𝐬𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐝𝐞 → 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐰𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐬 (𝐢𝐢)

ten [s]

friday,
april 19th, 2020

SHAWN MENDES

For the past week, I've been travelling to promote my new single and perform at secret venues. I've been to LA, New York, Paris, London and I finished off with Canada, conveniently.

Tonight, I'm meeting my parents and my brothers at the lake house. They're staying until Tuesday, but I'm leaving Sunday evening. My mum insists that we need some quality family time, and to be honest, I couldn't agree more. I'm really looking forward to seeing everybody. I can't remember the last time we were all together.

I quickly jump in the shower and get dressed in jeans and a long sleeve. I blow dry my hair and toast a bagel which I scoff down. I then brush my hair and teeth, stuffing some last minute supplies into my overnight bag. It isn't long before I'm out the door and on the road.

The journey is a quick forty minutes and I listen to Daniel Caesar on the way. Upon arriving, I decide that wasn't the best idea as it only made me think of Trinity the entire way here.

I brush it off and shut off the music, rolling down my window to enter the four digit code for the electric gates. They pry open and I drive through, parking beside Mum's familiar Mercedes. For a minute I just sit there, staring out at the lake before me. I gulp down the lump in my throat, trying desperately to rid my head of thoughts of Trinity.

She told me she loved me for the first time here.

I didn't say it back.

I clear my throat and pull my keys from the ignition, hopping out and grabbing my bag from the backseat. I make my way up the stony pavement, eyes fixed on my shoes.

"Hey buddy," I hear a voice call.

A genuine smile works its way on to my lips when I glance up, seeing Flynn standing there, leaning against the doorway. He reciprocates my grin and I engulf him in a huge hug. We pat each other's backs as we embrace one another. My eyes well up. I haven't seen him in weeks.

"I missed you man," I tell him, pulling back to ruffle his overgrown hair.

He chuckles, fixing it, "I missed you too. C'mon, everyone's inside."

I follow in Flynn's footsteps and drop my bag by the front door. We stroll towards the kitchen arch and I poke my head in with a beaming smile. My mum immediately stands from her seat at the dining table, cupping her hands over her mouth and rushing towards me.

I rumble a chuckle, "Hey Mum."

"You're here! My god, I've missed you rockstar," she mumbles into my chest and I huff another chuckle.

I catch the eye of my other two brothers and my dad. I gently pry Mum's arms off me and Scott smirks at me as I make my way over.

"Ah, the singer has arrived," he jokes, "Tell me, now that you're famous, is it easier to get laid?"

We bark out boyish laughs as he wraps his arms around me in a hug. We ignore the way Mum scolds Scott and the way Dad elicits a small chuckle, earning a swat on the arm from his wife. Scott pats my back like Flynn did.

"We've missed you, bro."

I slip away from Scott to hug Adrian and my dad, "I visit Mum and Dad in Pickering every two weeks when I can. You're just never home."

"Too busy with the fiancée," Scott kisses his teeth and all of our heads snap towards him.

"You proposed?" Dad asks with raised brows and a growing smile.