The tension breaks for a moment as my mom sits back in her chair.
She reaches out and pats Aiden’s knee. “Thank you for being here for him.”
He smiles faintly. “Of course.”
She adds, “I’m very curious about how the two of you reconnected, but we can wait on that for now.”
That’s another story that will have an abbreviated version, especially with my mom. She doesn’t need to know the exact circumstances of how that reunion happened; it would traumatize her for life.
“Okay,” Heather says, her tone shifting to firm, professional, and all business. “I’m assuming, since you didn’t mention it, that you haven’t filed a police report yet.”
“No, I haven’t.” I rub my palms together, my voice barely above a whisper. Knowing I need to do it and actually doing it are two very different things. The idea of walking into a police station and admitting my boyfriend beat me up makes my stomach twist with shame. But this isn’t the time for pride. “I wanted to talk to you first. Aiden took pictures of my injuries this morning, so they’re documented.”
“Good,” Heather nods once. “Tomorrow morning, I’ll take you to the station near your place. You need to file the report in the jurisdiction where it happened.”
Her decisiveness is both comforting and overwhelming. It’s what makes her an excellent lawyer and a terrifying sister when she’s on a mission.
“You mentioned you stayed in a hotel last night,” my mom says, cutting off Heather’s rapid-fire planning. “Are you staying there again tonight?”
“I paid cash for two nights. I was planning to stay there again, but I hadn’t really thought about where Aiden would stay.”
“I’ll get my own room at the same place,” Aiden says.
His voice is steady, with the same quiet strength he’s had all day. He’s been letting me take the lead, but I can tell he’s watching every reaction, ready to step in if I falter.
My mom shakes her head. “I have a better idea. Jayson, I was hoping you would stay here with me tonight so I can keep an eye on you. Aiden can use your hotel room since it’s already paid for.” She turns to him. “How long are you planning to stay?”
“I’m not sure yet,” Aiden replies, glancing at me before responding. “If it’s alright, I’d like to stay for at least a few days, maybe longer.”
That catches me off guard. I thought he’d come out here just to check on me, stay a night or two, and then fly back home. I don’t want to disrupt his life, but the idea of him staying is an enormous relief. Having him here feels like something solid in a world that’s falling apart.
“Oh, good,” my mom says, her smile softening. “I’d like to have some time to talk with you while you’re here, if you’re open to that.”
Leave it to my mom to build a bridge. She’s probably already replaying the past in her mind, feeling guilty about how things ended when we were teenagers, and the look on Aiden’s mom’s face that night. It broke her heart just as much as it did mine. I can already see her wanting to apologize, to make things right.
“Mom,” Heather interjects smoothly, slipping back into her take-charge tone, “would you take Aiden into the kitchen and getsome drinks and snacks? I want a few minutes to talk with Jay, as his lawyer.”
I knew this was coming. Heather’s sharp; she can tell I’ve been holding something back. Once my mom and Aiden leave the room, she’s going to dig until she gets what she wants, and she won’t stop until she gets every answer.
Just as Aiden and my mom disappear into the kitchen, a thunderous pounding shakes the front door.
“Jay!” Ray’s voice bellows from outside, rough and furious. “I know you’re in there. Get the fuck out here right now!”
Heather’s already moving before I can react.
“Oh, hell no,” she barks, striding toward the door.
I’m right behind her, my heart pounding hard enough to make my ribs ache. She yanks it open without hesitation.
“Ray, get the hell out of here!” she snaps, her voice sharp. “I swear to God, I will take you apart piece by piece for what you did to my brother.”
Ray’s face is flushed red, his eyes burning with anger. He’s never liked Heather, and she’s never been intimidated by him. She stands in the doorway as if she’s ready to go to war.
“This is none of your fucking business, Heather,” he snarls. “This is between me and Jay.”
Then he sees me standing behind her. His gaze locks on my face, and for a split second, his bravado falters.
“Jay… shit.” His tone shifts to a softer, more rehearsed one. “Why did you leave? Babe, come on. You need to come home so we can work this out. I’m sorry, okay? I overreacted.”
