Stone Tower Serenade: Love Etched in Stone

Chapter 18: Unwelcoming prescence

David's face flushed a shade of crimson that rivaled the cherries adorning his morning waffle. A sheepish cough escaped his lips as he stammered, "Alright, never mind. I, uh, completely forgot you were already here, Avery. My bad! I'll go let Mum know." He shot a glance at me, his eyes wide with a mixture of amusement and apology. The message in his gaze was clear: "Well, this is awkward. Play it cool, buddy."

"We'll be right there!" I called out, my voice tinged with amusement. David's retreating figure offered only a nonchalant shrug in response, leaving me to face the music, or rather, the steaming mugs of coffee on the table. Glancing at Avery, I saw a wave of color wash over her face, a delicate blush blooming beneath her cheekbones. Shock flickered in her eyes, quickly morphing into a hesitant smile that didn't quite reach her gaze.

In that moment, I felt a surge of protectiveness rise within me. It wasn't a possessive possessiveness, at least not yet. Rather, it was a sense of shielding her from the awkwardness of the situation, from the potential judgment in David's eyes. Avery, bless her heart, was a terrible liar. Her mind was already racing a marathon, concocting elaborate excuses before David even reached the living room. I could practically see the gears turning behind her beautiful eyes, the worry etching tiny lines on her forehead.

Unable to contain the amusement bubbling up within me, a chuckle escaped my lips. It started as a gentle tremor, then blossomed into full-blown laughter, the sound echoing through the quiet kitchen. Avery's gaze flickered towards me, a flicker of playful annoyance mirroring my own amusement in her eyes. Perhaps there was a hint of relief there too, a silent gratitude for the diversion I provided.

"What's so funny?" she asked, a playful pout tugging at the corners of her lips.

I wiped a stray tear from my eye, the remnants of laughter lingering in my voice. "The look on your face, for starters," I admitted, a mischievous grin spreading across my own. "You looked like a deer caught in headlights, ready to invent a new story about early morning coffee dates with mysterious strangers."

A playful shove sent me off-balance, though the laughter never quite left my eyes. "Oh, shut up," she muttered, a blush creeping back onto her cheeks. "It's not like we were... well, you know..." Her voice trailed off, leaving the unspoken words hanging in the air.

"Doing something we shouldn't have been?" I finished for her, a playful edge to my voice.

A mock glare met my teasing. "Exactly," she huffed, though the twinkle in her eyes betrayed her feigned annoyance. "But seriously," she continued, her voice softening, "What if David thinks..."

"Thinks what?" I prompted, reaching across the table to gently tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. The simple touch sent a jolt through me, a spark of something new that I couldn't quite define.

"That there's something going on between us," she mumbled, her voice barely a whisper.

"Relax," I reassured her, noting the lingering worries and embarrassment etched on her face. "You don't owe anyone an explanation. They won't pry. Okay?" Despite my attempt to ease her concerns, Avery's expression remained tense.

As we made our way to breakfast, Everyone played along, David's earlier mischievous glint replaced by a knowing smile. Avery's presence, though unexpected, wasn't questioned. It was as if she were a guests at an inn, their intuition sensing the delicate situation.

This unspoken understanding brought a new wave of warmth to my chest. They were looking out for Avery, creating a safe space for her. And as I stole a glance at her, the worry slowly receding from her beautiful face.