After that late dinner, I began to walk Aidan to the door. My dad was cleaning up in the kitchen. We were right by the door and Aidan stops in front of it without opening it.

He turns to face me, "Kitten, can I stay here?"

I gulp, " Aidan ofcourse you can I just want to know why. What is happening at home?"

His face hardens, "Not today Kitten. "

I nod and look down, "Aidan lets do this the right way."

He gives me a puzzling look.

I roll my eyes. "Just sit here in the living room. Ill be right back."

I walk into the kitchen and I see my dad washing the dishes. I join him by drying the dishes.

My dad and I are quiet for a few moments. 

I decided to break the silence, "Hey dad can I ask you something? But you cannot be angry or take it the wrong way."

My dad gives me a serious look, "What is it Hailey?"

I look down at the dishes I'm drying and I'm nervous, "Dad can Aidan stay here the night? He is having problems at home and needs a place to stay."

Silence. I am too nervous to look up. Then the sink is turned off and I realize there are no more dishes.

My dad speaks, "Hailey do you think I'm a fool?"

I look up at him confused, "What?"

He laughs slightly, "Do you really think that I didn't know that Aidan was here before?"

My jaw drops, "Whaaaaaaat? You knew? But...how...what...?"

My dad now laughs and puts his hand on my shoulder, "Hailey I know Im not around as much as I should be anymore and Im dealing with it, I promise things will get better. I do know however that Aidan has been here before. I came home really late one night and went into your room to kiss your forehead like I sometimes do and I saw you two. I was gonna wake you both up to kill him but I saw how he held you. It was the same way I once held your mother..."

My dad stepped back and leaned against the counter. I am frozen on the spot as this is all processing in my head. He saw us? He checks up on me? He kisses my forehead? Aidan held me? My mother? 

My head was spinning.  I just decided to walk up to my dad and hug him. He hugs me back and whispers in my ear, "You two better not be doing anything but sleeping."

I giggle, "Dad you're gross. And you should know me by now. You know I would never do that."

He responds, "Yeah I know. I trust you. That's why he's still alive."

We pull back and we both laugh.

My dad continues, "Hailey you and Aidan seem to have a.......special..... friendship. You two confide in each other in your own strange way. That is something more special than you can imagine. Now lets go and tell him the great news."

We walk into the living room to see Aidan sitting there crouched nervously. Once he sees us, he stands up. He looks at me confused. I just smile and then he smiles back. 

My dad coughs, "So I spoke to my daughter and she tells me you've been spending the night here without my acknowledgment."

Aidan is now horrified and steps a few feet back, "Sir its not what you think... I just needed a place to stay.... I...uhh... will never come here again..."

My dad and I burst out laughing. I speak up, "Aidan relax, he's just messing with you."

I quickly grab Aidan's hand and drag him into my room before anything else can be said. 

I sit on my bed while Aidan stands by the door angry.

He turns to face me, "So you just stood there and let me be scared shitless and act like a fool?!!"

He is now walking towards me as I gulp.

He is angry but once he reaches me, he begins to tickle me. I laugh hysterically and beg him to stop. 

After a few moments, we decided to lay down on my bed and just talk. I told him about my conversation with my dad. We had some space between us until Aidan pulled me towards him and I lay on his chest. When Im finished Aidan begins to share some good childhood memories. After, I do the same.

Tonight was our night. We shared, we laughed, we cried. The cruel reality would just have to wait until tomorrow .