Gem in the Rough

Chapter 24

I fix my smile after just one moment, not wanting to give my confusion away. I'm his girlfriend? Since when? Was I informed of this, and I just wasn't paying attention?

"And Gem, this is my dad, Kevin Alton."

Mr. Alton stands from the couch and his height is even more apparent now. He walks towards me and engulfs me in a hug. These people really are huggers. I'm not as caught off guard this time, so I hug him briefly before letting go.

"So nice to meet you, young lady. I've heard a lot about you." He stepped away from me at this point but continues to stare at my face, studying it like he's in awe.

Kieran coughs and tells his dad that we went to the diner for breakfast and have been walking around town. He says that he can make his dad dinner in a few hours if he likes. Mr. Alton says that we can all cook something together and he can look at what's in the kitchen in a little bit.

He offers us a seat on the opposite couch he was on and Kieran leads me there. I sit next to him, keeping some space between us because I can't touch him right now. I'm too on edge and completely confused.

"Mr. Alton, you have a beautiful home."

"Oh, please. Call me Kevin. And thank you. Kieran's mother, Kimberly, was the one who designed everything around here. I've just been trying to keep it up. Kieran has been helpful with the garden aspect. This kid has the greenest thumb I've ever seen." He laughs at his joke, and I join him. Kieran looks sheepish for a moment and then asks his dad if he needs help with anything while he's in town this weekend.

"No, son. You just focus on keeping Gemma entertained. Show her more around town. I know there isn't much to see, but there's definitely a lot to learn about everything." He shoots a wink at Kieran and then stands, heading to the kitchen. "I'm going to see what's in the kitchen if you'd excuse me for a moment."

He walks out and I turn to Kieran immediately when I see his dad has fully left the room.

"Girlfriend?" He coughs and avoids my eyes.

"You caught that huh?"

"Of course, I did. Wh-," I'm cut off by Mr. Alton coming back in the room. I will not be calling him Kevin.

"I have to run to the store kids. I don't have much, especially not enough for a good dinner for a guest. I'm sorry I didn't run to get groceries sooner. Why don't you two take some time to rest? I bet it's been a long afternoon. Kieran, show her up to where you both will be staying." Mr. Alton gestures up the stairs and then grabs some keys from a small table in the hall. "I'll be back shortly."

Kieran stands and reaches for my hand, requesting me to follow him. I hesitantly take it and we climb the stairs, our bags in tow. Going up the stairs, I see pictures on the walls of Kieran, his dad, and who I assume to be his mom. I don't have much time to look at them, but I see that she was absolutely beautiful. She had long, dark hair that went to her lower back and it looks like she wore it in a braid often.

We make it to the bedrooms upstairs and I expect Kieran to bring me to a guest room, but we enter one that I can tell is his. The room is painted a deep red and he has a desk in one corner. He also has a shelf full of CDs and books. I let go of his hand and immediately go to the CDs, my bag dropped by the door. I hear Kieran shut the door behind us.

"Wow, you have a lot. This puts my selection to shame." I wasn't able to buy a lot of things growing up. When my mom left, money was pretty tight.

"Yeah, that's my prized collection." He sits on the bed and watches as I peruse the discs.

When he clears his throat, I jump and shake myself out of my daze. I realize that we have to talk about this whole girlfriend business. I join him on the bed, sitting close to him, our legs touching. The familiar burn rises in me.