24 The Bad Boy Meets the Parents

Hailey's P.O.V

"Hailey sweetie wake up." I heard my mom's sweet voice, whisper, shaking me gently.

"What's wrong? What time is it?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.

"It is eleven A.M., not like you sleeping this late." She giggled, "You have a guest." She added.

"A guest?" I asked, confused.

She nodded, smirking "A very handsome one." She added laughing.

"Uh?" I asked, confused.

"Will see you downstairs." She smiled, leaving.

Who could that possibly be? I groaned, pulling myself out of bed. I ran my fingers through my hair before heading down in my pajamas. As I made my way down, I heard my dad in the kitchen laughing with someone. I would know that laugh anywhere. I headed into the kitchen, finding my dad and Avery sitting having coffee and chatting like old friends.

"Um...morning," I said, making them both look at me.

"Morning, sweetheart." My dad smiled.

"Morning Kitten." Avery smiled at me.

Did he just call me kitten in front of my father? Who does that? I looked at him, confused, making him chuckle. I see eyes trail me for a moment due to only being in shorts and a strappy tee. He quickly pulled away before my dad saw him doing it.

"Coffee?" My dad asked.

"Yes, please," I replied.

My dad went over getting me some coffee, and I made my way over to Avery.

"What you doing here? I thought you were mad at me for some unknown reason." I said only loud enough for him to hear.

"I missed you kitten that is all. Sorry about last night. We will talk about it later." He smiled pushing my hair from my eyes.

I nodded, sitting down next to him, my dad coming back and my mom soon joining. I was still confused because I did not think Avery was the meeting the parent's kind of guy. I felt him place his hand on my knee under the table, giving it a quick squeeze before leaving it there. I took a deep breath, enjoying his touch on my skin, even with something as innocent.

"How long have you two been friends?" My mom asked "Are you only friends?" She added, trying to hide a smirk.

"A few weeks now. Met at school which I was new at." Avery smiled.

"And yes mom, we are only friends," I said, shaking my head laughing, Avery looking a little hurt when I said that.

"What was the matter with your old school?" My dad asked curiously.

"I am not going to lie to you; I got into some trouble and got expelled. I am trying my best to get my act together." He said honestly.

I turned glaring at him. Why would he tell them that? Is he trying to get them to say to me I can't hang out with him? Maybe that is his plan. Perhaps he has got fed up with me...got a better offer.

"These things happen, at least you are trying son." My dad smiled at him.

I swear, I think I am dreaming. What is happening right now?

"If you try hard enough, you will get there. Hailey's father was the same in school. Always getting into trouble. He was sort of one of the bad boys of the school." My mom giggled.

"You were?" I asked, shocked.

"Yes, I was a bit of an asshole." He laughed.

"What made you change?" Avery asked.

"Hailey's mother actually. I was always crazy about her, but she was more of your good girl type. The same as Hailey in many ways. She refused to give me a chance unless I changed, so I did. Then in our last year of high school, she got pregnant with Hailey and that is when I realized even more that it was time to grow up." My dad said, grabbing my mother's hand, smiling at her.

They were still so much in love with each other, even after being together for nineteen years. That is the kind of relationship I want in my life. I want someone to look at me the way my father still looks at my mom. Then again, I will never be that lucky.

"How do I not know any of this? How bad were you?" I laughed.

"Drinking, partying, getting arrested, sleeping around and ditching school." My mom said, looking at him.

I looked at him shocked; I honestly had no clue about any of this. My dad was laughing at my reaction.

"It was a long time ago." He said.

"And Hailey's mother changed it all? What age were you when you got together?" Avery asked.

"We were sixteen when we first got together. Yes, sometimes that is all a man needs, son. A good woman that will set him straight, help him change for the better but still accepts your past without judgment." My dad smiled at him.

Avery then looked at me. A strange look in his eyes but quickly pulled away. What was that all about?

"Sixteen? That is a young age to fall that hard is it not?" Avery asked.

"You are never too young to fall in love. No matter what people say." My mom smiled.

"I guess.:" Avery shrugged.

I sensed he was getting a little uneasy. My parents must have felt it too because they soon changed the subject.

"What are your plans for today?" My mom asked, looking at us both.

"Layla is coming over except that...no plans," I said.

"Avery?" She asked.

"Nothing at the moment." He shrugged.

"Well, it's a lovely day you should all go out and do something fun." My dad suggested.

"There is nothing to do around here." I laughed, Avery, agreeing with me.

"I am sure you all can find something. Your mother and I have errands to run. When we get back, I hope you are not still inside, or I will kick your asses out." My dad laughed.

My mom and dad left, leaving me alone with Avery. I could feel his eyes on me, butterflies in my stomach. I slowly turned to face him. I swear he was closer now than he was two seconds ago.

"Can we have that talk now, please? It is important." He said seriously, a look I am not used to seeing in his eyes.

"Yes," I whispered.

He stepped in close to me, hands gently placed on my hips, and looking at me with an intense look in his eyes. I swallowed hard, my heart seeming to beat that little faster.

"Hailey, do not go on a date with him, please?" He asked, a begging look in his eyes.

Those words again, surely what Mason told Layla can't be right? It is Avery. He does not do more than hookups, so why is the thought of me on a date with someone else getting to him?

"Why?" I asked.

"Because." He said.

"Because why? You can't say something like that then not tell me why." I said softly.

"Because I want." He started but before he could finish.

"Hailey?" I heard Layla call.

"Kitchen," I called back, not taking my eyes away from Avery.

"Fuck!" He hissed under his breath, pulling away from me.

Damn it how could Layla not have come in a few minutes later? She walked into the kitchen, looking at me then at Avery.

"Everything okay?" She smiled.

"Yes," Avery answered, smiling at her.

I nodded, Layla, not believing me by the look on her face.

"I am gonna call Mason be back in a minute." He smiled headed into the living room.

"Did I interrupt something?" She asked.

"He asked me not to go on a date with Dane. Before you came in, he was going to tell me something. Layla, what does this mean?" I asked.

"That he likes you too. The same way you like him. Hailey, I see the way you look at him when you think no one else is watching." She said.

I sighed, sitting back down, running my fingers through my hair.

"Layla, I wasn't meant to fall for him especially after Joshua...especially after the ways we have argued more than once. I can't do it, Layla, I really can't. It is all going to end in heartbreak. My heart is the one that gets broken again. I can't." I said, shaking my head.

"You can't do what?" We heard Avery's voice coming towards us.

"Nothing. It doesn't matter." I smiled, "Did you get Mason?" I added.

"Yes, I did. The four of us are going to the carnival that is in town down by the pier." He smiled.

"Okay. I need to get ready first." I giggled.

"Hurry up now kitten, not got all day." He winked at me.

I laughed, shaking my head. I headed to grab a shower and get ready for the day. I was hoping Avery and I can get to finish that chat later because I need to know what is going on. Work out if he does like me, and if he does, I need to work out if he is worth the risk. The risk of possibly getting my heart broken again.