***Chapter Forty-Four***
Staring back at me with a smile on his face was none other than my father. I wasn’t expecting to see him here and certainly didn’t think he’d bring my step-sister or Cecilia. My worst fear was happening and in front of all my friends, too. Not to mention my father saw me all over a guy. It was just Drew, but what was he going to think of that? He better not try to give me one of those parental talks. I’m in no mood for it. Especially not after this.
It felt like there was a lump in my throat staring at the three of them. My step-sister, Tara, looked so happy to see me. She wasn’t a bad person and had nothing to do with the matter. However, I found it hard to even give her a fake smile, let alone a real one. Then there was my step-mom Cecilia. The woman who had an affair with my unfaithful father knowing good and well he was married. The blame couldn’t be cast solely on her, but as a woman myself, it was pretty low. Though I had no leg to truly stand on. Look at me with Drew.
It was hard to find the words to speak, as I hadn’t pictured we’d be seeing each other so soon. If it hadn’t been for Drew coming behind me to soothe my nerves, then we would have stood here silently for hours.
“Dad…I…hi?” That came out more like a question than a statement.
I could almost see the pain on his face when he realized I didn’t want to talk. He masked it well, though. “Annabelle, hey. How are you?” He asked me.
“Fine, but umm, what are you doing here?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking. “What are all of you doing here?”
Their faces fell, but they didn’t quit. “We were in town and I thought I’d stop by and see my girl,” my father says with a smile.
“Did mom put you up to this?” There’s no way he wanted to see me on his own.
Then again, who knows? He has been calling me nonstop. It was me who wouldn’t pick up the phone. I’m sure he wanted to have that father-daughter bond like we used to. He had to ruin it by sleeping with some other woman. A woman who, in all fairness, seemed nice. I just didn’t have the interest I probably should have had to get to know her or Tara. You’d think being a year apart would make us close, but it didn’t change that my father was living at home with them versus being with his biological child. It hurt a lot.
There was nothing for me to do about it now, though. They were already here and didn’t look like they were ever going to leave. Not until I gave them what they came here for, and that was me. Every part of me didn’t want to do that. I didn’t want to go hanging out with them as some fucked up family situation. It was the only way to get them to leave, and I got to stall a bit, as I still had classes to finish. Could this day get any worse?
My dad chuckled nervously. “No, no. We only wanted to see you and maybe do something.” His eyes looked behind me. “I see you’ve made some friends.”
Right, my friends were behind me. “You know Dillon and Drew. That’s Dre and Cameron, with a couple of others missing.” I introduced him. “Guys, this is my dad along with my step-mom and sister.” They all say hi in the most awkward fashion.
“Anyway, we’d love to take you out to dinner somewhere or breakfast. Whatever works.” My dad continued to press the matter.
I sighed inwardly, trying to remember what my mom told me. “Breakfast, tomorrow.” I say, not looking forward to this.
That made him smile, though, as I finally got to say goodbye. I was not looking forward to doing anything with them. I barely knew the people my father left us for. He and my mom just expected me to be friendly, but there was nothing friendly about this encounter. It also didn’t help that this would be the first time I’ve met this woman and her daughter in person. What if they don’t like me because I’m the other woman’s daughter? I already wasn’t a fan of Cecilia. This screamed a recipe for disaster.
Either way, it was happening, and I was hoping the day would go even slower than it already was. The main thing was to remember that the holidays were coming up. It’d be better to get the awkwardness out now, before Christmas. I don’t even want to imagine how that would have gone. Especially with me just showing up at their door. That would have been a lot worse than this was. It didn’t make it any less difficult.
With them gone, we all had to head to our next set of classes as Drew opted to walk with me to mine. I needed to thank him because without him, I wouldn’t have been so calm. The words wouldn’t have been able to come out of my mouth without his comforting presence. There was also a lot I haven’t talked to him about. All the prying I do with him, it was now Drew’s turn to reciprocate that feeling.
Walking alongside me, Drew didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, but also wanted answers. “Annabelle, can I ask you a question?” He says.
I nod. “Yeah, sure.” I already knew what he would ask me. The question was, did I have an answer for it?
“I know that’s your dad and everything, but are you ready for this?” He asks me, reading the situation well. “You seemed…a lot more tense than usual.”
Smirking, my eyes look at him, trying to avoid the question like he does. “Look at you asking invasive questions.” I joked.
He chuckled. “Hey, I’m just doing what you say. Getting to know you.” He smiles. “I just want you to be ok, you know?”
I knew, and part of me wishes he didn’t want me to be ok. On top of dealing with my dad being around, I still had to deal with Drew and my feelings for him. I hadn’t answered him about our agreement still being on before my extended family showed up. It’s hypocritical of me to judge Cecilia or my father for what they did when I’m just like him. At the end of the day, what Drew and I were doing did not differ from what they did. Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to stop.
We stopped walking as I looked at him with sad eyes. “Does it make me a bad daughter if I don’t want to see him? I don’t want to talk to him. I don’t even want to look at him.”
I admit but felt bad for having those feelings. “I want to go back to normal, but I truthfully don’t know how.”
Drew understood, stepping closer to me with a soft smile of his own. “Awe, Annabelle, it’s only natural in this predicament to feel that way.” He says before gliding his fingers
across my cheek.
“Maybe, but I can’t avoid it now. He’s already here.” Much to my dismay, of course.
Drew nodded, but never let up his smile. “That’s why you’re going to go with your head held high!” He comforted me. “You’re so strong, Annabelle. You can handle anything.”
My cheeks blushed at his words of endearment. He was right; I was a strong person. I went from being bullied to being an outcast that nobody wanted to talk to, now having the best friends anyone could ever ask for. There were some things I could do without, but overall it made me who I am today. Super strong, and building confidence with each passing day. I could contribute a lot of that to Drew helping me as well. Without him, who knows where I would be?
Smiling, I wrap my arms around him tightly to thank him in my special way. It was also an excuse to have him embrace me the only way that he knows how. The comfort I felt snuggling into his chest was a feeling I couldn’t get anywhere else. He was my safe space unannounced to him, but never disappointed me. His strong scent filling me with undescribable pleasure. Our backstabbing would have to be addressed, but being here in his arms made it feel like it’ll all be worth it.
Looking up at him, I quickly captured his lips before going to walk away. Drew looked confused, but smiled at my gesture. I could even see him blush a little as I turned back around towards him.
“Oh, yeah, our agreement is still on!” I yell at him.