Cherish Me (Rough Edges 3)

“I rushed over here. Why did you text me?”

“I’m gonna go hangout with your dad and let you two talk,” Aiden says.

I nod, and cross my arms. “I came home and found him sobbing on the floor thinking mom had left him.”

He doesn’t say anything, looks at me, and sighs.

“We need to figure out a plan. I can’t leave without knowing he’s going to be okay.”

“I can handle it. Dad isn’t going to a home. I hear horror stories about sending people there.”

“Wouldn’t dream of that. We do need to figure out how to have someone here with him while you work though. He could’ve hurt himself.”

Aiden steps into the kitchen. “Sorry, grabbing a drink. Not to intrude, but I can help out. Just say the word.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I know, but he watched after my parents passed. It’s the least I can do.”

“Are you sure?” I ask.

Things between us are up in the air, but I don’t want him to think he needs to help.

“Hazel, I’d like to help. No big deal.”

Jeremy smiles. “See, we can handle it, sis.”

I follow Aiden back out to the living room and sit down on the couch. With me leaving soon, spending time with him is a priority. Especially, with him already having episodes.

“Have you seen the new Bruce Willis movie?” I ask.

“There's a new one?”

I take the remote and switch to the movie. “Let’s watch it. I know how much you love him.”

I press play and drink in the time I have left with him like this. His normal, cheerful self, and enjoy this atrocious movie. See, I can’t stand action movies, but he loves them. I’ll suffer through it.

Two hours later, I couldn’t believe it. Normally, I would’ve fallen asleep, but it actually held my attention pretty well. Plus my dad kept screaming, “come on, Bruce.”

“Well, that was a good movie. Good pick.”

Aiden is still sitting on the couch and hasn’t moved an inch. I can’t believe he stayed.

“What are your plans tonight?” I ask.

“An action movie marathon with your Dad. What do ya say, Mr. Grey?”

Aiden is showing me more and more that he hasn't changed since we were teenagers. He is still polite and well-mannered.

"Sounds like a great idea, but I don't stay up late. We can probably get two more movies in before I crash for the night," he replies.

Using his day off to spend time with my father means the world to me. Aiden is a considerate guy, and coming back here only makes me validate my feelings for him. There's a reason they are still this impactful after all these years. It might take some time for us to work up to it, but I'm not going to let him be the one that gets away. Someday we can be happy together, not right now.

We all sit down on the couch while Aiden puts on another action movie. Instead of finding something else to do, I stay and watch it with them. Jeremy orders pizza and we all scarf that down while trying to finish the movie. So far, I've liked both of the movies we have watched. Can we go three for three?

The next movie is a little older, and not up my alley. I stick by and watch it, but didn't enjoy the last one. When the credits start rolling, they both look at me.

"So, what'd you think?" Dad asks.