Youthful Discretion (wlw)

Chapter 23

Back home in Seattle the weather is getting colder as winter is nearing around the corner .

After we landed, Scarlett had me escorted back to the office where I am now waiting for Cullen. Scarlett however had to attend other business in Seattle outside of the office.

As I sit here in my dark clouded office, I think about how me and Cullen didn't speak much while I was gone, nor did he make an effort to speak to me. Knowing Cullen, it was strange how distant he was being, but I couldn't help but feel guilt in the pit of my stomach knowing I kissed our boss while he is my boyfriend.

His soft knock startles me a little as I stiffen my posture.

"Come in."

Seeing his face as he emerges through the door has sinking feeling tunnel its way through me.

"How was New York? I feel like it's been longer than it has been since I've seen you." He sits down on the couch.

Nice to see you too.

"Fine, boring, not interesting whatsoever. I'm just ready to go home I guess." I try to avoid any more questions but he's not buying it.

"You're acting standoffish, did something happen that you're not telling me about?" He inquires.

Shit shit shit shit.

"Nothing's happened. The whole trip was just uneventful, and I sort of maybe missed you." I lie.

His eyebrows shot up in surprise and a small grin of satisfaction grows on his face.

"Is that so?" He sounds so amused.

No, I did not miss Cullen and for some reason I got the hint that he did not miss me either but in order to play this off I must lie to him.

"Yes."

His little smile of satisfaction slowly vanishes into something I can't read.

"We should get going, it is getting pretty late now, and I don't want your parents thinking that I'm keeping you from them." He sighs.

He was right, my parents were expecting me home soon and if I was gone any later, they would send a search party out for me.

"I agree, we should get going."

...

Cullen walks me up my doorsteps with his hand in the small of my back. He also keeps a safe distance from me which catches me off guard.

Before I go in, I turn to him and give him a quick hug just to see his reaction of judgement.

"What was that for?" He stammers.

"Like I said, I just missed you."

Cullen eyes me as I unlock the door with my key and kisses my cheek before saying his goodbye.

Inside it felt good to be home as all the familiar sights and smells were comforting.

"Mom? Dad?" I call out.

From the kitchen I hear a chair scratch the floor as my mom peeks her head around the conner with a large grin.

"Lilith you're home sweetie!" She rushes out from the kitchen and swoops me into a bear hug before I have a chance to escape.

"Calm down mom, I've only been gone for a few days." I rasp for air.

My dad follows closely behind her swooping me into a hug as well.

"A few days too long that's for sure. How'd the big apple treat you?" He comments.

"It was big that's for sure, the city was beautiful and so bright, nothing like Seattle that's for sure."

My mom pushes a lose strand of hair back out of my face.

"And how did Ms. Lenore treat you? Was she polite and kind and what did you two do? I need to know everything."

Annoyance prickled at me, I felt like I was getting interrogated by detectives.

"Sc- Ms. Lenore was more than polite, she was very kind and took very good care of me. She got me my own hotel room and took me out to eat for lunch, breakfast, and dinner and didn't make me pay a thing. It was very kind of her."

Yeah, almost too kind...

She smiled, obviously very pleased with Scarlett's efforts to take of my mom and dad's baby girl.

"I'm going to probably just head to bed guys, it's been a really long day and I'm exhausted." I insist.

I didn't want to have to dance around this topic any longer than I had to, plus I was very exhausted from the lack of sleep the last two nights.

"Well okay sweetheart, we love you and we are glad you're home and safe." My mom went on.

She plants a kiss on my head and my dad pulls me into one last hug before I retreat upstairs to my room to call it a night.