Almost a week has passed since Aiden painted again. I've been feeling happier than ever. I feel like we've been spending more time together.

Nowadays, Aiden rarely works overtime in the office, so we always have dinner together. The same goes for breakfast. He seems to be less busy than before, and I wonder why. Usually, he would have worked a lot during weekdays, but now it's different.

After coming back from college, I step into my room and throw my bag onto my bed. I flop myself onto the mattress and huff.

It's Friday night, and I've already had a plan for it.

It's okay. Dad wouldn't be mad. You're not doing anything bad.

It's not like I'm going clubbing. Or drinking.

It's just a party.

Somehow, the guilt keeps coming back, especially since I just had a call with my parents an hour ago, in which they asked me how I was doing.

I told them everything about my life here. My college. My studies. My friends. Mom even asked me to invite Ash and Maya over to our house in Texas during the holiday. She sounded happy that I made new best friends.

I told them everything except Aiden and this house I'm living in.

Dad said he couldn't wait to visit Seattle again as soon as he's done with his business project. His voice was laced with sadness, but the guilt he might be feeling is nothing compared to mine.

Why am I still here in this house? Shouldn't I go back to my apartment downstairs?

Would Aiden prefer that?

My phone beeps, and I read the messages popping up in my group chat.

I smile. Reading their banter is like seeing myself with Sienna. I miss her. I feel bad that I'm keeping my secret from her even though she speaks to me about everything every night.

It's not that I don't trust Sienna. It's just too risky.

My phone rings. My eyes widen in surprise as I see the caller.

What timing. Has he found out about what I'm up to? How?

I swallow and pick up my phone. "Hello."

"Why are you whispering? Are you in a class?" comes his voice. There's noise in the background, like students chattering.

He might have just finished his day on campus, probably waiting for Luna to finish her class.

Great. I'm so nervous that my voice sounds like a rasp.

"No, I'm in my room." I quickly compose myself.

"What are you doing?" he asks.

Damn. Now I feel seen.

"Nothing. I just came back from college," I say nonchalantly, trying to sound less nervous.

Why is he suddenly calling me after I lied to my parents about what I would be doing this weekend...and after my friends texted me to get ready for a party? Does he have a sixth sense?

"Why are you calling?" I ask. "Did my dad tell you to?"

Perhaps, Dad has sensed that something is wrong, that it's too good to be true, that I'm hiding something.

He goes silent for a few seconds. "What do you mean? Do you think that I would only call you if your Dad told me to?"

He sounds hurt and annoyed. That makes me want to curse at myself. Stupid me.

"I'm sorry," I say in a small voice, genuinely feeling sorry that he had to hear that.

I wasn't thinking straight.

Max sighs. "How have you been?"

I don't know how to answer that question, so I fake a chuckle. "What do you think? Let me say...I'm having the best time of my life. You do realize that I'm a bird finally flying from its cage, don't you?"

"Really?" He sounds like he doesn't believe me. "It's just..." He sighs again. "I didn't hear from you for quite a while." He suddenly sounds serious.

Silence falls for a moment.

"Frankly, I'm disappointed," he says, and I know what he means. "I thought that you would let me know. Tell me about something else, Nev."

One would think that I should be cautious about him knowing my secret, but this is the conversation we would be having even if nothing went wrong.

I groan. "About what?"

"I don't know," he says. "A road trip, perhaps? A fucking party?"

My heart skips a beat.

Oh God, he's good. He's really good.

But no, he doesn't know. He just wonders why I've been awfully quiet.

He knows about Dad's rules and how I wish I could take a break from them. I still remember that I once asked Max to spend time with me in Paris for a weekend getaway when I was fed up with Dad's ultimatum.

He's the only person that Dad trusts to look out for me, and he's been expecting me to call for help.

But I didn't.

Even Max can't help me right now.

"I did have a trip to LA," I say. "It wasn't a road trip, though." A soft chuckle leaves my lips.

"Yeah. That band sucks, anyway," he retorts.

I almost roll my eyes. He knows about the concert that Ash, Maya and I went to. I don't know how he got that information -- it could be from Dad or Sienna.

I realize all over again that my secrets would never be safe. One word spread about me, and my whole family would know. They would know about the security guard, the incident, Aiden, and this house. And I would be dragged all the way back to Texas in a blink of an eye.

"You know that you still can have fun, right?" Max points out. "I can go there if you feel like going to a party."

"You mean, you would book a flight from New York to Seattle on the weekend just to accompany me to a party?" I ask in disbelief.

"I know that you hate being told that someone has to look out for you, but that's the only way you can do it without breaking your Dad's rules."

"It would still break the rules," I make my point.

"Not if he allowed it," Max says. "You know that he would do so if you came there with me."

I go silent. I appreciate Max's effort to make sure that I'm alright, that I'm indeed having the best time of my life.

I don't have a brother, but Max makes me feel like I have one. To me, he is my brother.

I hate myself even more because I'm hiding the truth from him. I feel awful.

I'm sorry, Max. I'm sorry that I lied to you.

"Do you get it?" Max breaks the silence. "Just call me if you need anything."

"I will," I whisper, feeling my chest tighten.

"Can I ask one more thing?"

My brows furrow as I wonder what's on his mind. "Yeah."

"Are you really okay?"

My breath almost hitches because of the weight of his question.

I've experienced an unfortunate incident here, one that was traumatic enough to make me afraid to close my eyes every night before bed. But recently, I've been feeling so much joy. Another person has made me feel safe and happy.

But I'm also very worried, because I don't know how long this happiness will last. It feels temporary.

One day, I would wake up from this dream and face all the consequences.

"Yes, I am," I say. Before he can ask me another question, I quickly change the topic, "What about you? How are things going over there? Is everything great?"

Max chuckles, and I can hear the happiness in his voice.

He's happy. Like, really happy. I know why.

"You know the answer," he says before something else catches his attention over there. "There she is. I gotta go. Someone just bumped into her. She dropped her ice cream. Shit."

With that said, he hangs up.

I shake my head, laughing as I think about him and Luna. It's wonderful, what they have.

My thoughts then wander to my parents, and the smile on my lips turns into a sad one. I can't imagine what they would feel if they knew about everything.

Even though I didn't tell them about what really happened to me, I should tell them about this party I'm going to. But I can't.

I couldn't ask Max to be here with me either, because it would risk him finding out about the truth. If he came to Seattle, he would probably visit Aiden's house. I wouldn't risk him finding out that we're living together.

Don't worry, Dad. I'm doing okay. It's just a party.

I won't touch any drink.

I won't let any guy touch me inappropriately.

I'll stick with Ash and Maya. We can protect ourselves, and we're going to look out for each other.

Girl power, okay?

I scroll through my phone, and my eyes dart to the message I sent to someone a few hours ago. He hasn't replied.

Dad, just in case you're still worried, and since I don't want you to be angry at me, I'll meet another person there.

He's someone you've known for a long time. He's someone you trust.

He's currently staying in Seattle for a business event. We're going to meet at the party.

Just in time, the answer pops up on my phone screen. Relief washes over me.