Aiden Harper

Hello, train wreck; it's nice to see you again

Eden

The last person I wanted to see today was my mother. It was bad enough I had to see my ex and my stupid sister. Now, I get to see my mother to add to my already dismal day. Does god hate me?

"Can I come in?" Mom asked.

I shook my head. "I was just leaving."

"It won't take but just a minute." My mom pushed past us into the apartment.

Yep, God hates me.

Before my mom could say anything, Aiden grabbed her arm, escorted her to the door, and moved her to the hallway. My brows shot up in surprise.

"Excuse me, but remove your hand from me immediately!" My mom demanded.

Aiden removed his hand like my mom had burned him. "Lady, I don't want to touch you, but you left no choice. You asked to come in. Eden didn't give you permission. So you barged your way into her home. The last time I checked, that's illegal."

"I'm her mother!"

"It still doesn't give you legal rights to her home. Is your name on the lease? No."

"You can't stop me from talking to my daughter."

"I didn't stop you from talking to Eden. I escorted you out of her apartment. Get your facts straight."

"You're a rude boy!"

"Lady, I'm more of a man than you are a woman. And if anyone is rude, it's you." Aiden jabbed his finger in my mom's face. "You have two seconds to state your case before I call the cops for harassment."

Mom looked at me, flustered. "Eden, will you let this hoodlum talk to me like this?"

"Tick tock, lady."

"You haven't answered my calls or messages. You need to stop acting like a petulant child."

"And you're done. Bye now." Aiden slammed the door in my mom's face.

"Eden!"

"Hello, Oakridge Police Department. I need to file a complaint against a rude bitch for harassing my girlfriend."

We heard my mom's footsteps fade from the door before we laughed.

"You didn't even call the police," I chuckled.

"Yeah, but she doesn't know that."

I looked at Aiden and shook my head while smiling. Wayne would have never stood up to my parents for me. Aiden had no issue putting my mom in her place.

"Ready?" Aiden asked.

I nodded. "Yep."

We left the apartment and headed to the pier.

******
Aiden

After meeting mommy dearest, I can see why Eden was miserable. The woman didn't have one ounce of compassion on her body. My mom might use tools to communicate her point with people, but she was compassionate.

We walked along the water's edge on the boardwalk while Eden told me about her family. Even though she was older, she was relegated to a third-class citizen with her family. They doted on her younger sister, who was two years younger, while Eden got the bare minimum. It was right.

"Sorry for dumping my problems on you." Eden stopped and leaned on the railing while staring at the water.

I stood beside her and rested my palms on the railing. "It's no problem. It sounds like you didn't have anyone to support you besides your aunt and uncle and Marissa."