29: Reunions and Separations

❝ Tonight we're gonna drown the sky, raise your glasses one last time, when we're down from this high, you won't find me by your side ❞

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After whipping up a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast, sausages and cups of hand squeezed orange juice, I sat down on the sofa, making myself comfortable and eagerly waiting for my parents to show up. It's near to eight, and they should be here any minute now.

The sun rays lighten up a patch of the carpet, and I can't help but let myself drown in the memories of last night and this morning. His unkempt, messy morning hair, his deep raspy voice, his flexing muscles and most importantly—him. Everything was surreal in the moment, and life seemed really great for me.

But then I remember the shift in his mood as soon as his eyes grazed over the texts that had been flooding his phone. There was something wrong, which he wasn't letting me know, and it bothered him. It bothered him upto a point where he couldn't even stay back to have the breakfast I whipped up for him. He may have faked the assurance in his voice, but his eyes gave it away. They always did.

The screech of car wheels startle me and I leap out in a second, running to the front door and throwing it open. Mom climbs out of the driver's seat as dad laughs at something she says, whilst dragging out his luggage. And then his eyes fall on me and in a second I have jumped in his arms, clutching onto him for dear life.

"Daughter dearest." He teased, and I laughed loudly, a few stray tears escaping the corner of my eyes.

"Dad dearest." He smiled so wide that my heart burst, fizzled, popped, melted, whatever that is. His fingers grazed through the auburn hair I inherited from him and he placed me down on the ground with ease. Ashton Williams was a forty one year old cardiologist and general surgeon, yet he has the physic of a thirty year old man. With muscles rippling, and a body toned like a gym beginner's, he's not packed, but he doesn't possess extra fat either. He's Moordale's pride and also crowned the hottest father—the latter being a little weird for mom and I, but nevertheless, we appreciate it.

"I missed you." He mumbled in my hair and I whispered the words back, too happy to even comprehend the reality. With dad's arm slung around my shoulder and mom's sitting on my waist, we walk into the house, a feeling of fullness settling in me.

"Well, what do we have here?" The smell had wafted down the hallway and dad had instinctively gone down the kitchen to check it out. I laughed and removed the cutlery, setting up the table prettily.

"Mom was supposed to make you your favorite dish—taken we had thought you would be arriving yesterday." Dad mouthed a sorry and I wave him off. "But since she went to pick you up, I decided it would be better to make you a welcome back breakfast and then mom could cook what we had initially planned." He nodded in agreement and turned to mom, only to pull her towards him by her waist, placing a chaste, long kiss on her lips. My heart fluttered and I smile softly, taking in the sight, so proud and so happy that I get to have them as my parents.

"Ew gross." I voiced out instead, pretending to be disgusted by the public show of affection. Mom blushed but dad just laughed it off, sending a wink to my mom.

"Nothing wrong with showing my wife I love her. As simple as that June bear." I giggled and turned my attention to serving them the hot breakfast. "Well, isn't this just wonderful?" Dad rolled up his sleeves, exposing his beautiful tattoos, and sat down on the chair, beckoning mom to take a seat as well. "Food made by my lovely daughter. And to eat it in the company of the two most strong, beautiful and kindest women I know." Taking a bite of the toast and eggs, he moans, and my heart warms. It's been almost an year since he has had any kind of homemade food.

"Tasty! I love it!" Mom patted my knee to show her agreement as well, and I smiled, simply loving the scene unfold in front of me—Dad and mom together. Eating food made by me, here with me.

Gulping down a glass of water, I watched my dad pull the most stern and serious expression he could. "So June," clearing his throat, he settled his hands on the table. "I heard from your mom that you're seeing someone?" I shot mom a glare and she fucking giggled, wiggling her eyebrows.

"I was meaning to ask you who that young man was, dropping you by the porch and then kissing you like there was no tomorrow." Dad's eyes went wide and he cleared his throat, as I blushed profusely. "Ashton was asking what was up with you, and well, it kind of slipped off my tongue." Both of them were eyeing me, eager as to when would I explain everything.

"He's uhm, he's my boyfriend." Mom cooed and dad still kept the fake stern expression on his face.

"Hmm. What's his name? Is he treating you right—he better be. I did learn a thing or two about firing guns while in the military, just so you know." Gruntling, he mused, trying his best to put up a strong facade. But I knew he was happy for me. Everytime he got the chance to tell me, he kept me reminded how it was okay to fall in love and take risks—that I would never learn the beauty of the feeling without experiencing it.

I giggled, nevertheless, gulping down the orange juice. "His name is Ray, and he does treat me good. He's kind to me, loving and always looks to protect me—that being said, he isn't the one to control and encourages me to make decisions for myself." I could go on and on, but some of the things were meant to be kept to myself. It was just like that.

"Do you love him?" A small smile played on mom's lips and I nodded, biting my lip. The memory of us saying the three words to each other last night after making love couldn't stop the smile from breaking across my face and I ducked down, my gaze steady on my shoes. "Aww, baby. I'm so happy for you." Getting up from where she was sitting, she gave me a tight hug and a chaste kiss on my forehead, whispering how happy she was for me.

"C'mere, daughter dearest!" Dad threw his arms wide open and I fell onto him as he lovingly wove his hands through my hair. "I'm so happy you finally found someone whom you really love. Your mom and I, we would love to meet him. Call him over for dinner in the next few days okay? Of course, only if he wants to." I nodded, making a mental note to ask Ray later.

"What's his family like?" Mom enquired, giddy and excited like a teen.

"It's just him, his mom and his five year old younger brother." I replied, chewing on the piece of toast, dad's arm still flung around my shoulder as he listened in earnest.

"And his dad?" He asked.

I paused, as they both furrowed a brow. I sighed, finally speaking up. "He passed away, about six years ago." Mom instantly closed her eyes, deep creases painting her forehead and dad pressed his lips in a thin line, nodding gravely. "It's not really my place to tell you what happened; if he wants to, he'll tell you guys soon enough when we meet." They both nodded, and I noticed the watery eyes of mom.

"Mom—"

"No one deserves that to happen to them, you know. It's bad enough, and I know it. I felt it. Papa passed away when I was in freshmen year of high school and I still felt that the time with him was so less. I can't imagine a twelve year old boy comprehending his dad's loss. It's so unfair, really." In an instant, dad was beside her, rubbing her arms and pulling her in for a hug. She cried a little and my eyes teared up too at the thought of her missing my grandfather.

Finally, after dad had calmed her down, she wiped her eyes clean, a sad smile making its way on her face. "Let me know his favorite dishes. I will cook them for him when he comes to dinner at ours, okay? Don't forget." My heart swelled up and dad squeezed my shoulder, as they both left to settle on the couch.

It was endearing how supportive my parents have always been, how they always keep in mind my feelings, my happiness and my choices. To see water in my mom's eyes after listening to an insight in Ray's life, I could see she felt for him. She knew the feeling, and she knew how hard it could get.

The sound of the TV involuntarily led my gaze to the couch, where my mom was huddled up next to dad, who was lovingly pressing kisses all over her face, as she snuggled her face in the crook of his neck. His hand stroked her hair, and in that moment, I missed Ray.

I missed him so much that I wanted to run and run, until I ended up in his arms. I wanted to swim across an ocean and go to him, whatever it took of me. I wondered what was he doing. Was he thinking about me? Was he playing with Sam? Was he—was he okay? Did he miss me like I missed him?

My hand subconsciously scrolled down the contact list, and my finger hovered over his number. I pressed call, heart hammering in my chest, as the line ringed and ringed. It ringed—until it went straight to voice-mail. My stomach suddenly twisted, a bad feeling creeping up towards my heart. Intuition was the only thing I believed in. I liked to believe I had the power of just knowing it when something was wrong, or when a person was not what he was letting everyone think he was.

This—this gut feeling wasn't bad. It was adrenaline filled. It had a touch of dangerousness and volatility to it. It had a time bomb ticking to it. It was worse, worse than what I'd ever experienced and I couldn't help but link it to the numerous suspicious missed calls and messages from the unknown number. I couldn't help but link it to the shift in his mood after he read them. I couldn't help but link it to how the smile didn't reach his eyes when he said goodbye.

Something was wrong, and I could just feel it flowing in my veins.

But what could possibly be wrong? Was Sam okay? My heart hammered as I thought of the little boy, and a prayer automatically slipped my mouth. Was it something to do with his mom? She worked in a bar, after all. A fierce curse left my mouth next.

I dialed his number again, only to be sent to voice-mail. Then I remembered, that Susan had given me her number to talk anytime I needed anything. Instantly pressing on her contact, I prayed silently for her to pick up. And she did.

"Hello?" Her soft voice was calming, and helped me a bit. "Hello? Who's there?"

"J—June. Uhm, Hi." A soft giggle left her lips and I found myself smiling at my idiocy. I had talked to her before, I had nothing to be nervous about.

"June! How are you?" The voice of utensils clattering told me she was at their house, and it gave me a sense of relief of some sorts. She was okay.

"I'm fine—great actually. How are you and Sam?"

"We're fine. I just sent Sam to school and now I'm cooking quesadillas for the three of us." Something sizzled in the background and my mouth watered. "You had something to say?" She enquired, as I imagined her multi tasking between talking to me and cooking.

"Uh yes." Clearing my throat a bit, I said. "Is Ray around? He isn't picking up my phone and I have to ask him something." I was wrong about this—I had to be. Ray was fine—he could've forgotten to charge his phone, or just kept it somewhere—

"No dear. I haven't seen him since I saw him leaving for school last morning. He did text me about going to a carnival and then staying up at yours, but he hasn't been home since." A pregnant, silent pause later, she continued, now her voice a little urgent and edgy. "What's wrong? He isn't at yours?"

My knees buckled and I sat on the chair heavily, my breathing a little erratic now. "No—I mean, he did stay the night but he left a little worried from my house. I thought I'd check up on him but every call I ring is sent straight up to voice mail." Okay, me might've just taken a detour. Or eaten breakfast at a joint and was returning home. But it had been three hours since he had left.

"What?" I heard the sound of her spatula hitting the pan, and the chair screeching on the kitchen floor. "Ray never goes anywhere without informing someone. Sure, he stays nights away—sometimes days even, but he is always making sure I'm informed." That didn't help me, my anxiety was rocketing to Mars right now.

"He—He could be with his friends. Jack, Simon or Jason even. I'll call and check." She said she'd check with Olivia and I agreed, as we hanged up. I scrolled down the contact list, quickly clicking on Jack's.

"Hey!" His cheery voice seeped out through the phone but couldn't be absorbed by me. "What's up June?"

"Is Ray with you?" Crossing my fingers, I clenched the phone tightly with the other hand.

"No, why is something wrong? I haven't seen him since last n—" I cut the call, immediately pressing Jason's number.

I didn't give him the chance to speak. "Is Ray with you?"

"Whoa, whoa calm down, and no he isn't, why, is something wro—" My hands trembling, I dialed Simon's number, my eyes squeezing shut.

He picked up on the third ring. "Hi bitch, what's up?"

"Is Ray with you?" My knees were shaking uncontrollably.

"No, he was with you, right? Haven't heard from him—" I dropped the phone on the table, the gut feeling intensifying, mocking me in a deep voice, saying I told you so.

The screen of the phone lightened, with a text from Susan, which said Olivia wasn't aware of his whereabouts as well.

Something settled in my chest, and I just knew. The time bomb was ticking away and it was about to blast very soon.

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A/N: And so it starts. Shit's about to go down and I'm so excited. There are about 5-7 chapters left until this book finishes and I'm so happy, yet so sad. This journey has been a wonderful one, and I've found some genuine readers. I love you guys so much!

This doesn't mean my writing journey is over. I have 2 projects already started: one a Boy x Boy and another a college sports romance! Hope you guys stay for that! I will also be rewriting Irresistible because I feel it has a scope for improvement!

Please vote and comment!! Love, SD

+ any theories? 👀 where is Ray? What's wrong?