Chapter 34

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Ellie Donovan, aged sixteen, had her first champagne hangover. The curtains were drawn, but the daylight managed to break through. I looked at Aiden's sleeping frame. His arm was extended as if he were searching for me in his sleep.

Feeling thirsty and with my head starting to ache, I left the room where I slept so peacefully and made a few steps down the stairs. I needed a glass of water and an aspirin.

I only made it to the middle of the staircase when the low but still distinguishable sounds of a conversation caused me to freeze in place.

"...she's a minor." My uncle's voice.

"...exaggerating. It's not like you at all." My mom seemed to be annoyed.

I knew it was a bad idea to eavesdrop, but I also sensed they were talking about me. By the sound of it, Louise and uncle Steve were in the kitchen. I quietly descended the stairs and hid behind the door. They didn't seem to have heard me. I sighed, relieved.

"I arrive, and there she is, being groped by that—"

"Such a nasty word you are using. Lower your voice, please. If they were hugging and kissing, it doesn't mean he was groping her. They are dating, since when is kissing illegal?"

"Since she is underage. She's a minor."

"And he is, too. He's a good boy, and he cares about her. They didn't see you; it's not that they'd chosen to kiss in front of you on purpose just to spite you! Didn't you tell me there wasn't anyone outside?"

"And the party? He didn't take his hands off her the whole night! She couldn't make a step without him touching her!"

Because I'd drunk too much, and he was taking care of me.

"Isn't that what people do when they are in love?" Louise sighed.

"In love. Please. Very physical that love of his. Haven't you heard the song? 'Watching my angel sleep,' 'hearing her heartbeat,' 'her arms are my new home,' 'getting lost in her kiss.'"

"Please, you're being downright unreasonable. It's a song, a beautiful love song, why take something for what it's not?"

A pause followed.

"What's that?" My mom said, sighing.

"Read, and you'll see."

Another pause.

"Can't see what's wrong. Enlighten me."

"'Hope when you wake up, you are feeling better. Love you'. Isn't that what is typically said when you've had sex with a girl and left her alone?"

Aiden's note. My pulse quickened. How could he?

"Wait a minute, where did you get it from?" My mom sounded angry.

"In her room, where else?"

"And since when is it okay to enter her room without permission and go through her things? Do you realize that if it were our work case, it'd be illegal? How would Ellie feel if she woke up and saw you there?"

"Well, she didn't see me because she spent the night in his bedroom!" uncle Steve barked. "The guy doesn't care about anything other than having sex with her right under our noses! I don't get what he's doing sleeping here at all like he's homeless."

"For starters, they haven't had sex yet. Haven't made love, because that's what you do when you love someone. She's my daughter, and I would know."

He snorted.

"And hear this. Even if she did something with the boy, I wouldn't shame her for that. Nobody can shame a girl for that. It's her decision as long as he respects her, and they do it when she is ready. She's responsible; she's an excellent student. They both are. Ellie's not a baby anymore. She's a young girl who will be a young woman sooner than you'd like her to be. You are seriously telling me that you expect her to wait until she gets married? Did you wait?"

"It's different."

"It isn't. My job as a mother is to teach her and advise her. But also, to support her and trust her. Aiden is a good boy. I've seen too many bad guys not to recognize one. He's not one of those."

"Well, you haven't seen enough. Wait until he gets what he wants from her and dumps her."

Louise groaned. "What's wrong with you? You were rude to the boy you didn't even allow yourself to get to know. You hardly said a word to Ellie. Don't you think she'd had enough sadness in her life? Didn't it cross your mind that she loves him? Do you want her to sneak around and hide things from us because you don't approve?"

"Have no reason to approve."

"I just hope you think better and give him a chance. Presumption of innocence, remember? Aiden didn't give you a reason to dislike him other than being affectionate with my daughter. At least be civil to him."

I couldn't tell what my uncle answered as I heard my mom get up from her chair, and I quickly went back upstairs as silently as I could before she could discover me.

How could he? He entered my bedroom without my permission, took my things. Aiden didn't do anything wrong when I all but begged him to do things to me he didn't do out of respect for my uncle. He respected me. He put me first. He loved me and cared about me.

I undressed and stood under the blistering shower, rubbing at my skin until it turned red. I would've given anything to forget what I'd heard, but there was no way I could do it.

I cried at the unfairness of my uncle. He treated Aiden as if he were the worst, and he didn't even know him. Aiden's father's words thundered in my ears. First him, then uncle Steve. Aiden didn't deserve it.

By the time I was done showering, my resolve strengthened. I was going to stand by the boy I loved, and I knew exactly what I'd do.

I put on the new jeans and sweater my mom bought for me, dried my hair, and applied makeup. Just as I was exiting my bedroom, my head held high, Aiden came out of his in a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. He must have brought a change of clothes after the party yesterday.

"You look handsome, baby." I kissed him, taking my time.

"I missed you when I woke up." Aiden cupped my cheek, giving me another tender peck on the lips. Just what the bad guys did, according to uncle Steve.

We went downstairs. I grabbed Aiden's hand as we made our entrance into the kitchen and didn't let go of it. My uncle looked up from the newspaper.

"Good morning, Mister Donovan," Aiden said.

"Afternoon," he replied dryly.

Louise appeared in the doorway. "Honey, Aiden, just in time for a late breakfast." She smiled and lifted the bag she was holding. "Thierry had this delivered. The note says we're invited to dinner at the bistro tonight as well."

I helped my mom set the table and take out the food. We sat down to eat.

"Want some coffee, baby?" I smiled at Aiden, deliberately calling him that.

"Yes, please."

"You need it, my love, since I kept you awake all night." I kissed his cheek, handing him a mug.

My poor boy nearly choked on his muffin.

My uncle's face turned red.

I nonchalantly took a bite of my cookie.

"Baby, want some?" Aiden held out the plate with fruit.

"Yes, thank you." I took a piece and kissed him on the lips, shocking him and making my uncle cringe.

"Did you sleep well, mom?" I smiled at Louise.

"Like a baby," she said. "Thought I'd have trouble sleeping after that bash. I had a wonderful time."

"Me too." I sighed dreamily. "The party was the best, although what I liked the most was the part after it." I ran my fingers down Aiden's cheek. He looked at me, puzzled.

"Baby, remember when you brought me breakfast the last time you were here? When I had a headache, and you took care of me and stayed with me until I fell asleep?"

Aiden raised his eyebrows. "I do, Ellie."

I sighed. "I was looking for the note you left for me, but it's nowhere to be seen. I'd swear I'd put it on my nightstand."

I glanced at my mom and noticed she'd realized that I knew everything.

Aiden smiled. "I'll give you another one, baby; it's no big deal. Louise, Mister Donovan, I'd stay here gladly, but I have to go to the bistro. The guys and I will help Thierry clean the place since he gave his people a day off. Jimmy and Nick are leaving tomorrow, so we will have dinner with them, the one Thierry invited you to."

He got up and took his plate and mug to the dishwasher. When Aiden was back, he held out his hand for uncle Steve to shake. "Mister Donovan, I'm glad to have finally met you. Hope you didn't get the wrong impression yesterday, sir. I respect Ellie, and would rather you hadn't seen us kissing, but it happened, and I can't change it."

My uncle shook his hand, looking dumbfounded.

"See you later, baby. Don't worry about the note; you'll have another." He kissed my cheek.

"Louise, thank you for your hospitality."

Louise patted Aiden's arm. "Don't be silly. Ellie told me about the incident with your father. It's okay; you know you can stay here anytime."

I saw Aiden out. When I was back in the kitchen, my uncle turned to look at me. "Ellie—"

"Don't." I cut him short. "I don't feel like talking." I turned around and left, slamming my bedroom door once I was inside.

I didn't leave my room until it was time for us to go to dinner.

"Honey, it's me." I heard a soft knock on the door hours later.

I let my mom in.

"Come here." She hugged me and smoothed my hair. "I'm sorry, baby."

"It's so unfair, mom." I sobbed. "We didn't do anything wrong!" The tears didn't seem to stop rolling down my cheeks.

"I know you didn't. I don't know what's gotten into your uncle, honey. I tried to reason with him. He'll come around, you'll see."

"He shouldn't have taken the note."

"That was unacceptable, and he knows it. You know how stubborn he can sometimes be. Now he's taking a shower, and we'll go to dinner. We'll have a good time, and I'm sure uncle Steve will try harder with Aiden. The poor boy was clueless when you pulled that little show." My mom laughed.

"I did spend the night in his room," I admitted. "We couldn't sleep, and he asked me to stay with him, but nothing happened."

"Ellie, you're very young. I know life has many twists and turns. But I also see that as of now, Aiden cares about you. I doubt he'd do anything to make you look bad in your uncle's eyes. If not, he wouldn't have mentioned anything about the two of you kissing. It was very honest of him. Don't let this ruin your mood. Your uncle acted on impulse, but it'll be fine."

"Thank you for standing by me, mom." I kissed Louise, feeling better.

"That's what parents do, baby."

"I'm lucky I've got you," I said, meaning it.

Not what you expected, I guess.😮
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