Eve POV

It's nine o'clock now and everyone has left for the night. Tomorrow we're all going out to breakfast then dinner.

Harry and I help clean up as my Father cleans the grill. I stack the dishes in the sink and look to Harry.

"Were my brothers nice to you?" I ask.

"Mason was." He grins gently. "Daren was Daren. I'm not on his good side now, and Ethan was kind for the most part."

"What was the other part?" I ask.

"Guy stuff." My boyfriend says. I sigh.

My Father returns in the house with some more dishes. "I got the dishes Eve, you guys can go upstairs."

My eyebrow raises. "You sure?"

"Yep. Go a head." He gives me a warm grin. I don't argue. I head for the stairs but Harry stays put.

"I can do the dishes, Mr. Collins." He offers.

"No I got it." My Father says casually.

"It's no problem. You've been standing enough to cook today. It's the least I can do." My boyfriend says.

"Okay then, thanks." My Dad gives up. Harry turns on the sink and starts soaking some pans. My Father soon leaves the kitchen and heads upstairs.

My arms cross over my chest and I lean against the counter. "You do dishes?"

"Yes, I have done them before." He chuckles.

"I assume Rose does all of them." I say.

"Ha ha." Harry shakes his head.

"I'm going to grab our things from the car." I say.

"I'll get them when I'm done." Harry tells me. His eyes glance over his shoulder to look at me.

"It's fine. The car is right outside." I say.

"I don't want you outside this late alone. I'll be done soon." I huff and he just gives me a small grin.

"Fine." I recross my arms. I relax my back against the counter.

"You can go upstairs and lay down if you'd like. You look tired."

"You're doing dishes and then going to get our things. The least I can do is give you some company."

He puts the dishes in the dish washer. I walk over to Harry and hug him. My head rests against back and my arms wrap around his waist.

"Give me the keys to the car." I murmur against him.

"No." My boyfriend laughs.

"Please? I wanna feel useful."

"You're keeping me company. That's being useful." I huff and close my eyes.

"Your back is comfy." I yawn.

"Go upstairs Eve. I'll be fine alone." I shake my head.

"No, I'm good." I say.

Harry turns off the sink a few moments later and I break away. He closes the dishwasher and drys his hands. I lean up and kiss his cheek.

***

Harry and I lay on my bed. I'm on my back staring up at my ceiling fan. Harry does he same. We're both on top of the covers just staring about.

I hear a light knock on my bedroom door causing Harry and I to both sit up.

I see my Dad walk into my bedroom. His glasses are on and his hand is on the door knob.

"I've set the guest room up for Harry." I scowl my eyes.

"Dad, I'm not ten. I can have him stay in my room." I say.

"You don't mind, right?" My Father asks Harry.

"Don't directly ask him something where he's obligated to say yes." I defend.

"Eve, it's fine." Harry squeezes my hand and stands up. I frown. "I'll see you in the morning." I nod and narrow my eyes at my Father.

Once Harry leaves my room I cross my arms. "I don't like boys in your room." My Father says.

"He's my boyfriend though. And I'm also twenty four." I say.

"Still. It's one night, you'll live." I roll my eyes to myself and fall back on my mattress.

My Dad closes my door and I grab my phone resting on my nightstand.

Me: Harry

Harry: eve

Me: :(

Harry: don't :(

Me: you should come into my room at 11

Me: my dad's asleep by 10:30

Harry: I prefer to live, thanks

Me: :(

Harry: you have Doug, you'll be fine for the night

Me: I want my body pillow

Harry: ....

Harry: I'll think about it

Me: :)

Me: Doug is already snoring

Harry: ofc he is

Harry: when he sits down he snores

Me: facts

Me: he's my little meat ball though

Harry: how cute

Me: :)

***

Around ten I head downstairs. I always get really thirsty around the time I feel like sleeping.

I see my Dad in the kitchen making tea. "You drink tea?" I ask.

"Yeah, it helps me fall asleep." He releases a deep breath. I nod.

"Can we talk?" I ask timidly.

"You're not pregnant are you?" His voice turns worried.

"Oh god, no." I say with wide eyes. "Why would you first think that?"

"I don't know. It just seemed like something you would want to tell me." He turns around and faces me. "What's up then?"

"I'm going to tell you why John and I uh broke up, because I want you to like Harry." I say. I bite the insides of my cheek.

"Okay." My Father says. His light hazel eyes look at me.

I remain silent for a few moments, unable to speak. I don't know where to start how to start.

"Um, he used to," I pause for a brief moment. "hit me and stuff."

My Father remains silent. His face is a bit confused. All I hear is the sound of the AC running. "John used to hit you?" My Father clarifies.

"Y-Yes." I stammer.

"Like slap?" He manages to say.

"Slap, punch, shove, kick..." My voice lowers. My Dad's face looks tense yet sad.

"You're joking, right?" His eyes are soft.

"I'm not." I murmur.

"You said, and stuff. What other stuff?" My Dad asks timidly. I give him a look which makes his head tilt to the side. "No. Please tell me he didn't do that to you." His hand goes over his mouth and my stomach twists.

I didn't want to see that sad look in his eyes. I've seen it enough when my Mother and brother died.

My eyes fall to my feet. I feel my Father's arms hug around me tightly. My head is against his chest and his hands are shaky against my back. I feel some of his tears on my neck.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I didn't want you to look at me different." I admit. My Dad's grip on me is tight.

"I could never look at you differently Eve." My Dad says. His voice is low. "I should've seen that you were unhappy or seen how he was acting towards you."

"He was always on his best behaviour when he was around you guys." I say. "I should've left him sooner." I mutter.

"Don't start beating yourself up." My Dad pauses. "Fuck, wrong choice of words."

"I'm not triggered by those words." I say honestly.

"Still. I should be more sensitive." My Dad says. "Does John still live in the same apartment?"

"I'm not sure." I say. My voice is low. "Why?"

"I might be paying a visit."

"Don't he isn't worth your time." I say. "And I'm too poor to bail you out of jail."

"He hurt you Eve." My Father states. "Mentally and physically, that's not okay to me."

"I'm okay now if that helps." I say. We break away from our hug and my Dad kisses the top of my head.

"Is Harry nice to you?"

"Yes." I say.

"He's never..."

"He hasn't." I answer. "I really like him, Dad." I add. My Father smiles gently.

"I'll um apologise to him tomorrow morning, okay?" I nod. "I'm sorry Eve."

"For?"

"Being an asshole to your boyfriend all day." I chuckle. "I only did it because I though John and you..."

"I get it." I say. "I'm not mad."

"I hate apologising to people." He huffs.

"It would make me the happiest person in the world if you did." I grin. His head shakes. "Anyways, I'm going to go to bed. I'll see you in the morning."

"Okay darling." He kisses my cheek before letting me go upstairs.

I open my bedroom door and still see Doug passed out. I reach for my phone and check the time, it's ten fifteen.

I lay down and let out a deep breath.

***

In the middle of the night while I'm asleep I hear my creaky door open then close. My tired eyes open a little then close. My room is pitch black and my fan is loud.

The other side of my bed becomes dented. A body presses against my back a few moments later. "I prefer sleeping beside you." I hear Harry say against my back.

I smile to myself and hold his hand that's around me. "Goodnight Harry." I murmur.

"Goodnight." He kisses the side of my head.

"I told my Dad." I mention with a yawn. Harry doesn't say anything. He just holds me tighter and intertwines our legs. I close my eyes and let out a small breath. I soon fall back asleep.

A://N

hello

idk what else to say that would be interesting so

Have a good day (:

~lauren