[Spirit of Lust 2] Chapters 476 & 477. (Patreon)

Chapter 476: Intermission - Diana meets Holly (Part 1).

It was the perfect time, finally. It was a Friday, meaning Diana and Oliver’s mother wouldn’t need to worry about work the next day. On top of that, Mr. Allen had closed the hotel for the day to use the basement to conduct the experiments on the potion with Oliver. Diana was able to run some errands she needed to take care of and was free to finally go and meet her boyfriend’s family.

She felt like she was going to throw up her heart.

Oliver, of course, sensed this. He looked at her with worry, holding her hand and squeezing it gently.

“Should we leave this for another time?” he asked.

Tempting, and Diana appreciated his concern, but it was a terrible idea. She shook her head.

“No. No. We already made plans. Your mother expects me. If I cancel I’ll only look unreliable.” She forced a smile, trying to reassure him. “I’ll be fine. I said I’d win her over if I had to, and I mean to keep my word.”

She didn’t quite blame Oliver for not looking too convinced. She was speaking the words to convince herself more than anything else. The two got in her car and went on their way.

They were quiet the entire trip, and it was entirely due to how tense Diana was. She was so nervous she even neglected to ask Oliver how the experiments had gone.

Why? Why was she so nervous? Okay, yes, she was always anxious around strangers, but being with Oliver and the other girls was working wonders on her self-confidence. It was the result of the longing of a boyfriend and the warmth of a group of… friends. Yes, despite the age gap between them, Diana wanted to call them all friends.

Now, however, she felt like she was regressing. Fear and anxiety stiffened her brow, her fingers wrapped tightly around the steering wheel and her heart seemed to beat in slow but loud thuds.

She was just meeting a woman, that was all. There was no need to be so nervous! She was an older woman who… would judge her to see if she was worthy of her son.

…

It was stupid! She shouldn’t NEED her approval to date Oliver! He was already a man more than capable of making his own decisions. Hell, he would own his own house soon enough! Why should Diana care what his mother had to say!?

…

…

Oh, for fuck’s sake. Of course she cared! It was a waste of time trying to convince herself otherwise. After all… She was Oliver’s mother, not just some woman. Diana wanted to ease whatever concerns she may have, if possible. God knows Diana herself had those at first.

“My mom is… stern,” Oliver said with a shaky smile. “I can’t promise she will be easy to talk to, but I’m confident she’ll come to like you if you’re just yourself.”

“...Can you think of anything I can use to break the ice if things get awkward?” Diana asked.

Oliver gave it some thought, then his eyes lit up with an idea. “Ask her about alcohol.”

“Alcohol? She drinks, then?”

“Not much, but not because she doesn’t like it. Should get a conversation started between you two.”

It should. There weren’t many things Diana could talk about at length, but one of them was alcohol. Another was giving lessons or how to help a mare give birth, but she doubted that would be relevant.

They arrived at his home soon enough and parked outside. Diana followed Oliver into the house, quietly saying “Excuse me.”

“Mom? We’re here,” Oliver announced.

The first to answer, however, wasn’t his mother. Instead, the first thing Diana heard was very quick, soft steps coming from the stairs. A white and orange cat ran all the way to Oliver and began to rub itself on his legs, purring with its tail high up. Diana smiled.

“Cake, I assume?”

“The one and only internet celebrity, yes,” Oliver said, grinning and picking her up. “The one stealing all my spotlight.”

Cake meowed as if in response, and Diana couldn’t help but think it would’ve been funny if she had meant it as “Yes, that’s me.”

“Can I pet her?” Diana asked.

Oliver narrowed his eyes in thought first. “Um… Reach out your hand, but don’t touch her.”

Diana didn’t question it and did as told. Oliver would know his pet better than anyone.

When she reached out, Oliver moved the cat in his arms slightly closer, enough that Cake could stretch her neck and sniff her hand. Cake seemed warry but otherwise calm. Satisfied, Oliver nodded.

“Okay, you can pet her.”

Diana gently scratched the top of Cake’s head and around her neck. The cat let herself enjoy it with soft, continuous purring.

“Sorry. It’s just that when Mila, Grace and Sarah met her, Cake was very aggressive. Glad to see she’s growing up.”

Diana nodded. “Socializing animals is important.”

“Oliver’s been doing a great job raising her, but Isabelle is the one who takes Cake to play with other cats.”

Diana’s heart leaped to her throat. Even Oliver was taken by surprise since he had his back turned. There, standing under the door frame to what Diana believed to be the living room, was unmistakably Oliver’s mother. The resemblance was clear at a glance. Oliver’s softer features definitely came from her. His eyes, too.

Then from behind her came Oliver’s sister. Again, unmistakable. The young woman was practically his identical twin after all. The spitting image of their mother, as well. The most noticeable difference between the two aside from physical aspects was that the mother was eyeing Diana with a scrutinizing look while the sister openly gawked at her.

Neither reaction made her very comfortable.

The mother quickly reset her expression, however, now turning to look at Diana with a more approachable smile. “Diana, correct? It’s good to finally get to meet you. I’m Holly Brooks, Oliver’s mother. This is my daughter, Isabelle.”

“H-H-Hello,” Isabelle greeted.

Holly walked up to Diana and offered her her hand. Stiff as a board, Diana shook it. “Hello, Ms. Brooks. I’m very sorry I wasn’t able to come visit until now.”

“Please, I understand how work can keep one busy. It’s not as if I’ve been free to receive guests all this time. Good thing our schedules finally aligned.”

“Yes.”

There was no hostility coming from Ms. Brooks. At least, no open hostility. Diana didn’t know if she held any, even. Even without the connection between them, Oliver was better at reading people’s intentions than her.

“I’m sorry, Diana. I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable, but would you mind if we talked alone? I’m the type to get the important stuff dealt with as soon as possible.”

With a stiff neck, Diana nodded. “I don’t mind. I believe that’s for the best, too.”

“Um… Alone?” Isabelle asked from behind her mother.

“Yes, alone,” Ms. Brooks repeated. “You three go upstairs.” Apparently Cake was counted there as well.

Oliver sighed. “Okay. Diana, call me if she’s bullying you.”

“I…”

“I’m not going to bully her,” Ms. Brooks said.

“With that look you shot her at first? Could’ve fooled me.”

Ms. Brooks flinched. “Upstairs, now.”

The twins retreated, but as they did, Diana managed to overhear one bit of their whispering.

“Holy crap, Oliver! She’s hot! Why is it always the hottest ones? Are you actually just superficial?”

“I…” Oliver’s shoulders dropped. “M-Maybe?”

Diana would have laughed if Ms. Brooks wasn’t standing in front of her. Yes, Oliver was very fond of her body, that was true, but Diana wouldn’t be here today if that was all.

That thought gave her some more confidence. Oliver liked her for who she was, and he believed that his mother would accept her for who she was, too. She could do worse than trust her boyfriend’s sharp instincts.

************

Chapter 477: Intermission - Diana meets Holly (Part 2).

Ms. Brooks led Diana to the kitchen. The two women sat across from each other at the small table, but when Ms. Brooks sat down, her eyebrows rose.

“Ah, right, I’m sorry. Do you want anything to drink?” she offered.

Diana nodded. “Water, please.” Her tongue was as dry as an old sponge.

Ms. Brooks pouted her a glass of mineral water from a bottle she had in the fridge and poured one for herself as well. She sat down again and took a small sip while Diana stopped herself from chugging half the glass down in one go.

“Honestly, that boy used to be so quiet,” Ms. Brooks said with a nostalgic smile, eyes on her glass. “He never caused trouble, always did as told without a peep, always told the truth… I thought myself lucky to have a well-behaved son, but it turns out he was keeping inside all his own issues. Didn’t notice until just recently and now he’s already a young man. Now it’s like he’s making up for all the trouble he didn’t give in his earlier years.” She chuckled humorlessly. “I may not have the right to worry and meddle now, but I will anyway because I’m his mother. You understand that much, don’t you?”

Diana nodded. “I do. I understand.”

“Then I’m sorry for being so blunt, but… Why? Why Oliver? He’s eight years younger than you.”

That was the thing, wasn’t it? Eight years. Diana was already out of university while he was just about to start it (maybe). The gap in life experience was the main issue.

“...” What could Diana say? That it was love at first sight? That she had developed an obsession with this young man she had never even talked to? Terrible answers. “I couldn’t stop thinking about him,” she admitted.

“Huh?”

“I happened to see him once, months ago. We didn’t talk and he didn’t see me. Then the same happened again, and again. I thought…” Diana took a deep breath and the air seemed to tear at her lungs. “I thought he was… handsome. Saw him plenty of times but we never spoke. Then I found out he was working at my friend’s coffee shop.”

Ms. Brooks nodded. “Maria, right?”

Of course Oliver had told her already. “Yes. It was her idea. A double date. I hesitated but I was… tired. I needed a change of pace. What’s more, I knew I wanted it, so I said yes.”

“Tired?”

Diana shook her head. “Sorry. That doesn’t matter.”

“Either you’re just like him or he’s rubbing off on you,” Ms. Brooks said with a small smile. “Come on. Tell me.”

“My dad had recently passed away.”

“Oh.”

“I was dealing with the funeral, lawyers, inheritance, family…” Diana sighed. “When Maria suggested a double date, I…”

“I’m sorry,” Ms. Brooks said. “Oliver didn’t say that.”

“Look, Ms. Brooks, I’m very aware this is… strange. But I’m not playing around here. I couldn’t. I share your worries. I’m scared of having a negative effect on him. But… He’s having a very positive effect on me.”

Ms. Brooks looked at her glass and swirled her glass. “Are you serious about him?”

Diana chuckled and didn’t quite manage to hide the bitterness at the question. “Would you believe me if I said yes? Would you judge me if I said no?”

Ms. Brooks laughed. “Okay, you got me. Sorry, my questions have all been unfair.” She groaned in defeat with a shake of her head. “I mean, I didn’t get it before, but now I understand why Oliver is… surrounded by women. Of course he’d catch your eye.”

“Ah. Right. You know about Frey.”

“What do you make of that?”

“I wouldn’t blame you if you don’t believe him, but he’s telling the truth. I tried to tell myself it couldn’t be real, but the first time I sensed what was on his mind, I couldn’t pretend anymore.”

“So… You can read his mind, too?”

“Not quite. Less than mind reading, it’s more like a feeling of certainty. When he looks at me, I know how much… How much I mean to him despite us not knowing each other for long. After plenty of bad relationships, that certainty is priceless. It should go without saying that Oliver means a lot to me as well.”

“And the other girls? Does that not trouble you?”

Diana smiled. “I’m something of an introvert, Ms. Brooks. I dislike being in big groups and have trouble talking to strangers. Those girls… Strange as it is, I’d like to call them friends. I know we’re only just getting to know each other, but they’ve welcomed me in their little group and I enjoy their company as well. No, they do not trouble me in the slightest.”

“...” Ms. Brooks drank more of her glass of water. “And what if, say, Oliver fell for yet another girl? Would you welcome her into the group.”

Oh.

Right.

Diana hadn’t considered that. Of course, there was a chance she wouldn’t be the last of Oliver’s lovers. In fact, there was a high chance there would be others in the future. How did she feel about that?

…

Diana chuckled. “Who knows? If I like her, I’ll welcome her. If I don’t, I’ll tell him. That scenario is so dependent on so many factors that it’s pointless to think of hypotheticals, no?”

“I guess it is.” Ms. Brooks closed her eyes and smiled fondly. “You know, I had those two when I was 22. My boyfriend was barely 18. He proposed to me and we got married when they were five months in in my belly. I can’t go around preaching responsible relationships with my history. Besides, Oliver has grown so much, and he’s happier than he ever has been. I guess I just don’t want anything to ruin that for him.” She chuckled. “And now you’re part of his happiness, too.”

Diana felt heat rising to her cheeks. She didn’t know what to say to that.

“Still, I have one final test for you, Diana,” Holly said. The lightness of her tone, however, told her this wasn’t anything serious. “Oliver said you know how to mix drinks.”

“I do. I worked as a bartender for a few years. Now I’m managing a new bar at a hotel and I hope to open my own someday.”

“Then I want you to promise to make me a drink one of these days,” Ms. Brooks said with a smile. “I’ll take whatever you recommend. I’m curious and I haven’t had a nice drink in years.”

“I think Oliver mentioned something like that. Do you like to drink?”

“I do, but… Well, being a single mother has its challenges. I promised I’d never let the kids see me drunk, and I didn’t have the most restraint when I was younger. Now they’re both grown up, so I think I can let loose a little bit.”

Diana smiled. “I promise I’ll make you something good, ma’am.”

“Please, just call me Holly. We’re close enough in age that you’ll make me feel old if you treat me too respectfully.”

“Okay. Then… What’s your favorite drink, Holly?”

“Gin fizz. Too boring?”

“Only if you throw all the ingredients together without any thought. I’ll serve you a true gin fizz,” Diana said confidently.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“...”

Okay, so things were going well. Holly had accepted her. Should Diana take the win and leave it at that or try to get closer to her?

…

She did promise Oliver she’d win her over.

“Actually, why don’t you come over to my place? I could invite Maria and the three of us could chat.”

Holly raised an eyebrow, interested. “You know… That doesn’t sound bad. I have yet to meet Maria and thank her for taking care of Oliver. Okay, let’s do that.”

And so, Diana ended up becoming friends with her boyfriend’s mother.