anyone is here to hear me call you that," Harry said reasonably.
"I don't like it. I don't want it. And if you keep calling me that I might just have to…"
"What? Abandon me again?" Harry asked harshly, and realizing that she had pissed him off she took a deep breath.
Although she had been about to threaten to cut him off if he continued to refer to her as his mother against her will, she had not expected that her gullible son would become annoyed at her. She had expected that he would apologize instead and promise not to make her uncomfortable anymore. That was what Aaron would have done.
She couldn't afford to annoy Harry. What if she did and he ended up angry enough to want to expose her for real? She couldn't have that.
"Of course, not! I would never do that to you," Sara said placatingly.
"If you don't want a relationship with me why did you bother coming back into my life?" Harry asked with a scowl.
"Of course, I do want a relationship with you. It's just awkward right now…."
"Why did you call?" Harry asked curtly, not giving her room to make her foolish excuses. He really wasn't in the mood for it.
Sara pursed her lips as she considered her options. She had wanted to ask him to make an official statement to the press denying being related to her. She had continued to receive calls and questions about her relationship with him and if he was her son.
The last thing she wanted was for Crystal to get wind of the news and try to go in search of Harry. All her plans would be ruined if Crystal got reunited with Harry and Aaron.
Unfortunately as it stood now, Harry seemed to be in a foul mood and she couldn't exactly ask him to do that else he might not only get annoyed but might be suspicious.
"I was hoping we could meet again," Sara said instead even if that wasn't the reason she had called.
Maybe she could come up with a way this time to quell the rumor. Perhaps she could make them think he was her lover or something.
"I thought you said you were leaving Ludus and you suggested that we don't meet again? (Chapter 593)" Harry asked, not liking the idea of seeing her again.
"Well, something came up and I didn't leave as planned. As long as we stick to the story of me being your late mother's best friend I think we should be fine," Sara said and Harry shook his head.
Of course he knew what had come up. Crystal had come up. What he didn't get was why she suddenly wanted to see him.
"Well, I don't think it's a good idea. I'd rather we don't get into such an awkward situation again. I guess seeing you once was enough. And since you've made it clear you don't want me in your life I don't think we should keep in touch or see," Harry said, and Sara frowned.
What was going on? Was he rejecting her now? Why? Simply because she had asked him not to refer to her as mom?
"C'mon, Harry. You can't possibly be mad at me simply because I said I don't want to…" the rest of her words trailed off when she heard the disconnect tone and her eyes widened slightly in disbelief.
Did Harry just hang up on her? How could he? Harry was sweet and gullible, why was he suddenly acting like his silly twin, Crystal?
"Why did you do that?" Tom asked Harry curiously.
"I'm tired of her bullshit. I don't have any more room for it. Besides, this should make her focus on Crystal," Harry said dismissively.
Tom looked at Harry for a moment and shook his head, "You can cut the act. She hurt your feelings, didn't she?" Tom asked, giving Harry a knowing look.
Harry said nothing as he sipped from his glass. There was nothing to say. Tom knew him well enough to see through his anger and know his feelings were actually hurt.
Even if he only called her mom to taunt her and make her feel guilty, hearing her say she didn't want him calling her that sort of made him feel rejected in a way.
As much as he hated to admit it to himself or anyone else, Sara's attitude hurt him. And it annoyed him because he knew he shouldn't feel anything where she was concerned. Not even hurt. She didn't deserve to have the slightest bit of power over his emotions.
Seeing that Harry didn't want to talk about it, Tom slapped a hand on his back, "Do you want to hear some 'your mama so ugly jokes'? I could come up with one or two for you, and the best part of it is that neither of us will have to feel guilty about it," Tom said, and Harry chuckled.
"I'd rather we don't talk about her at all. Let's focus on more pleasant subjects instead," Harry suggested.
"Yeah. I was thinking. Since I won't be traveling anymore, why don't you go on your vacation now?" Tom asked and Harry shook his head.
"We still have so much going on..."
"We will always have so much going on. That doesn't mean you shouldn't take a break. Let's work on handling any loose ends you might need to fix this week, and then you can leave. I think it's high time you take a break," Tom said and Harry smiled.
"A paid vacation, huh?"
"Fully funded by me. Tell me where you want to go and I will take care of it," Tom promised and Harry chuckled.
"Don't you think it would be weird for you to handle the details considering I'm taking your sister with me and it might be a really steamy sex themed vacation?" Harry joked, and Tom chuckled.
"You? Steamy sex-themed vacation? I will definitely handle the details!" Tom promised with a grin.
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