𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙱𝚊𝚍 𝙱𝚘𝚢 (𝚋𝚡𝚋)

30.

Gavin folds his tie over, furrowing his brows as he didn't know the correct way to tie it. He was standing in front of Chantel's full-length mirror.

He didn't even know why he was dressing up like this. He hears his phone ringing and groans. He picks it up, answering it. "Hello?"

"You almost ready?"

"Yeah," Gavin throws his tie down on the floor. "I'll be at your place in a few." Gavin hangs up the phone without another word.

Shawn, who was already ready sets his phone down in his lap. Jaxon was sitting on the couch next to him. "Is he okay?"

"I hope so," Shawn sighs and leans his head back. "I hope this isn't a shitshow."

"Have you ever met him?"

He nods his head a few times. "A few times. He would pop out sometimes but never long enough for Gav." Shawn replies.

Jaxon frowns and scoots closer to Shawn. He lays his head down on his shoulder. "Are you sure you're okay with doing this? You're still dealing with your dad."

"Yeah, I know. But, I'm doing better and I need to be here for Gavin. The same way he was for me."

"I'm just making sure. I don't want you to push yourself."

"I know, baby." Shawn sets his hand down on Jaxon's thigh. "I'm doing alright. Promise you."

Jaxon fixes the T-shirt he was wearing. "You think it'll be okay? What's Gav's dad like?"

"When we were in high school he was a drunk dead beat. Kinda like my dad but he was like a functioning addict."

"So, did Gav see him regularly? Or no?"

"Nah. He would just appear randomly but he stopped after a while." Shawn looks down when he feels Jaxon grab his hand.

"Poor Gav," Jaxon sighs as he fidgets with the ring on Shawn's finger. "How do you think it's gonna go?"

"Who fucking knows," Shawn says just as Gavin opens the door to their apartment. Shawn turns his head as his best friend walks in to sit down next to the couple.

"Still wanna do this, Campbell?"

"Yeah," Gavin sighs as lays his head back. "You ready?"

"Mhm," Shawn stands up from the couch, leaning over to kiss Jaxon twice. "Love you, baby. See you later, okay?"

"Okay," Jaxon kisses him again. "I love you too," He then turns to look at Gavin. "And good luck, Gav."

"Thanks, man," Gavin smiles.

**
Gavin's dad, Grant was fixing his tie as he sat at the table. He'd made it there ten minutes early. He looks up when he sees his son, for the first time in years, walk into the restaurant.

He was covered in tattoos, more than Grant remembers. He was taller and muscular, had a scruffy beard, and was wearing all black.

He glances at the man next to him, Shawn. He was more tan than Gavin, standing a few inches taller. He was also covered in tattoos but was visibly more tatted than Gavin.

He points to the table for Gavin to see, staring at his dad. Shawn shrugs his shoulders. "You ready?"

"Guess I have to be." Gavin walks forward, up to the table that his dad was sitting at.

Grant stands up, a smile on his face. "Wow...You're so grown. So tall, just like me."

Gavin gulps and nods his head. "Uh, yeah."

Grant thinks about leaning in for a hug, but decides against it and sits back down. "Well, sit...sit. I haven't ordered yet, I thought I'd wait for you guys to get here."

Shawn waits for Gavin to take his seat, just in case he needed to back out. Gavin sits down and lets out a deep breath.

"Shawn. I haven't seen you in...God, how long?"

Shawn smiles as he takes his seat. "Not since I was like fifteen, I don't think."

"You're what? Twenty-one, now?"

"Twenty-three, sir."

Grant nods and smiles. He looks over at Gavin who was staring intently at the menu. "Gavin...I know your birthday passed a few months ago-."

"Two months ago," Gavin replies, not looking up from the menu.

Grant nods again, looking down at his menu. He clears his throat, "Right...I'm sorry I missed it."

**
The conversation was bleak and quiet until their food arrived. Grant takes a sip from his iced tea, "So, Gavin? How's life treating you? Got a girlfriend?"

Gavin looks up from his plate. "Yeah."

Shawn kicks him from under the table, indicating to contribute to the conversation a little more.

"Her name is Chantel." He says flatly.

Grant smiles a little. "I thought her name was Mia." He says enthusiastically.

Gavin furrows his brows at his father. "Oh, that's right. You haven't talked to me in almost five years, sorry. Mia and I broke up a few years ago."

"Gavin-."

"What else do you wanna know? How about that I work two jobs, and got a stable income? How I live in a nice ass apartment with Chantel. Hm, what else?"

"Gavin-."

"I talk to Mom regularly. Actually—...More than regularly if that's possible. She's doing fuckin' amazing and-."

"Gavin, I'm sorry."  Grant finally gets out.

Gavin stops speaking and his face turns red. "What?"

"I said I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you," Grant uses his napkin to wipe his mouth before sitting back. "Leavin' you and your mother was never my intention. It's a horrible, and gross excuse but I wasn't ready to be a father."

Shawn glances at Gavin to make sure he was okay.

"I didn't want you to grow up around me, knowing I wasn't ready to raise you. And, I know either outcome is shitty but I did what I thought was best for all of us."

"How could you think that was better?" Gavin looks down at his plate.

"Your mother was young when she had you. We were fresh out of college and...I was scared. I was scared I couldn't be the father you deserved and instead of taking care of you I ran off, and I'm so terribly sorry."

Gavin can feel his face getting hot, the back of his throat burning as he wanted to cry.

Grant sighs. "If you'd let me...I would love to get to know you. Get to know my son."

**