Her Dad's Best Friend

Secrets in Plain Sight

Hailey stood in the corner of her small apartment, tapping her fingers nervously against her phone screen. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the floor. She hesitated for a moment, glancing at herself in the mirror, her reflection revealing the dark eyeliner and subtle lipstick she hadn't yet wiped off from the night before. Tonight had been a good night at the club, the kind where she could blend into the dark and let Harley—the persona she donned in the club—take over. But now it was time to switch back.
Her phone buzzed in her hand as her finger hovered over her mom's contact. She took a deep breath and typed:

**Hailey**:

*Hey Mom! Just wanted to let you and Dad know I'm coming home for a bit. Need a change of pace and to see everyone. Don't worry, nothing's wrong!*

She hit send before she could overthink it. She didn't mention her job at the club—she couldn't. That part of her life was a secret she intended to keep, especially from her family. They didn't need to know that their little Hailey had transformed into "Harley" under the neon lights of the city. Her dancing, her mask, the life she led after dark—it was something no one would understand. Certainly not her parents. The phone buzzed almost instantly.

**Mom**:

*Oh honey! That's great! You know we've missed you so much. Your dad will be thrilled, and Claire's been asking about you nonstop. Come home whenever you're ready!*Hailey smiled faintly. There was comfort in her mom's excitement. Maybe, for a few days at least, she could step away from the late nights, from Harley, and just be Hailey again. She didn't mention when she'd arrive, preferring to keep things loose in case work at the club picked up again.

After tossing her phone onto the bed, she glanced at herself in the mirror. Her dark brown hair, which she'd dyed months ago to distance herself from her old self, hung loosely around her shoulders. The tattoos on her wrist and collarbone were still fresh, a spur-of-the-moment decision after one particularly good payday. At the club, they added to Harley's allure—a little extra edge for the mysterious girl behind the mask. But at home, with her family? She'd have to cover them up.

She sighed and began packing a small bag. This was going to be a short visit, but one she needed. Maybe the change of scenery would help her clear her head, help her forget about the strange encounter from the other night. The man in the VIP section... something about him had stayed with her, a sense that he saw through her mask in ways no one else had.

Pushing the thought aside, Hailey threw her essentials into the bag and went to bed.***The next day, Hailey arrived at her parents' house, the familiar sight of her childhood home comforting and unsettling at the same time. She had barely walked through the door when her mom hugged her tightly, her dad offering a wide smile from the couch. Claire, her little sister, squealed and came running from the kitchen, nearly knocking her over with excitement.

"Hailey! You're back!" Claire shouted, clinging to her waist.

"Yep, I'm back," Hailey smiled, ruffling Claire's hair. "Only for a bit, though."As her mom busied herself in the kitchen, preparing lunch, Hailey settled onto the couch next to her dad, Jayden, who flipped through channels on the TV. She was just starting to relax when the front door opened again, and her stomach dropped at the sight of Jordan, her dad's best friend, walking in.

Jordan had always been a familiar, almost comforting presence in her life, the cool uncle figure who'd been around as long as she could remember. But now, the tension that settled over her was undeniable. He greeted everyone, his gaze lingering on her for just a second longer than usual.

"Hailey," he smiled, his deep voice sending an unexpected shiver down her spine. "Good to see you, kid."

She returned the smile, trying to act casual. "You too, Jordan."They sat around the living room, talking and laughing, catching up on life. But as the conversation went on, Hailey caught Jordan glancing at her arm a couple of times, his brow furrowing slightly. She shifted in her seat, pulling the sleeve of her shirt down, but it was too late—he had already noticed.

"You get some new ink, Hailey?" Jordan asked casually, leaning back in his chair but keeping his eyes locked on her.

Her heart skipped a beat. She'd been careful to cover the tattoos when she was home, but today, she'd let her guard down. She tugged her sleeve down further, trying to play it off. "Yeah, just something small. No big deal."

Jordan nodded, but something in his expression changed. There was a flicker of recognition in his eyes that made her stomach twist. He wasn't just asking about the tattoos out of curiosity. He'd seen them before. Somewhere else. And she knew exactly where.

Her breath caught in her throat as she realized what was happening. The club. The night she'd been Harley on stage—he had been there. She hadn't recognized him under the dim lights and the mask, but Jordan had been one of the men in the crowd. He had seen her, and now, it was dawning on him.

He didn't say anything else, but the way he looked at her now made it clear—he was putting the pieces together.

Her mind raced. Did he know? Could he tell? She forced herself to stay calm, to act like nothing was wrong. But the look in Jordan's eyes wasn't going away.The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur, with Hailey feeling more and more on edge. Every time Jordan glanced at her, she felt exposed, like he could see right through her, past Hailey and straight to Harley. She was used to keeping her two worlds separate—Harley at night, Hailey during the day—but now, those lines were starting to blur, and the thought terrified her.

As evening came, Hailey found herself alone in the kitchen, washing dishes while her parents chatted in the living room. She heard footsteps behind her and turned to find Jordan standing there, watching her.

"You're not just home to visit, are you?" His voice was low, just for her.Hailey's heart raced, but she didn't show it. "I don't know what you mean."Jordan stepped closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "I've seen you before, Hailey. At the club."Her stomach dropped. There it was. The truth she had been hiding."I don't know what you're talking about," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

But Jordan just raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "You can keep the mask on if you want, Harley. But I know it's you."

Hailey's hands trembled as she gripped the counter. The secret she had fought so hard to protect was unraveling right in front of her. And now, Jordan knew.

But instead of confronting her, Jordan's gaze softened, his voice gentle. "Your secret's safe with me. But you and I... we need to talk."

Hailey nodded, her heart pounding. She didn't know what Jordan was going to say, but something told her that things were about to get a lot more complicated.