Life Rolls On

chapter fifteen

"They're here!"

I become overwhelmed with excitement and anxiety simultaneously. I haven't seen them in a year, what if they don't like what I've done with the house? What if they don't like the decorations? What if they hate the party?

Chill the fuck out.

I take a deep breath, smelling the fresh grass through my nose and trying to calm myself.

Breathe, Lav. It's not that deep.

I never thought seeing my parents again would stress me out so much, but here we are.

Oh. My. God. I have to tell them about Charlie.

As the terrifying thought looms its way in, I hear Sunny's voice call out again. "Lav, are you in here?".

Preparing myself, I open the door. Greeting me, my parents.

A little in shock, I take it all in. My dad's hair is now sprinkled with a little grey, and my mom stopped wearing contacts and adopted glasses. Still, despite all the changes, in the flesh, here they were.

Screeching, I jump into their arms and hug them tightly. The way they smelled, the vanilla and musk mix, was so familiar it almost brought me to tears.

"We missed you baby," Mom whispers, and I hug her a little closer. Sunny leaves us, going into the back.

This didn't feel real.

Moving back, I go to say something when my speech is stopped.

Not only were they standing in my entryway, but another woman as well. One I didn't recognize.

"Lavender, this is Blair." My dad introduces.

I shoot her a grin, holding my hand out. "I'm glad you could make it, how do you know my parents?"

She smiles back, but looks anxious. She won't meet my eyes, and her hand in mine was sweating.

I started to feel a little suspicious, but I immediately push it away. This is my parents. My parents with the epic love story. My dad would never be disloyal, not to my mom, not to us.

I shoo the thought away as quickly as it came.

"We're neighbors!" Her think accent exclaims.

But why are you here?

A warm hand brushes my shoulder, and I melt into him.

"You guys look amazing," Charlie grins at them, shaking their hands. "I've missed you!"

"Have you finally made it official yet?" Dad chuckles, gripping his hand tightly.

"Almost, I've got her to tolerate me a little." Charlie giggles, and I roll my eyes.

"Well, shall we get to the party?" I eye them all happily, lingering a longer on little miss Blair.

I don't like her one bit.

————————

My party turned out to be a hit. Almost everyone on the island made their appearance, even for a few minutes.

I stepped back to take in my surroundings. Porter and Sunny were playing a heated game of volleyball, Dad and Charlie were talking and hoarding the chips and salsa, and Mom and Blair were drinking a glass of wine.

Everyone else was mingling about, and I couldn't help but to basically profile my parents little friend.

Dark brown hair, green eyes, tanned skin. She looks at least 10 years younger than my parents, and absolutely nothing like my mom. Her features match mine, blonde hair, blue eyes. My dad couldn't be cheating, could he?

"Stop looking at her like that, she's nice." Charlie murmurs in my ear.

"What if she's a raging bitch my dad is cheating with?" I ask, narrowing my eyes.

"Go talk to her then. I think they're just friends, and she probably didn't have anywhere else to go."

Optimistic asshole.

"You're supposed to hate everyone I hate you cunt." I grumble.

"You're cute when you're mad," I hear the smile in his voice, and he grabs me to turn me around.

Admiring his eyes, I pout. "No I'm not."

"Everyone here is happy because they love the party and all the work you've put in, focus on that." He kisses my forehead.

"I hate you."

"You love me."

"I know." I sigh.

"I love you Lavender Riley," He kisses me.

"Lavender, can I speak with you?" Mom comes up, seeming to be nervous.

Here we go.