CHAPTER 12: CHAPTER 12: MY DAD FOUND THE WRONG THING AND GOT THE RIGHT IDEA

There are a lot of ways to ruin a quiet Saturday.

My favorite until now was stubbing my toe on the coffee table and swearing loud enough to wake the cat.

But this morning?

Elena knocked that record out of the water.

10:04 AM — In the Kitchen

I was halfway through a bowl of cereal when she walked in wearing one of Dad’s old T-shirts. The kind he used to wear when fixing things that didn’t need fixing — because God forbid he sits still for longer than ten minutes.

She caught my eye, saw the look I gave the shirt, and rolled hers.

"He’s at the gym," she said, like that made it better.

"It’s still his."

She shrugged. "It’s oversized and comfortable. I was cold."

"That’s not helping."

She smirked and reached for the coffee. "Then stop looking."

"I wasn’t—"

I paused. "Okay, I was."

10:06 AM — The Moment

We were standing there, shoulder to shoulder. Cereal forgotten. Coffee half poured. Something unsaid rising between us like heat.

Her hand brushed mine.

She didn’t move away.

Neither did I.

"You dream about me again?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper.

I froze. "What?"

She smiled into her mug. "You talk in your sleep, Aaron."

I felt my soul leave my body.

"You’re lying."

"Am I?"

I stared at her. "What did I say?"

Her smile deepened. "Wouldn’t you like to know?"

And that’s when we heard it:

Keys in the door.

10:07 AM — Dad’s Early Return

"Elena?" Dad’s voice echoed from the hallway. "Can you help me with the bags?"

She practically leapt two feet backward.

I dropped my spoon into the sink like it burned me.

She grabbed her coffee, gave me a don’t-even-think-about-being-weird look, and walked out like nothing had happened.

10:30 AM — The Actual Problem

I was upstairs trying to distract myself by reorganizing my books (aka procrastinating emotional collapse) when I heard it.

A door creak.

A pause.

Then Dad’s voice, confused and slightly amused:

"Huh. That’s not mine."

I knew that tone.

It was the something-is-off-but-I’m-not-panicking-yet tone.

I opened my door and peeked down the hallway.

Dad was standing in front of the laundry room with something in his hand.

It took me a second to realize what it was.

My hoodie.

The one Elena borrowed and never gave back.

The one she claimed "smelled like safety" and "fit better than hers."

And there it was.

In plain sight.

In his hands.

10:32 AM — The Interrogation Begins

He knocked on my door. No warning.

I opened it.

He held up the hoodie. "This yours?"

I nodded slowly.

"Why was it in the laundry with Elena’s stuff?"

Shrug. "Maybe she wore it by accident?"

He raised a brow. "She said she found it in her room."

I swallowed. "She must’ve grabbed it by mistake?"

He didn’t look convinced.

"You two spending a lot of time together lately?"

My heart was thundering.

"Yeah, I guess. She’s... nice. Chill. Easy to talk to."

He studied me for a second.

"Don’t get too comfortable, Aaron."

I blinked. "What does that mean?"

He sighed and rubbed his face. "She’s still figuring things out. I know she’s trying, but... marriage is weird. And fast. And maybe a little messy."

I waited.

He looked tired.

"Just... don’t complicate things more than they already are."

I nodded.

He walked away.

And I sank to the floor like my legs gave out.

12:00 PM — Milo Saves the Day (Sort Of)

I called him the second Dad left for "a long drive to clear his head."

"Hey," I said when he picked up. "I think my dad suspects something."

There was silence.

Then: "Define ’something.’ Like he thinks she borrowed your hoodie, or he thinks you’re playing house with his wife?"

"Somewhere in the middle."

"Oof."

"What do I do?"

"You have three options," Milo said, suddenly in strategic mode. "Lie better, confess everything, or move to a remote village and become a goat herder."

"I’m allergic to goats."

"Then we’re down to two."

3:00 PM — The Confrontation That Wasn’t

Elena knocked on my door.

"Can we talk?"

I let her in.

She closed the door behind her and didn’t say anything for a minute.

Then:

"He asked me about the hoodie."

I nodded. "Me too."

"What did you say?"

"That maybe you borrowed it by accident."

She exhaled. "Smart."

"Are we smart?"

"No," she whispered. "Not even a little."

We stared at each other.

Not touching.

Not even close.

But the room felt full. Charged. Dangerous.

"I’m going to mess this up," she said softly. "I’m going to hurt someone."

"You already are."

"Yeah," she said, voice breaking. "Me too."

📘 End of Chapter 12

💬 YOUR TURN!

Is Dad starting to connect the dots?

Do you think Elena will confess something next... or will Aaron finally push for the truth?

👇 Drop your wildest theories, favorite quotes, or who you think is going to snap first.

❤️ Tap that heart if your chest feels tight and you kinda like it.

🔔 Follow for Chapter 13 — because someone’s about to say exactly what they shouldn’t.