Chapter 34

Trish and Tobias were wrapped up in making up for the lost time that they had forgotten to check in with Avril and Thomas, it was even worse considering the fact that they had missed Avril's 20th birthday.

They dialed the house number, Thomas answered on the third ring.

"Thomas." his father called out.

"Dad? Is everything alright?" Thomas questioned.

"Yes, yes. We called to wish Avril a belated happy birthday." Tobias Lynne was as jolly as ever.

"What? When was her birthday?" Thomas didn't know how he had missed it. He didn't even know how he could have been stupid enough to forget to be considerate.

"You didn't know?" Tobias sounded horrified. "Well, if she is unusually angry with you the reason is quite clear." he laughed hollowly. "I suggest you take whatever punishment she dishes out, that was a screw-up on your part." This was the first time in years Thomas saw this stern side of his father but he's deserved it. He did screw up.

However, what made Thomas feel worse by the second was that Avril hadn't mentioned it, nor was she angry or distant. In fact, she had comforted him last night without hesitation.

"She didn't even say anything," Thomas responded, more out of his own shock and disbelief.
" It was yesterday. So, wish her a happy birthday from us and son..." Tobias's voice remained hard and yielding.

"Yes?" Thomas questioned absent-mindedly.

"Apologize to her." With those words, the call ended.

Thomas made his way to the living room where Avril was lying down on the couch, television on but her attention on her phone.

"I just heard from my dad." He turned the television off as he sat on the edge of the sofa.

"Oh." She put her phone down and gave him her fullest attention.

"He and Trich wanted to wish you a happy birthday." Thomas felt embarrassed saying the words when he was yet to give her any sort of happy wishes. His eyes trained on, hoping to see a reaction. Hell, he wouldn't have minded it if she had an outburst on him for his selfishness.

" Aww, they are the cutest, aren't they?" She giggled at the thought of Tobias and Trish finally enjoying some time together. "I will give Them a call to thank them later." She reassured, not wanting to interrupt their alone time too much. They had years of catching up to do.

"You didn't tell me." He said, searching her reaction.

"It wasn't a big deal." She sat up, shrugged, and turned her attention back to her cell.

"It is. I am sorry, I didn't know, I am also sorry I never asked." He pulled her face towards him and kissed her.

"Its fine." She placed her palm on his cheek and smiled.

"You didn't ask about last night," Thomas spoke softly.

Avril thought about it. She would be lying if she said she wasn't curious. "I figured if you wanted to tell me, you would." she had thought about it long and hard and she had decided not to pry into their business.

Thomas nodded. "This might come as a surprise but my father and I weren't always as close. I despised him for never being around, we couldn't be in the same room for five minutes without a war breaking out."
Avril held onto his hand. She appreciated him trying to open up to her and she gave him his freedom to do so on his own terms.

"There was this teacher I knew, and he was the father figure I craved. He was ultimately the reason my dad and I have the relationship we have now. He had helped me through the most difficult times of my life. But for some years I lost contact, I was so preoccupied with work, I didn't even take the time to see him. I have been so ungrateful. I didn't even know he was sick until..." his voice trailed off. He didn't know what else to say. He felt like a screw up, unable to maintain the relationships he cared so much about. He kept making mistakes upon mistakes.

"I am so sorry." Avril linked her arm around him.

"He never married or had children. His sister was the one who called. She said he thought of me as his son...his family and because of that he never felt empty. And now he is gone, and I didn't get to tell him how much he meant to me, how much he changed my life." his voice cracked.
She felt his arms tighten around her. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, his breathing shallow and deep.
***

"Are you finished packing?" Thomas pushed open the door without so much as a knock.
Avril jumped. Her arms draping over her body. She was only wearing her under garments.

"I want to say sorry." Thomas's walked fully into the room. "But I'd be lying."
Avril didn't know how to respond, but her cheeks were flushed.
Thomas held onto her arms and raised them above her head as he pushed her up against the wall. His head buried in the crook of her neck, kissing and tasting. Avril twisted her neck to give him better access. Her body shaking from the pleasure slowly flowing through her body.

"You're matching. It's very sexy." He said as his eyes blatantly caressed her body.
He let her hands come down beside her using his both hands to cup her breasts as his lips claimed hers hungrily. He kneaded her breasts as the kiss deepened.
He pulled his lips away to place them on her breast. Avril exhaled heavily, her eyes closing at the sensation. His hands touched her bare flesh on her abdomen, holding her body in place.
His hands trailed lower, cupping her butt and bringing his hands to trail circles on her inner thighs. This caused her body to be heated, her moans came more and more, her body begging for his hands to reach further up to her most intimate region. It was almost instinctual, that need to be touched down there by him. She never knew she would know exactly where she wanted to be touched but his seduction awakened the parts of her that was asleep for too long.
His lips came up to hers, followed by his hands which wound around her neck.

"Was that okay? Or did I go to far?" He questioned in between kisses.

" It was perfect." she breathed against his lips. He deepened the kiss, her words driving him on.

"Uh, Thomas." She tried to talk between kisses.

"Hhmm?" his lips were at her ear now.

"There was a call for you yesterday." she leaned back into the wall, her body shifting and moving without her command.

"Uh-huh." the sound emanting from the base of his throat.
Avril sighed. "Lilith." This was the only word that came out of her mouth.
His lips instantly froze. He pulled away from her.

"What?"

"This woman called, she said her name was Lilith and that she wanted you to get back to her."
Avril noticed the change in his features. The way his mouth set and his eyes blazed with fire.

"What's wrong? Who's Lilith?" Avril questioned. His reactions making her extraordinarily curious.

"She's no one," Thomas responded coldly. "Get a good sleep tonight, we have an early flight."

"You're leaving?" Avril didn't understand how he could switch from passionate to distant in the matter of seconds.

"I have some last-minute things to take care of." He placed a kiss on her forehead and left.

***
It was no mystery to Avril as to the reason behind her slumber throughout the entire flight. Last night, her mind couldn't stop overthinking, she twisted and turned all night trying to figure out who this Lilith was and why Thomas apparently despised her.
Thomas had to wake her up when their flight landed. When they got to the resort, they were shown their room. Avril didn't talk to Thomas much after his awkward antics the night before and instead feigned sleep when they got to the room.

An hour later he woke her again so that they could get ready to meet the groom and bride-to-be.
The hall was packed with people, she felt her nerves kicking in. She didn't do well in crowds.
Thomas seemed to pick up on this and entangled his fingers with hers. This shocked and comforted her, and part of her was no longer irritated by him.

"Thomas!" They both spun around to see a man holding a glass of champagne walking towards them. " You made it."

"Wouldn't miss it," Thomas replied. "This is my girlfriend, Avril, Avril this is the groom, Charlie."
Avril flashed her best smile. The one that feigned confidence. "Congratulations on the wedding. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

"The pleasure is mine. I never thought I would see the day Thomas Lynne introduced a woman as his girl friend." Charlie laughed.

"That, I would not doubt." Avril giggled.
Thomas gazed at her in disbelief.

"Charlie, if I knew you were going to make me look bad, I never would have introduced you," Thomas said sullenly soliciting laughs from both Avril and Thomas.

" Let me find my fiancé, she would love to meet you." He walked off searching the crowd.

"So you think I am a dirtbag," Thomas commented. Avril shrugged her shoulders.

"Am I wrong?" She asked jokingly.

"Nope." Thomas answered truthfully, hoping she knew that he would never do those things with her.

A woman came to stand directly in front of them, her presence causing both Thomas and Avril to turn their attention to her.
She felt Thomas stiffen beside her.

"What are you doing here?" His voice was razor-sharp.
She ignored Thomas and turned her attention to Avril.

"I am Lilith." She extended her arm, her smile reminding Avril of a serpent.