The drive to Aiden's house was a lot of fun. We took turns playing different songs, letting each other know who our favorite bands were and what our guilty pleasures were.
He looked like such a handsome dork singing along to all of his songs. I wanted to jump over and kiss him!
He lives in a nice neighborhood about an hour away from campus. The houses are all unique with their own rustic designs. He parks on the curb, steps outside, and opens my door for me. We grab our bags and head to the front door of a one story house.
"I was really hoping you'd live in a white house so I could make a joke about it," I say, slightly disappointed walking up to a brick home.
He laughs. "Sorry, B."
The nickname makes me smile, reminding me of Gossip Girl. If I were to nickname him A, it'd be just like Pretty Little Liars.
My thoughts distract me from my true feelings: complete and utter fear. My body has been wrecked with nerves since being invited to his house for Thanksgiving. Meeting his sister, his mom. It all seems like so much in such a short time.
Aiden holds my hand in his and squeezes gently after ringing the doorbell. "Don't be nervous. They'll love you." He grins.
I just nod and hope he can't tell how sweaty my palms are.
"Aiden!"
The door swings open and a beautiful, elegant lady stands on the other side. I recognize her as his mother. She looks tired, with small bags under her eyes, but thrilled to see her son. She's thin but looks very muscly.
"Ma," he says and lets go of my hand to wrap his mom in a bear hug.
"And this must be Brooklyn!" She opens her arms wide and pulls me in for a short, tight hug. "Oh, you are even more beautiful than he could have described!"
"Ma," Aiden says again, holding out the 'a' in a slight whine.
"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Lancaster," I say politely.
"Oh, please, call me Maya."
We step inside the house and place our bags to the side. It smells so warm and inviting. I take a minute to look around, spotting a photo of Aiden and what appears to be his sister in a large frame. They're wearing matching white sweaters and laughing in a green park.
"Is Akira home?"
"Yes, yes, she's just in your room, getting things ready for Brooklyn!"
"Kiki!" Aiden calls out, his voice echoing through the cozy home. "Come over and meet my girlfriend!"
I blush when he calls me his girlfriend, almost feeling a little embarrassed.
"Coming!" A soft, gentle voice yells from the hallway to our right.
His sister appears from the right. She has very pretty features, similar to her brother. Kind eyes, a sweet smile. Aiden told me she was sixteen. She's in a wheelchair, which Aiden hadn't mentioned.
"Hi, Brooklyn, it's nice to meet you!" she says and then looks at Aiden. "Hello, brother."
Aiden smiles and walks over to give his sister a gentle hug. "Hey, Ki. How's school been?"
She shrugs. "Boring." She looks to her mom with slightly squinted eyes. "She says I can't drop out and become TikTok famous."
"How absolutely evil of her," Aiden says and winks at his mom. "Where should we put Brooklyn's things?"
"Oh, I'll carry them to your room," his mom says and takes my bag from my hands. "Aiden, you can bring your stuff to Akita's room. You'll be sleeping on the floor there."
"Ah, wooden floors," he says with false delight. "My favorite spot in the whole house!" He takes my hand in his and pulls me away from his family, down the hall. "Let me show you around."
My hand feels right, being held in his. There's something so comforting about Aiden; it puts me at peace.
"This is the kitchen, the family room," he says, pointing in different directions, pulling me along with him with his free hand. "Mom's room down the hall, Ki's room, and there's my room." He shrugs. "That's the tour, baby!"
"It's so cute!"
"It's so cute!" He mimics my voice. "Such a tiny little baby house!"
My eyes go wide. "That's not what I meant!"
He laughs, "relax, Brook. I'm joking. I love my one-story, humble home."
"I like it, too," I say and lean forward to kiss him on the lips gently. "It's cozy."
"Good." He grins. "Let's go make-out in my childhood bedroom."
I hope his voice was low enough for no one to hear.
He spins us around and down the short hallway to his room, where my suitcase is placed on the floor. His room is neat, organized, much like his room in the frat house.
I notice a picture of his family, with his dad, on his nightstand. My heart stings momentarily, feeling sorry for Aiden. I couldn't imagine losing one of my parents, and I don't even feel that close to mine.
He notices my gaze and clears his throat. "So, we're getting sushi for dinner. It's from my favorite place in town." He clearly doesn't want to discuss his father. "All you can eat, dude."
"Oh, man," I say and pat my stomach. "So much better than turkey."
Aiden grins and pulls me in for a kiss, his hands holding my hips. Just as Aiden is about to push me on his twin-size bed, there's a knock on the door. "Hey!"
Aiden drops his head on my shoulder. "Shit." He moves over to answer his door. "What's up, Ki?" Aiden asks, a little irritation in his voice.
"Want to play Catan?"
He looks over at me. "Want to play Catan?"
"Sure, but... what's Catan?" I ask slowly.
Both simultaneously, Aiden and Akira gasp.
"Blasphemy!" Akira cries out in horror.
"Brooklyn... tell me you're joking..." Aiden says. "You seriously have never played Catan? I thought you were a total nerd!" He shakes his head. "Joe disappointed me."
Akira waves her head. "Come on, Brooklyn. We're going to change your life."
At the kitchen table, I am welcomed into a new world of Catan. It's a board game with a lot of rules, but it was easy to follow along, and eventually, I was very involved. Things got competitive. I saw a whole new side to Aiden- conniving, thoughtful, risky.
It was... kind of hot.
But again everything he does it somehow super attractive. Must be nice being that beautiful.
"I'll play my knight. That's largest army." She points to each of her tiny settlement pieces and counts. "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, with largest army 9, 10. I win the game, suckers!" Akira says, throwing her cards down on the table.
Aiden slams his fist on the table jokingly. "You bitch!"
"Aiden," his mom yells from the kitchen.
"Sorry, Ma," he calls back and grins at me. "Nice game, Chapman. Not bad for your first time."
"It's my natural nerd instincts coming out," I say.
He laughs, and it is contagious. I laugh with him, smiling, yearning to make this happiness last.
Aiden makes me feel so special, and I've spent my whole life feeling average.
We grab sushi at a local restaurant. All you can eat is a much harder feat than one lets you know. Aiden took care of all the pieces us girls could not finish.
His mom and sister are just as easy to talk to as he is. I can tell where he gets a lot of his personality, and his sister is like a younger, female version of him. They're three peas in a pod.
I can see how much he loves and cares for both of them, how much respect he has for them. It's very touching.
As we head back to the car, I walk next to Akira, and Aiden and his mom are shortly ahead.
"I'm really glad Aiden met you," she says. "You know, ever since our dad left us, Aiden really hasn't been this happy."
Our dad left us. The wording throws me off. I've never heard someone refer to their dad passing away as leaving.
"I'm sorry for your loss," I say out of instinct, and also for lack of a better response.
Akira gives me a strange look. "What?"
"I-I, sorry, was that not the right response. I'm not reallyâ"
She slows down. "Did Aiden tell you our dad died?"
"Yeah?"
We stop. Aiden and his mom don't notice and continue walking toward the car.
"He didn't. He left us," she says. "He left us when I was diagnosed with MD. I hardly remember him."
There's a knot in my stomach. Different emotions surface. Confusion. Why did Aiden lie to me? Sadness, that a father would leave his family because of a physical disability.
"Oh my gosh," I let out in a tiny voice.
"Hey!" Aiden comes jogging back to us once he notices how far behind we are. "What are you guys talking about?" He notices the sadness on my face. He looks at his sister. "Ki, what's up?"
"Why did you tell her dad died?"
His mouth hangs open. He rubs the back of his neck and glances toward where his mom has honked the car horn.
"Oh, uh," he tries to find a reason. "It just seemed easier." He looks in my eyes with worry, trying to figure out if I'm angry or hurt.
I'm not upset. I understand. "It's okay," I say and place a hand on his arm.
His eyes soften at my response.
"Please don't tell mom, Ki," he says, looking to his sister next. "I don't feel like explaining myself."
Akira sighs. "I won't... on one condition."
Aiden crosses his arms over his chest. "What's your condition, twerp?"
"You buy me and my new friend," she takes my hand, "ice cream!"
He shakes his head. "Women are so simple."
~~
AN:
HEY! Happy 2022!
Hope you are all safe, healthy, and happy. Hopefully this story can be a place for distraction with all things going on!
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