The River Speaks

Chapter Twenty Five: The Difference

Chapter Twenty Five: The Difference

I successfully avoided Aiden by telling him I was sick.

Every time he offered to come over and check on me, I told him I already had what he was willing to bring, or I would tell him I wasn't home.

I feel bad for lying so much but I needed space.

If I told him that, he would question it.

And what would I say?

"Sorry Aiden, you touch me too much and there was a moment where you were looking at me for too long and it makes me uncomfortable so don't come over lmao"

As if.

My brothers truck rolls to a stop in my parents driveway and he gets out.

It feels so good to be back for the holidays.

"You're the last one to get in town." Noah says. "So everyone is already here."

Excited to see everyone, I glance at my brother.

"Can you get my luggage? Thanks."

I hurry up the driveway and I hear him complaining to himself.

I open the front door and I hear the voices of my family.

"Lily!" Nana exclaims, rushing forward to hug me.

Smiling, I hug her back.

Papa hugs me next and my aunts and uncles and cousins, even the little ones.

"You're here." Mama hugs me.

After a moment she pulls away and looks over my shoulder. She frowns.

"Where's Aiden?" April asks, outraged.

"Aiden?" I repeat.

"I thought the boy was comin'." Daddy says.

"I didn't invite him. Why would Aiden come? He's not family."

May mutters something.

"What?" I ask her.

"Nothing." She says, but April is smiling and nodding in agreement to whatever May muttered.

"Lily, why wouldn't you invite him?" Mama asks.

"Mama, we're not dating."

"You're still not dating?" May asks. "Why not?"

"Guys, it's not like that."

"Maybe not for you." Daddy says. "But you don't have a gun put to your gut to protect somebody you don't really care about."

I open my mouth to reply and then close it.

"I don't like Aiden." I say.

"Sure." April says. "I give it three months max."

I roll my eyes.

Noah comes in the house and drops my bag on the floor.

"Thank you." I say to him.

He grunts in response and goes over to our cousin to talk.

The house phone starts ringing and Mama wanders off.

"So your parents told me you moved to Boston." Nana says. "Do you like it better than Hartford? You seem really happy."

"I like it a lot better than Hartford." I say. "And I have friends there."

"That's good. How's the new job going?" She asks.

"Oh, it's not really new. I just transferred to the branch in Boston."