Dial Drunk - Post Malone

43

Austin's eyes pop open at the ringing of his phone. He had forgotten to turn it onto silent the night before so still half asleep he reaches out blindly for it and holds it to his ear.

"Hello," he says, his voice still heavy with sleep. "Hello, Austin," his mother's soft voice comes through the phone. Damit, he should have checked who was calling him.

"Mama, when are you going to stop? It's been so long...just let it be now."

"You have not visited your father in a very long time. What's wrong?" she asks, her voice breaking. He shoots up in bed, his heart beating heavily in his chest. "Why are you crying, mama? Are you alright?" he asks, worry making his chest pull tight. Why is he worried about her? "I know how much your father means to you and it worries me that you have not visited him," she says. Austin relaxes and sighs heavily, he hopes she hears his annoyance at her phoning him.

"I have been busy with work, Mama, that's all," he says, "please don't cry," he adds when he hears her sniffle softly.

"Sorry...I just...even with your busy schedule you always found time to visit him. I don't mean to sound like a nagging old woman...but, something in my gut tells me something is wrong. Are you ok?"

"I am fine, mama. You do not have to worry about me."

"I will always worry about you. You are my child...may I come to visit you? We can talk."

"No, mama."

"Austin-"

"Stop. Please. I am fine. I will visit him soon. Don't call me again, mama."

"I love you, Austin," she says then cuts the call. She does not wait for his response, scared he stays silent. He would not have, he would have said he loved her too - out of respect for his father. He sighs heavily again and checks the time, he needs to get ready now to be on time for Max's party. It's a Saturday and the first day off he has had in a while given his heavy schedule. Colter Wall has released his new album, it's the second one Levi wrote on with him and it has shot to the top of the charts. Austin is not surprised. Next week Austin will start writing his album and apparently, the public is already gearing up for a showdown between the two men. It's all been very crazy for the last few months on top of him going to rehab and trying to get his life back on track.

He can feel his nerves popping on edge at the thought of not only seeing Levi today but now also having to sit in that studio with her for the next few weeks while they write together. Whatever happened to that couch? He never followed up on it. If it's not there when he goes to the studio he will ask Dre or get Mia and Jack to follow up on it. He showers quickly and dresses then grabs the toys he had bought for Max and heads into the kitchen to attempt to wrap them. Half an hour later and all he has is something that resembles toys and scrunched-up wrapping paper with bits of tape stuck to it. "What on earth are you trying to do?" Mia asks with a giggle when she walks in. "I am trying to wrap this gift. It's not working," Austin mumbles. "Let me do it," Mia says pushing him aside and undoing all his hard work.

"What are you doing here? I know I gave you the weekend off," Austin says leaning on the kitchen island. "I know, I forgot my bag here yesterday and I need my wallet. I am going shopping. Fun, right!" she says as she starts wrapping Max's gift perfectly. A ring on her finger catches his eye and he smiles. "Miss Mia is that an engagement ring on your finger?" he asks. She grins and holds up her hand to let him inspect it. "Yes, it is. My fiancé proposed on a boat last night," she says giggling now. "Fiancé, ooh, fancy," he says inspecting her engagement ring while she giggles again. She is flying high on clouds of love.

"I will pay for your wedding."

Mia's eyes go wide and her jaw drops open. "Oh, thank you, but I can't ask you to do that."