The familiar voice had me bolting upright.
“Aiden, you can’t be in here!” I whispered in a harsh voice.
He wasn’t listening as the covers were pulled back. “Mom and Dad are asleep on the other side of the house. I’ll leave before they get up.” Aiden slipped into bed and laid down while I still remained upright. “They were young once too. I’m sure they know. I’m not sleeping without you when you’re two doors down from me.”
I knew that tone. It was Aiden’s resolute tone.
Horrified wouldn’t even describe how I would feel if they caught us. I tried to reason with him even though my traitorous body wanted him. “But, Aiden, if they find us. It’s disrespectful.”
“They won’t. And they’d understand.”
My protests became feeble as he brought me to him. “Aiden . . .”
His hand drifted to my midsection. “Yes . . .”
The tops of my pants were pushed down. I helped get them off. “We can’t get caught, Aiden.”
“We won’t.”
“AIDEN!”
An unrecognized harsh whisper had me stirring. We’d been caught! Oh no, we’d been caught! I was mortified as I froze stiff on the bed while I held my breath. I silently shook Aiden’s chest trying to rouse him.
“Aiden!”
Another harsh whisper. Was it Brooklyn? I shook Aiden harder and he stirred again right as the person called again quietly. As reasoning returned to me, I thought surely his parents would have flipped on the light. It didn’t sound like Pamela.
“Aiden!”
He grabbed me when he heard the voice. “Kenzie, what’s wrong?”
Before I had a chance to respond, the darkness spoke again, “It’s Stacy. Not Kenzie.”
“What the fuck?” Aiden was angry as he responded back.
Reaching across me, Aiden turned on the lamp. The light blinded me as I tucked myself into his chest and pulled the covers tighter against me. Thanks goodness I’d been insistent that we got redressed before falling asleep, against Aiden’s wishes.
Stacy looked at me in disgust. “You never slept with me when I stayed over.”
A sliver of satisfaction ran through me, knowing in certain ways, I had more of Aiden. It was wrong, but I couldn’t deny the thought.
Sitting up, Aiden sounded agitated and his muscles contracted while speaking. “Stacy, cut the shit. What the fuck are you doing here? And how’d you get in?”
She fully entered the room, dressed in jeans and a leather coat. “I climbed the trellis to your balcony and used my key like we used to when I’d come over for a good time.”
Any satisfaction I had was gone. Now, I felt sick, but remained wordless and tucked into Aiden’s side. They’d slept together in Aiden’s room. I didn’t want to think about Aiden with her.
He was not happy as he looked at me with a set jaw, then back to the Stacy. “Leave the key on the dresser and go home.”
She walked closer and unzipped her coat. “Aiden, I need to talk to you. I’ve been trying to talk to you since after Halloween.”
“Stacy.” He pinned her with a gaze that would have me melting in horror on the spot.
“It’s important.” Even I softened at her desperation.
With his index finger and thumb, he massaged the bridge of his nose. “We’ve been through this. I love Kenzie.”
She gasped. “Aiden it’s only been like two months.” Holding out her hands, she stopped. “I’m getting off track here. I still need to talk to you.” Walking closer, she pleaded, “Please, Aiden.”
This was getting awkward. I leaned up to Aiden’s ear and whispered, “If you need to speak to her alone, I’m okay with it.”
“No.” Aiden’s answer was spoken with finality as he looked me in the eyes. I wasn’t going to argue with him.
Scooting to the edge of the bed, Aiden ran his hands through his hair. I adjusted the covers around me feeling awkward. “I’m not playing games, Stacy. If you want to talk to me, we’ll have to do it in front of Kenzie. This is my decision, not Kenzie’s.”
A twinge of guilt stabbed me as her face fell. Never ending compassion was something I had because of The Society.
Stacy sobbed, “I’m pregnant.”
I froze. This was awkward beyond description. Aiden’s ex had snuck into his parents’ home, found us in bed together, and was now telling him she was pregnant. I wanted no part in this rendezvous. Per Aiden, it’d been months since they’d slept together.
Aiden looked back at me, his eyes wide. “Kenzie, it’s not mine. I swear it.”
Meeting his gaze, I touched his hand, trying to reassure him. “I know. I didn’t have a doubt.”
Stacy leaned against the dresser, broken. “It’s Trent’s. I’m about eight weeks along.” Big tears rolled down her face. “I found out the day after the Halloween party.”
“Does Trent know?” For a moment, a pained look passed over Aiden’s face. This had to be hard considering how close they’d been when they dated, regardless if there weren’t feelings there now. Stacy had cheated on Aiden with Trent.
She shook her head. “Trent and I are just having fun.” Not meeting our gaze, Stacy played with her nail. “I wanted you to come with me to tell my parents. You know how they are.”
“Fuck.” Aiden scrubbed his hand down his face as he stood and paced around the room.
Pamela spoke from the hall. “What’s going on?” In the doorway stood Aiden’s parents in their terry cloth robes. I’d never been so grateful in my life to have worn clothes to bed. Thankfully, Aiden had gotten out from under the covers with me and stood. I looked like I’d been alone in my bed. “Why is everyone up and in Kenzie’s room?”
I could tell he was tense with how he rolled his shoulders. “Stacy came to see me.”
Stacy glanced my way. Pamela was mildly agitated. “Aiden, let me speak with you in the hall, please.”
“Yes, Mom.”
Oh, I didn’t want to be involved in this. I’d just met his parents and if Stacy talked about how she’d found us together, this was going to get worse.
Looking back at me, Aiden mouthed, Are you okay?
Besides the nerves that had taken root, not knowing how this was going to end, I was fine. I mouthed back, Yes.
Closing the door behind him, Stacy and I were left in my room together. I remained silent and busied myself with the fringe on the bedspread. A sense of loathing rolled off her in waves.
“You probably think I deserve this,” Stacy spoke sharply and I glanced up. Pinning me with her eyes, I wished she’d gone in the hallway too.
Regardless how I felt about her, I was going to take the higher road. It was the right thing to do even if I’d learned that trait from a murderous group. “No, I don’t think anyone deserves something they don’t want.”
She nodded, then stared at the floor. “Trent and I are too young to have a kid. We don’t love each other. I can’t abort it.” Her foot drew something invisible in the carpet. “I shouldn’t even be telling you this.”
Extricating myself from the covers, I sat on the edge of the bed. I remembered something I’d read in a pamphlet at the clinic when I had my appointment to get birth control. Maybe it would help, though I’m sure it was commonly known.
Sometimes though, I knew from experience, it wasn’t always easy to think straight under severe pressure. “There’s also adoption. You’d be able to pick someone who was ready and give the baby a happy home.”
Stacy looked at me, puzzled. “Why are you being so nice to me?”
“Because you look scared and lost.” Mentally, I added, because you look like I did when I left The Society. If people hadn’t been nice to me, there’s no telling where I’d be.
She nodded and played with the hem of her leather jacket. “Will you let Aiden come with me to tell my parents?”
“That’s up to, Aiden. I won’t stop him.”
The door opened up. Pamela stepped in and gave Stacy a hug. Kenneth was
gone. Sweetly, she put her arms around Stacy. “Let’s go to the kitchen and talk.”
“Okay. Is Aiden coming?”
Pamela looked my way. “I think it’s best for him to stay up here. I’ll explain my thoughts over a cup of hot tea.”
Stacy left the room in Pamela’s arms. Glancing at the clock, it was after five in the morning. There was no way I would be going back to sleep. Aiden paced the room for a few minutes. I let him get his thoughts together.
“I’m sorry about that.” He kept pacing. “Stacy’s parents aren’t loving. They’re uninvolved. She spends her time getting criticized and yelled at when she’s home. They’ve told her before they wished she was never born. Shit like that.”
That explained some of the reasons why she was not the nicest person to be around at times. My heart hurt for her. At least my mom did love me. I had no doubt about that. “I hate that for her. I really do. Are you going over there?”
Looking to the ceiling, Aiden let out a long breath. “No, I’m not. My parents and I both agree that they’ll think the baby’s mine which will start unnecessary bullshit for everyone.”
“Your parents are wonderful people. How are you doing with this?”
Aiden rolled his neck. “I don’t have any feelings for Stacy, Kenzie. I love you. But . . . it’s hard with who’s involved. I hate seeing her struggle.”
“I know.”
Hopefully, we were nearing the end of this situation.
Aiden was still coming down from the stress as he paced back and forth. “Yeah, Mom is offering to be there when Stacy tells her parents. She’s also going to encourage her to tell Trent.”
Getting out of the bed, I walked to Aiden and wrapped my arms around his middle. Birth control and condoms were definitely a must. No skipping either. The realizations of motherhood were harsh.
Wrapping me in his arms, Aiden asked, “Was Stacy a bitch to you?”
“Stacy’s scared. I would be too.”
His thumb came out and stroked my face. “I hate this for her.”
“No one deserves to be treated poorly.”
He touched his lips gently to mine. “You’re like no one I’ve ever met before.”
I kissed him back. “Same to you.”
THANKSGIVING DAY WAS here.
Pamela and I were in the kitchen cooking. Savory smells infiltrated the air. Peeling potatoes was a task I could do with my eyes closed, having peeled thousands of them at The Society. Aiden and Brooklyn had run to the store to get the right kind of cranberry sauce. Something about it needing to be jellied versus whole cranberries. I had no idea.
A sense of love filled the air, more so than the previous days here. It was amazing how a holiday brought people together.
“Are you sure that there isn’t a dish you want us to cook for dinner tonight?” Pamela was mixing what she called dressing. A light smattering of flour was on the front of her brown apron with a turkey on it.
Nearing the end of my pile, I kept peeling with efficiency. “I’m sure. My mom wasn’t big on tradition before she died.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Pamela stop for a second and look my way. “Aiden told me your mom had died. I’m so sorry. Do you have any other family?”
This question was easy to answer. “I don’t. It’s just me.”
Until now, Pamela and I hadn’t been alone together. I’d imagine she probably had some questions for me. My mom had wanted to talk to Matthew when we’d first hung out.
We slipped back into our tasks. Thoughts wandered to Stacy. Honestly, I felt sorry for her. I knew what it was like to have your life turned upside down.
Yesterday, Pamela had been there while Stacy called Trent. Surprisingly enough, Trent drove up. Pamela, upon their request, went with them to tell Stacy’s parents.
From what Aiden had told me, Trent and Stacy both agreed they weren’t ready and wanted to put the baby up for adoption. Stacy’s parents didn’t care what she did as long as she didn’t bring the baby home or show anyone around here that she was pregnant.
How could someone really keep something like being pregnant a complete secret? How could parents turn their back on family? I could see why Stacy had come here for help first.
Pregnancy was definitely something I did not want to deal with.
The faucet turned on as I finished the last potato. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone peel that fast, Kenzie.”
“I’ve had practice. We ate potatoes growing up. It was one of my jobs to peel them when we cooked.” The memory warmed me. When we’d both got kitchen duty, Mom would bake the bread and I would peel the potatoes. It was fun when we were pared together on our tasks at The Society.
The faucet turned off and Pamela dried her hands. “I see why my son is so taken with you.” That was an abrupt subject change. Fiddling with the peeler, I looked anywhere but at Pamela. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you, Kenzie. It’s just that you have a purity about you, a rare sincerity. He’s an old soul, mature beyond his years. You’re the same and complement each other.”
It was good to hear something on a part I thought was getting darkened within me with all the lies I’d told. “Thank you. That means a lot.”
“I know you and Aiden are young, but I can see how much you love each other. You know, Kenneth and I met in college too.”
That had me setting the peeler aside in curiosity. “Really? I didn’t know that. You don’t think it’s too fast with how strong we feel for each other?”
I desperately needed a mom’s advice. Until I’d met Pamela, I hadn’t realized how much.
Placing her hand on my shoulder, she responded, “No, I don’t. I think when you fight the inevitable you cause yourself more heartache. You’re Aiden’s perfect match, I feel it.”
“Me, too.”
Going to hug Pamela, I caught myself, not knowing if it was too soon to hug her. As I was beginning to withdraw, Pamela brought me to her. Her warm loving arms came around me snugly. Tears stung the back of my eyes. A lump formed in my throat.
“Sweetie, if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here.” That was a mom’s voice full of love.
“Thank you. You don’t know what that means to me.”
She patted my back. “I do. I lost my mom when I was young.”
I blurted out, shocked, “How old?”
She ducked her head. “Fifteen. Sometimes it’s nice to have a safe place to talk.”
“Yes, it is.”
IF I TOOK one more bite, I was sure I would pop. Thanksgiving was a holiday I enjoyed very much. Turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, dressing, cranberry sauce, and more, laid before us.
There was so much food. An abundance unlike anything I’d ever seen. Apparently, the best part of Thanksgiving was the leftovers. We were getting tons sent home with us. I’d be eating well and saving money over the next week.
Brooklyn walked in with the newspaper in hand and sat at the end of the table. “It’s time to make a game plan, ladies.”
Oh, the big Black Friday was coming tonight at midnight. Shopping in the extreme from what I’d deciphered. I was going to take my chances with the masses to save over seven hundred dollars on a laptop.
Aiden ribbed me in the side, “Are you getting excited?”
“Of course, she is. Kenzie is going to be addicted to Black Friday shopping,” Brooklyn answered for me, enthusiastically. All afternoon, I’d been hearing about exploits of previous Black Friday shopping experiences. Some sounded nearly barbaric.
I nervously giggled. “I’m hoping to get the laptop.”
Still sorting through the ads, Brooklyn laid them in different piles. “Oh, we will get the laptop. Do not fear. We will be victorious.”
The deathly seriousness of her voice had me raising my eyebrows. “Your tone has me frightened.”
Brooklyn gave some sort of scary funny cackle as Pamela brought in plates of pumpkin pie. “Mom and I are going to show you the time of your life.”
I mumbled to
Aiden, “Please, save me.”
“You’re on your own, sweetheart. I tried to stop you.”
Everyone laughed. Hopefully, Black Friday was docile. What had I gotten myself into?
IT WAS SUNDAY and we were driving back to Fayetteville. I loved Aiden’s family. Truly loved them. They gave me a piece of something I’d been missing and welcomed me as one of their own.
As I watched Aiden drive, face relaxed while watching the road, his hand on my leg, I thought about Aiden sneaking into my room each night. His touch set me on fire. With him inside me, I felt complete in a way I never had before. Life was good.
Well, life was good except for the recent memories of Black Friday.
Friday, had been a cultural shock of a lifetime. Black Friday shopping was unlike anything I’d ever known. It was beyond barbaric. Brooklyn and Pamela were Black Friday crazy, truly crazy. I don’t think I’ll ever go again.
People pushed, shoved, and rushed around without any care. The whole ordeal was animalistic. Brooklyn had been prepping me to grab a laptop, like I’d seen the football coach do to the Razorbacks. However, in the heat of the moment, I froze as the mass chaos ensued and they cut the plastic wrap for the pallet the laptop was on. Words truly cannot describe the situation.
A shudder ran through me as I relived the memory.
In the end, thanks to Brooklyn, I had a laptop. She’d grabbed it for me when she saw the overwhelmed look in my eyes. The whole ordeal was kind of comical now, looking back and knowing I’d survived . . . barely.
I’d hung tight for four hours, but when we came home to unload, I politely declined to go back out again.
Never again for as long as I lived.
“What are you thinking about?”
Glancing back to Aiden, I grimaced. “The Black Friday experience.”
Aiden started laughing. “I wish I’d videotaped your face when you got out of the car with Mom and Brooklyn. You looked completely out of sorts.”
I hit his shoulder. “Stop it! I did not!”
Tickled at the memory, Aiden shoulders shook with laughter. “You’re so damn adorable. I like that you got the laptop. It’ll mean less library time and more Aiden time.”
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