One Night ✔

12. Dad

"Wait, so Missy said she saw you and Charlie going upstairs?" Maya asks in disbelief. It seemed that she was as shocked as I was when I heard about the lie that Missy had spun to split up me and Lucas.

I had called Maya as soon as I got home from my day date with Lucas and after a mild lecture about keeping the meeting a secret from her we had spent the last hour discussing what had happened.

"I guess" I shrug. "It makes more sense than he just randomly hooking up with Missy Bradford." I add thoughtfully as I pull at a loose thread on my comforter. I was hiding out in my bedroom because Hayden was over and I didn't want to face questions from both my daughter and her best friend. "He thought I cheated on him but he never actually saw the kiss; he doesn't know I pushed him off."

"Okay" she replies, "so when are you finally going to tell him? I mean, you've laid all the cards on the table but you still haven't said 'Avery is your daughter.'"

"I know" I nod. "I just have to find the right t-."

"Hey mom" Avery smiles, knocking on my open door. "Hayden went home."

"Oh okay" I smile. "I'll be done in just a minute and then we can decide what we're having for dinner."

"No rush. Are you talking to Aunt Maya?" she asks, walking in and taking a seat on my bed. I sigh. It seemed it was time to start spilling my secrets.

"Uh yea" I reply. "Maya, I gotta go. Talk to you later."

"You better" she replies, making me chuckle. "Love you Riles."

"Love you too" I agree before hanging up the phone and looking up at my daughter.

"You didn't have to hang up on her" she insists but I nod my head, disagreeing with her.

"I did actually. I have to tell you something."

She quirks an eyebrow at me. "Okay, is everything okay?" she asks, situating herself on the bed across from me.

A shaky breath falls from my lips as I twiddle with my thumbs, attempting to calm my nerves. "I went and saw your dad today" I explain carefully, looking up to find my daughter's mouth falling open and her eyes widening in shock.

Quickly, she closes her mouth and clears her throat, "does he, uh, does he know about me yet?" she squeaks out, her tone unsure and shaky.

"Not yet but I think it's just a matter of time until he figures it out" I explain, releasing a deep sigh as I look towards my closet where I had tucked away all my secrets from the past. I look back at my daughter and smile. "I guess I should finally tell you about him, huh?" Her green eyes sparkle with excitement at the suggestion.

I climb off my bed and reach up into the closet, grabbing an old shoe box from the top shelf and walking it towards the bed. I take a seat across from Avery and set the box between us, opening the top.

"Woah" Avery murmurs as she marvels at all the mementos inside. I chuckle as she reaches in and pulls out a red ring box. "Um were you and him engaged?" she asks, holding up the box.

I shake my head, taking the box from her hand. "Nope, this" I begin, opening the box, "is my jellybean. He used this to ask me to be his girlfriend when we were on a ski trip freshman year."

She giggles, digging back into the box. "Wait, is this a picture of you guys?" she asks, holding up the picture we took before prom in the limo. It had taken almost the entire ride for me to convince Maya to take that picture.

"Mhm" I hum. "That was senior year."

Her fingers run over the picture in wonder. "I have his eyes." I nod in agreement as she looks up at me. "You both look so happy."

"I was always happy with him" I admit. "His name is Lucas."

"Lucas what?" she presses.

"Lucas Friar."

"Do you think he'll be around if he figures everything out?" she asks curiously, the hope evident in her voice.

I open my mouth to respond but the doorbell cuts me off. "I don't know" I admit, taking one last look at the box while the doorbell continues to ring. "I'll be right back" I smile as I kiss the top of my daughter's head. "Feel free to keep looking" I add as I wander down the hallway towards the front door.

I throw it open without hesitation and my breath hitches in my throat when I see Lucas standing on the other side, shock written on his face.

"She's mine."