Faded Promises

25

Aiden POV

Thanksgiving is suppose to be a time of warmth and gratitude, but for me it's more like the day I have to endure my mom trying to make us looks like a family.

She does try, even before cheating dad would never help her, when I was younger I wouldn't either. I would go out with Hanna while our moms would be cooking together. This last years we joined them in the kitchen.

This year it's a little bit different, dad is sitting at the kitchen table, watching mom prepare the turkey, the scent of roasting meat filling the house.

I'm by mom side helping her cut all the vegetables, she's hearing to Celine Dion and I'm here for it. Seeing her happy makes me happy.

"You know honey..." mom says, her tone light and soft, "if you want to bring Hanna over for Thanksgiving, she's more than welcome here."

Although I want her here with me and I know mom would love having another girl here but looking over my shoulder I get reminded that he's here too.

The way he reacted about her and his attempts to make me break up with her made my stomach churn.

The last thing I want is to subject Hanna to that tension, especially not during a holiday.

I shake my head. "I don't think that's a good idea, Mom. I don't want her anywhere near Dad, and besides, I don't want Frank to be alone either."

Mom pauses, her hands stilling as she places the turkey into the oven.

There was a long silence before she finally speaks, her voice soft with understanding. "I get it, honey. It's complicated. Just know that she's always welcome here."

"I know and she loves you. It's just him."

I can see her smile fade away but as much as I hate the idea of keeping Hanna away, the thought of her in the same room as that piece of shit makes me uneasy.

Every second they spend together it's a second away from him telling her something I can't forgive and I'll do something I'll regret.

"Is Hanna's mom coming for Thanksgiving?" Mom asks, breaking me from my thoughts.

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of Hanna's mom.

I don't know if she's coming, and frankly, I don't care.

So I just shrugged my shoulders . "I don't know, Mom. I haven't asked."

She gives me a sympathetic look, but didn't press further.

After the kitchen is clean I went back to my room, at least here I don't have to see his face.

I throw myself into the bed, staring at the ceiling.

Know that I'm thinking, Hanna hasn't texted me today.

Let me just check my phone, maybe I missed it or something.

And destiny works in funny ways as my screen lights up with a text from her.

Hanna
Look out your window.

What? I'm confused but either way let me see what she needs.

As I walk towards the window I froze in my spot.

I'm in heaven.

Standing there, in the dim evening light, was Hanna. But it isn't just her presence that shocked me—it was what she's wearing.

Daisy is wearing the skimpiest lingerie he'd ever seen, and his heart nearly stopped.

Can I jump from here? I think I can make the jump.