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I looked between them and considered it. This could be a lot of fun, but I just wasn’t in the mood. This wasn’t the first time I’ve been propositioned for a threesome, and it won’t be the last I’m sure.
They gave me shit about saying no, so in order to get them to leave me alone I just told them I had to get tested for STDs. It wasn’t a total lie; I was going tomorrow. I go once a month or so to make sure I’m staying safe, even though I always use a condom. I couldn’t get over that feeling of loneliness even though they were offering to help me do just that.
My parents will only be gone for five days, but for some reason this trip is making me realize that if something were to happen to them, I wouldn’t just be parentless, I would literally be alone in every sense of the word. No one else in this world would care about me if I didn’t have them.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Aubrey
One week later
Ihave everything planned for my trip to meet my biological father. Callie offered to come along for the fifteen-hour drive and we’re hoping my piece of shit car makes the trip with zero issues. We are also praying for no snow. Callie has been insanely supportive, and I am grateful I won’t have to navigate this on my own.
Brie wanted to come but she’s still in college. Although she was on a break until the end of the month, she already had a non-refundable trip planned with her friends. Nick was insistent on coming, but there was no reason for it. He didn’t need to take off work when Callie was already going to be there. Callie and I had a lot easier time getting the time off. Luckily, the parents of our students understood. As for the restaurant shifts, Callie’s mom told me not to come back until I was ready, so that was covered.
I can’t believe I am really doing this. I am going to meet my biological father. When I looked him up on social media, there was only one August Foster living in Tennessee. It didn’t matter anyway, I saw those eyes. Seeing him for the first time felt…weird.
Although it had been a long time since she’d seen him, my mom confirmed the photo I found was him. Despite his hair being mostly salt-and-pepper colored now she was sure nonetheless. His page listed him as the owner/operator of a place called The Music Bar. The thought that he might be even remotely musically inclined excited me. I couldn’t wait to see if we had anything in common. I was too afraid to message him, though. I assumed he had gotten the email about having a DNA match, but I wanted to do this in person. What's the worst that could happen?
I stood there hugging my parents, who had come to see us off. It was harder to let them go than I thought it would be. It almost felt like I was doing something wrong or betraying them in some way or another, even though they were the ones who had betrayed me.
“Are you sure you don’t want one of us to come with you? Maybe we could explain this to him once you meet him.”
“Yes, Dad, I’m positive. You all need to work. I am sure he will have questions, and I’ll answer what I can with what you’ve told me. Anything else I need to know, I will call. I love you. I will be back when my soul feels settled. I promise.”
Brie was working, but she called to wish me luck. Callie and I packed up the car, hugged them goodbye, and went on our way. As we drove away, I saw my dad consoling my mom in the rearview mirror. I knew she was scared about what this meant, but I needed to do this. I can only hope that she understands. I need some time and space to find the missing pieces of me. Finding out about him has given me some answers, but I want them all. I need to find out who I really am and where I come from.
We were finally closing in on our destination after fifteen hours of driving and one sketchy hotel stay. I only had one mini panic attack, so I was doing pretty well. We got lost for about twenty minutes until I realized Callie was going northeast –toward home– instead of west, but we still managed to make good time.
White Mountain was a quaint little town, and by the looks of it, everyone knew everyone. There was nothing but smiles and waves all around. A few people even waved at us, which threw us off because we don’t get that in Connecticut. New Englanders are built differently. If someone you don’t know talks to you or waves at you, you ignore them or run the other way.
I was getting more nervous the closer we got to the music store, so we found a cute coffee shop to stop at where I could collect myself. The shop had outdoor seating with open umbrellas, and the building was covered in wood panels with adorable painted outlines of different coffee and breakfast items along the front. True to the small-town feel, it had that mom-and-pop vibe that instantly made me feel comfortable. After we entered and stood in line for a moment, I noticed the barista seemed to recognize everyone who walked in and she already knew their orders.
I was standing in front of The Music Bar, looking up at the sign. Callie came up beside me, interlaced our fingers, and leaned her head onto my arm.
“Want me to come in with you?” Callie asked.
I looked over at her, but she wasn’t looking at me. She continued to look up at the sign.
I squeezed her hand and brought my gaze back to the sign again. “I don’t think you should, honestly. I think this is something I need to handle alone.”
We were both quiet for a few moments. I finally looked at her and let go of her hand. My eyes had already started filling with tears a little, but I’ve never been afraid to show her when I’m emotional.
“Why don’t you take the car back and I will text you when I’m done? Or I can walk back. The hotel isn’t far from here.”
She laughed and shook her head, “You always want to walk everywhere. Are you sure? I could also just wait out here if you want.”
“I'm sure. I love you. Thank you for doing this with me. Text me when you make it to the hotel.”
She smiled and wiped away a tear that had fallen down my face, then pulled me into a tight hug. Without saying another word, she got into the car and left. Once she was out of sight, I wiped my face once more and checked my reflection in the window. I took a deep breath, and then pulled the door open.
As soon as I walked through the door I felt an instant comfort wash over me. It was like the shop was giving me a warm hug. I felt an instant sense of belonging. There were bells on the door that chimed as it shut behind me. At that moment someone spoke from the back room.
“Be right there.” His voice was alluring and deep.
“No problem. Don’t rush,” I called out as I looked around.
I was in music heaven. Every kind of instrument imaginable hung on the walls in front of me. This was the prettiest music store I’d ever seen. There were bins and bins of records. I made a mental note to come back and look through them before I left town. I don’t think I’d ever seen so many records in one place in my life. There was a band practicing and a handful of people looking around. Some were near the back checking out different instruments, while others were in the front browsing through the bins of records. The music the band was playing was a little out of tune, but I assumed that was why they were practicing.
