The Wanderers

Chapter 22

We were both woken up bright and early by the sound of my mother clearing her throat from the bedroom doorway. I sat up so fast I knocked Tristan off the bed. Even though I was fully dressed and Tristan had pajama pants on, it didn't bode well for my mom to catch us in bed together.

Tristan sprang up quickly from the floor and I caught my mother checking him out. Gross, I thought to myself. "Good morning Ella, Tristan," she said, trying to hide her smile. "I suggest you two get dressed and meet us in the living room before your father arrives." She turned on her heel and closed the door behind her. My cheeks burned bright red from embarrassment. I quickly got up and threw on a sweatshirt. I left Tristan in the bedroom and hurried out into the living room to meet my dad.

"I trust you slept well last night?" my mom teased and I blushed even more.

My dad opened the door to the suite and stopped to give the guards a few instructions before entering. "Ella, why is your face all red?" he asked.

"It's just...um...really hot in here," I said. I caught a glimpse of my mom smiling behind her tea cup.

"Then why don't you take your sweatshirt off," he suggested, like that should be the obvious answer to my problem. I just shrugged. "How's my favorite daughter," he said, arms wide waiting for a hug.

"I'm your only daughter dad," I said, giving him the hug he was waiting for.

"And that's why you're my favorite," he chuckled. When he pulled back, his head snapped up to the sound of a door clicking. I braced myself as I turned and watched Tristan step out of the bedroom. I could feel my dad's body tense up instantly.

I dropped my arms and walked over to Tristan to stand next to him. "Dad, this is Tristan." He looked him over, an intense stare in his eyes. When he didn't say anything I started to get nervous.

"Hello, Mr. McCallister," Tristan said, extending a hand, but my dad didn't take it.

"Liam," my mother chastised. Not wanting to hear her wrath, he took his hand and shook it. He gripped it so hard I could have sworn I heard bones break. Tristan flinched slightly and when my father let go Tristan wiggled his fingers at his side to make sure they still worked.

"So you're the one who has been telling my daughter about us."

"Yes sir," Tristan stuttered.

"What gives you the right?"

"At least someone told me," I snapped.

"Ella," my mom warned.

"If you'll excuse us, we need to talk to our daughter in private."

"Of course," Tristan said, taking a step forward.

I grabbed his hand and pulled him back to me. "No, anything you need to say you can say in front of him," I said, putting my foot down. My father glared at me, not appreciating my tone.