Lovely

Chapter 13

|Chapter 13|

One small thing Holly and Paul forgot to mention was the fact that Ross' big speech was tonight. 

It didn't help that Ross was on his death bed either. 

His parents weren't home when we showed up, but surprisingly Paul's parents were. And this was definitely not how I wanted to meet them. 

His father was looking through a picture album before we knocked on the door. He'd tucked it under his large arm before coming over to open the door. I had no idea who he was at first, and all I could think of was that he was handsome and that he wasn't Ross' father. 

He was tall, just as tall as Paul if not taller and he had a charming smile on his face. I was a little taken aback by his pearly white teeth and stellar eyes. They were large and they were green. His hair was jelled back and he wore a blue button down that was tucked into a pair of nice dark slacks. 

Plus, he didn't look a day over twenty-five. 

The only thing that stopped my salivating was Paul's astonishment. 

"Dad?" he choked out.

"Hey son," Paul's father greeted and then his eyes finally found mine. They widened a bit and my breathing stopped. This was Paul's father.  And I was dressed in leggings and a sweatshirt from my father's alma mater and flip flops because Paul and Holly rushed me straight to heaven. It was supposed to be a lazy day. 

I froze in my spot, clasping my hands together behind me tightly. For some reason I was terrified of the gorgeous man in front of me. I felt as though I has something to prove since I had an overwhelmingly big crush on the man's child. 

"Don't tell me this is Nova," he pointed at me with his free hand and looked between Paul and I. A large grin spread across his face and he moved as to let us in the house. "Can't mistake those eyes. Come right in."

I hesitantly moved past his father and stood awkwardly in the foyer. 

"Come on," Paul yanked my wrist and pulled me in the direction of Ross' room. I nervously followed, glancing back every now and then to see his father following behind us while looking through the photo album. Holly was behind us as well, typing away at her phone.

When the bedroom door opened Paul's mother looked relieved and then shocked, because I was there and she'd never met me. 

"Nova," she uttered first. I huffed out a breath involuntarily because, if we're being honest, I was afraid. For so many reasons. 

"Mom," Paul shook his head at her. 

It was when his mother moved towards us that I saw Ross laying there motionless. Involuntarily I walked over to his bedside and tears welled up in my eyes at the sight of him laying there. I took his hand and squeezed it, hoping he'd take his hand away or squeeze back. There was no response. 

"He'll wake up," Paul's mother assured me. I looked her way and she offered a small smile. "Gabriel thought you'd come to visit as soon as you heard the news. He's requested you."

"Gabriel?" I jerked at the use of the name. Even Paul looked a little taken aback and I immediately wanted to dive into the nearest hole. I really didn't need a run in with the Council right now. 

"Just him," Paul's mom noted. "The entire Council is not present at the moment."

I looked away from the gorgeous women and up to my guardian. He looked to be debating over whether or not we should actually go to meet with Gabriel, but it's not like we actually had a choice. When a member of the Council calls you, you go.