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“So, he got himself a rich guy, huh? But still can’t spare his mother a penny. What is in it for you?” she snarls. “You know a guy like him is no good!”

“Love is in it for me,” Aden answers. “A person who loves me with all my quirks. Someone genuine and kind. And he became that way despite his upbringing and his parents. Noel makes me laugh. He healed a part of me I didn’t know needed healing. That’s more than anyone else has given me, ever! I will be damned if I let him go!”

Before Mom can say anything, Aden shuts her up. “I need to ask you to leave Noel alone,” he says, his voice icy. “If you strike him again, I will call the police. If you ever come close to him again, you will face a fucking lawsuit. This time from me, directly! And believe me when I say, you won’t want to take it up with me!”

Mom keeps glaring at him, but when he takes his phone into his hands, something close to fear crosses her face. Finally, she turns around and runs off into the darkness of the night.

“I am so sorry,” I mutter. “I… have had no contact with her for years. I don’t know how she found me, and I almost led her to you. This is such a mess. My life is a mess. I can understand if this is too much for you.”

Aden rests his hand against my cheek. His palm is cool from the outside air, yet so soft, making me burst into tears. “This is not your fault, Noel, and I am not going anywhere.”

“Is it bad that I still love her? I hate her, but I also love her. I want her to see me, and hug me, and love me, but I know she won’t.”

“Oh, Noel,” Aden says sadly. He wraps his free arm around me, pulling me close. I can’t believe I have a full-grown meltdown in front of him; that’s a new level of embarrassment. But somehow, I can’t stop the tears from flowing.

Aden doesn’t tell me to calm down, he doesn’t say any fake reassurances about how everything will be alright. I know it will never be alright. Mom is Mom, and nothing will change that. And if she changes, it certainly won’t be in the near future

“Thank you,” I mutter against Aden’s chest when I feel more like myself again. “I can’t believe I cried on you.”

“I am glad you did,” he says. “I am your partner. I should be there when you feel down.”

“I should have told you,” I admit. “About my mom. I should have… I am so sorry you had to find out like that.”

“I told you, you can tell me about your past on your terms, at your pace,” Aden says quietly. “I am not mad, Noel. When you told me about your family and mentioned doing shady shit in the past, I took a wild guess that this is what you were hinting at. You did what you had to do to survive, and you did survive.” He pauses. “Also, I remember, now, where we met for the very first time.”

At his words, my eyes snap up. It feels like all the air leaves my lungs.

“No need to panic,” Aden says quietly. “I am glad I remember. Let’s go back inside. You are freezing and in shock.”

“You remember?” I mutter my question while I take off my shoes and jacket. It’s only when I follow Aden into the living room that I notice how cold I truly was. The sudden warmth makes me shiver as the cold leaves my body.

“First things first,” Aden says, stepping closer to me. He cups my chin, tilting my head to the side a little. His eyebrows twitch slightly.

“It’s okay,” I hurry to reassure him. “It’s…”

“It’s not okay,” he huffs. “I should have called the police after all.”

“I prefer you didn’t.”

“I know,” he says. “Which is why I didn’t do it. But the next time she pulls up and even looks at you the wrong way, I won’t let her get away. Her fingernails left marks on you. Let me patch you up.” He ushers me further into the living room, to his sofa. “Sit down.”

My mind is in a haze. I barely register what Aden is doing, and I can’t help but replay the encounter with my mother, over and over again. Eventually, I realize that Aden has put a cup with hot tea in front of me and some sandwiches. He has also put a patch over the scratches my mom left on me, and he is on the phone talking to someone.

I didn’t notice him doing any of that.

“Who was that?” I mutter.

“Your lawyer,” Aden says. “I informed him of what happened. It will certainly help your case.

I nod. He is right. I didn’t even think of telling my lawyer any of it. It hadn’t crossed my mind at all.

“Hey.” Aden touches my back. “Are you back with me?”

“I completely detached and dissociated, like back in the days when my father would come at me after he drank too much.” It’s still hard for me to grasp when I dissociate. It’s like I am taking a backseat while my body acts on autopilot. “I haven’t done that in a long while.”

When Aden opens his arms, I snuggle into them. “It was due to the shock,” he says quietly.

“Do you really remember how we met the first time?”