SM: Her Last Summer

Chapter 15: Patience

SHAWN'S P.OV:
My mother's arms stretched around me.

"It's good to see you again darling," she gushed.

I broke out from our embrace, ruffling my dark hair.

"Can I get you anything Mum you?" I asked.

"A coffee would be lovely," she replied.

I switched on the kettle and reached for a china cup from the cupboard. My phone gave a loud chime.

Avery: Sorry. Can't do anything today. Busy with stuff.

I frowned at her vague response. My mum being the observant person she is picked up on my mood.

"It's the girl isn't it?"

"I don't understand woman," I stated.

The kettle released steam as it came to boil. I put a teaspoon of coffee into the mug.

"It's like she doesn't want to see me."

"She probably has something going on," she said.

"Mum, we were seeing each other a few times a week. We haven't seen each other in nearly two weeks," I complained.

"Why is it such a big deal Shawn? Summer will be over in another couple of weeks. You'll go back to work. You won't have time to be mucking around with some girl," she said.

"I don't want Avery to be a Summer fling. I want to keep seeing her."

My mother gazed at me a large smirk forming.

"Dear me," she mumbled.

The kettle clicked off. I poured the steaming water into the mug and swirled it around with a spoon.

"We need to meet this girl Shawn."

"Okay, okay."

Cameron held the weight over my head.

"How many more?" I grunted.

"Ten."

I pushed the weight back up, grunting occasionally. I swiped at my sweat as the bar bounced against the grip. Cameron switched positions with me. I stood above him as he gripped the bar.

"When are you seeing Kayleigh?"

"You mean to say 'When am I seeing Kayleigh?' don't you? Somewhere that isn't your place. She keeps nagging about how you won't shut up about Avery," he said.

My hand grazed the metal as he pushed the bar. I didn't respond to his comment. I waited a few minutes before he pushed the bar back into my grasp.

"You could just pop past her work?" he suggested.

"I haven't seen her. I don't get it."

Cameron gave a shrug, "Be patient."

I tapped on the door of Hunter's suburban home. So much for patience I thought. A light flicked on in the household and I heard faint footsteps trekking down the stairs. A friendly blonde woman opened the large wooden door.

"Are you Jehovah's Witness? I swear I asked them not to come again. Four pamphlets in a month," she rambled.

"Are you Mrs Hunter?" I asked.

I received a look of bewilderment, "I am. Who are you?"

"I'm a friend of Avery, I was just coming by to see if she was in," I explained.

Her mother scrutinized me as I said the word 'friend '.

"Just a minute," she said.

I listened to the scuffle of feet and hushed whispers. Avery appeared at the doorway wearing blue pajama shorts and a laced black singlet. She studied me in a similar way.