“Maria! Imagine seeing you in here!”
Relief flooded down from the top of my spine all the way to my toes as my dad walked into the bakery, grinning broadly. I’d never been so glad to see him in my life.
Mom’s attention switched to him so fast it was a wonder she didn’t give herself whiplash.
“Frank,” she said, staring at him.
Dad kept smiling, grabbing a chair from a nearby table and pulling it up to sit with us.
Aiden offered him the last donut, and Dad took it without hesitating, making happy sounds as he took his first bite.
“Hello, boys,” Dad said, grinning between mouthfuls of donut. “You two look like you had a long night.”
The tips of my ears burned, and I suddenly wasn’t sure facing my dad, with that knowing look in his eyes, was any better than facing my mom.
“Well, no,youlook like you’ve had a long night,” he said to me. “Aiden looks bright eyed and bushy-tailed.”
Aiden grinned at him.
Helikedmy dad. They’d had a relationship all of their own before this. Not super close, although now I wondered if they both wished it’d been closer.
I was okay with sharing Dad with Aiden. It’d be good for both of them.
Mom glared at the back of his head, but didn’t say anything. Dad was finally standing up to her, like Aiden, and with only me to bully and two people to defend me, she seemed to be reconsidering her options.
“I was thinking that earlier,” I said, cautiously, hoping it wouldn’t give Mom another opening. “I wouldnotrisk putting on eyeliner before coffee.”
“Aww, honey,” Aiden teased. “You should’ve asked. I would’ve done your eyeliner for you.”
Dad laughed, glowing with warmth for the two of us.
Mom, finally, retreated, called away by the barista now that her coffee was ready.
“Do you loan him out?” Dad asked. “Could use someone to do my eyeliner in the morning. Haven’t worn it since I was your age.”
Now it was my turn to stare open-mouthed at Dad, shocked by this whole new side of him I’d never seen before.
“Never did quite get around to a tattoo. Might have to swing by for a consult when we get home.”
Aiden beamed so brightly at him that my cheeks flushed and I had to look down at my coffee, overwhelmed by how much I liked seeing him like that.
“I amsoready to ink you up, Mr. K,” he said, nudging my foot under the table.
“Gotta support local business,” Dad said cheerfully, licking his fingers clean.
“Well, if I can ever afford to build a house, you’re the first person I'll call,” Aiden promised, beaming at him.
“I was actually coming over here to ask if you boys had anything planned today,” Dad continued. “Since we’re allpersona non grataright now.”
I laughed, remembering Aiden sayingquid pro quoa few days ago. He and my dad were a lot alike in some ways.
“You both speak Latin now?” I asked, looking between them, a smile plastered on my face. This wasnice.
And with Dad here, laughing and joking with the two of us, treating Aiden like it was fine and normal that we were into each other…
It felt fine. And normal. And like something I was allowed to do, all of a sudden.
“We have layers,” Aiden said, still sharing a smile with my dad.
