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“Your father will get over it. He’s just in a mood right now. I’m not worried about that, though. I’m worried about you, Aiden. I see how hard you’re working to keep your father happy, but I just don’t know if you’re happy.”
“I’m okay,” I lied.
“Aiden Scott Walters. Try again.”
“I needed a break. I’ve been a bit overwhelmed and saw a way to escape for a few hours with a girl I really like. It was stupid, but—”
“You had fun.”
I nodded.
She leaned in and smiled. “Good. You deserve more of that.”
“You’re not mad at me like Dad is?”
“Mostly, I’m mad at myself for not creating a space where you felt as if you could come and tell me these things. I’m upset with your father for being so stern with you. We’ll do better, Aiden. Your mental health is important, and I see that. I don’t want you to slip into a dark place where you feel like you can’t share these things with me. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Next time you need a break, let me know. I can write you a get-out-of-school-free pass.”
“Dad won’t like that.”
“Luckily, he doesn’t make all the rules in this house.” She narrowed her stare. “He gets to you more than I realized. I’m sorry, A. I’ll talk to him. But do know, you being upfront with your feelings to us will help avoid these outcomes. Honesty is best even when it’s hard, okay?”
“Okay.”
Before she left, she kissed my forehead. “I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you.”
She tossed a few extra “I love yous” into the mix because I think she knew I needed it that evening. I gave her four “I love yous” back because she deserved every single one.
I closed my bedroom door and walked over to my window. After I climbed out, I walked over to Hailee’s and knocked two times. She came over and smiled. She climbed out of the window and then sat on the ledge. “Are you grounded, too?”
“Three weeks. You?”
“Four!” she exclaimed. “Until Thanksgiving.”
“Our parents are dramatic. It’s not like we skipped school, drove a car to a different city, and hid it from them or something,” I joked, sitting beside her. She didn’t laugh at my stupid joke, so I nudged her arm. “You okay?”
“I’m in love with you,” she blurted out, almost sounding upset about it.
“Yeah. I thought we came to that conclusion already today.”
She turned to face me a little more and sighed. “No, Aiden. I mean, I love you a lot, and now you’re saying you love me back, and that’s scary.”
“How is that scary? I thought two people loving each other was a good thing.”
“It is for most, but you’re my best friend.”
“Which makes it even better.”
“Or worse. We should make pie charts of the pros and cons of us dating.”
“We aren’t making pie charts.”
“What if we don’t work out as a relationship?”
“Then we’ll go back to being friends.”
