Family Troubles || Redlyn

An Awkward Arrival

Big Red's POV

"Hey hon." I smiled.

"Hey." Ashlyn sat by me at lunch.

"I haven't seen you yet, where were you?" I asked curiously, kissing her cheek.

"Nowhere. Just bad timing I guess."

"Um..."

"I'm a horrible liar." She rolled her eyes. "Sorry."

"No problem... I think... what's wrong?"

"Guess who has to meet Emmett's family tonight." She said, taking a bite of food. I frowned.

"Sorry."

"It's fine." She shrugged. "It'll be boring, but it's only dinner."

"I guess."

"Bye." Ashlyn kissed my cheek as I stood up to leave her house, not wanting to be there when her mom arrived.

"Bye." I smiled and kissed her cheek in return. When I started walking to the door, her mom came in.

"Hello, are you two hanging out tonight?"

"No, he knows we've got plans. He was leaving." Ashlyn responded for me.

"Uh... yeah..."

"Stay, stay!" She invited me, trying to be polite. I suppressed a sigh. "We're just eating, we've got plenty of food."

"Oh, sure, thanks..." I sat back down by Ashlyn. Her mom went upstairs.

"Sorry."

"It's fine." I shrugged.

"Is it bad I'm kinda happy?"

"Nope. It's a bunch of people you're annoyed with. Makes sense."

"You understand everything." She hugged me. "I love you."

"Love you too." I kissed her, leaving our foreheads touching when we stopped. She smiled.

"They'll be here soon!" Her mom said, coming back downstairs. We let go of each other and I gave Ashlyn a reassuring smile.

We had been left alone with Emmett's two kids. One of which was 6, a girl named Riley, and the other was a boy around our age named Will. Riley was being super energetic, on the edge of her seat, and Will was hardly paying attention, scrolling on his phone.

"So, uh... how are you guys?" Ashlyn asked, trying to make small talk.

"Good." Will grunted.

"Great!" Riley said, almost jumping up and down in her seat.

"Nice..." She said quietly. I held her hand, making her smile slightly. "So, your dad seems nice."

"Your mom too." Will said, sounding a mix between bitter and sarcastic.

"Sorry again you got dragged into this." Ashlyn whispered into my ear.

"It's fine." I smiled and shook my head.

"Yeah, yeah, got it." She nodded. I kissed her cheek.

"You guys are dating?" Riley asked curiously, making Will's head snap up.

"Yes." I nodded.

"Didn't your mom say you two are friends?" Will asked.

"Left out some details." Ashlyn shrugged. "It's just easier to explain, probably less awkward."

"Right."

"Yep." I nodded.