Bunking With Boys

Chapter 37: Surprises

Avery's POV

I sat stunned on the couch, still between Dawson's legs. I tensed at the sight of my dad standing at the door in his posh black suit and the stern, yet extremely uncomfortable look on his face.

Dawson began to rub my shoulder a bit and pulled me closer to him after hearing the tone of my voice which I can only think sounded distressed.

Dad assesses the scene in front of him. From the group of people sitting around the living room to me with Dawson.

I could see the judgment in his eyes, and whether that be for the disappointment of a daughter who was covered in hickeys and slightly intoxicated with the obvious evidence in my hand, or the boy behind me, I had no idea. Maybe both.

Dad stares at me intensely as I did him and for a second and I think I saw something like regret flash over his features but it returns to pretty neutral once again.

I finally make the move to stand up when Dawson's grip on my shoulder tightens and he stands up
with me. He pushes my hair behind my ear and leans in to whisper, " You okay? You want me to go with you? You need anything?" And for a second I didn't bother answering, just enjoyed his hand on my head and waist.

I pulled away from him a bit, placed my hand on his cheek and smiled the best I could. "I'm fine Dawson, thank you," I said letting my thumb stroke the light freckles beneath his eye and scattered across his cheek. I didn't notice he had them at first but after I did I made sure to make it known that I thought it made him 10 times cuter.

He nods and kisses me before I walk off to the door, where Callum stayed standing. Except his expression had changed from goofy and joking like he always was, to a face mixed with caution and worried and...resentful almost.

"Dad," I say with a head nod to make the altercation a little less awkward, although part of me said there was no way in hell it would ever be even semi-comfortable.

"Avery." He said back in the same manner, fidgeting with the silver watch around his wrist.

Dad and I were quite different. From looks to personality, there was really no similarities between us. One being he was quite the fidgety and awkward guy who was also pretty shit at hiding it. He also happened to beat around the bush a ton, while I had a tendency to be a little...too honest. At least with people I wasn't on fantastic terms with at least.

"Why're you here? Someone die or some shit?" Now did I feel bad for using such quote on quote 'language' with him? Not really, no. I had basically no relationship with him and little respect. I did love him and all, cause I mean he is my dad after all, but that didn't mean jack shit to me. Until he bothered to talk to more for than 12 hours a year at least.

Dad just shook his head and stumbled over his words, he kept looking back at the car and that's when I noticed another figure on the passenger side of it, although I couldn't make out anything about the person.

"You need to come home for a little bit Avery." He said unsurely, he was avoiding my eyes, like he was keeping something more from me.

I felt my heart drop a bit at his words. Leave? Everything? Everyone? My best friend was pregnant, I couldn't possibly leave her. Not to mention leave all my friends. Or Dawson, fuck we just became something...more after almost months. There was no way I was leaving any of this.

I heard the car door open and once the figure of a woman appeared I could begin to make out the features of my aunt, who I hadn't seen in years.

She didn't look much different from what I remember, still the same long dark brown hair and bright blue eyes. She looked more tired than I remember though, but I blamed my innocent mind for perceiving everything as sunshine and rainbows back then for that.