Chapter 18

Harper

"You know, I'm glad we're doing this just us." I told my dad, taking a bite of the pizza. "And I'm hella glad it's pizza."

"Hella?" My dad raised his eyebrows. "Language."

"It's not a swear word, it's slang. And since when do you care about swearing?" I rolled my eyes, reaching for my bottle of Powerade.

"Since it's coming out of your mouth." My dad frowned.

"You let the guys swear."

"You're my daughter."

"Sexism."

"Parenting."

I just rolled my eyes, folding my legs up underneath me as I took another bite of the pizza. "Whatever, I'm glad we're doing a casual dinner tonight."

"I dunno, I feel like we should've at least had turkey." My dad sighed.

"There's some cold cuts in the fridge. I don't know how old they are but you can take a bite and pretend that's our feast." I snorted, tossing the crust of my pizza back into the box.

"On second thought, pizza is just fine." My dad laughed, leaning back in his recliner chair with his beer. "This is a good way to spend Thanksgiving."

"Father daughter bonding and stuff." I shrugged.

"Precisely." Dad laughed.

"We can shoot some hoops after dinner?" Dad offered, raising his eyebrows.

"Nah, we did extra conditioning today because Coach claimed it would help burn off all the calories we'd eat tonight." I shook my head. "I'm going to be dead for a week."

"You've been going pretty hard lately, I didn't realize you were such an athlete."

"Thanks dad." I rolled my eyes. "I dunno, I picked up basketball after everything happened two years ago and I just really like it." I shrugged.

"Well I like seeing the dedication. I like the change in you I've seen." My dad smiled.

"Thanks dad." I smiled.

"What's Noah up to tonight?" He asked curiously, taking another sip of his beer.

"Family stuff." I shrugged. "I think it's just him, his aunt, uncle, and Lewis. Maybe his dad's brother's fam too. Kelly and her family."

"Oh yeah, that girl Kelly and Noah are cousins right?"

I nodded, reaching for a new piece of pizza.

"Does Noah ever talk about why he lives with his aunt and uncle?" My dad asked curiously, talking slower.

I think he knew he could potentially be venturing into dangerous territory.

I slowly finished chewing my pizza, wondering how to answer that question.

"Uh, yeah." I nodded. "Yeah he's told me. Do you know?"

"Bits and pieces. I know that something happened back home but since it wasn't anything illegal, I don't have the full story." Dad shrugged. "Apparently he left for a bit and they wouldn't let him come back?"

"Kind of like that." I nodded. "I uh... It's kind of uh... Well..." I trailed off.

Should I tell him?

A knock on the door interrupted my momentary weakness in keeping up the story.

"It's open!" My dad called, muting the television to tune out the sound of the football game.

The door opened and I peered around the corner to see who it was.

"My parents just showed up." Noah's voice reached the living room before I even saw him.

"What?" I asked in shock, putting down my half eaten piece of pizza as Noah came around the corner. His eyes were puffy and his cheeks tear stained.

"Are you crying?" I asked softly. "What the hell is going on?"

"They fricken ambushed me and they were all 'you left on your own accord' and shit." Noah said, running his hands through his hair. "I can't... I can't face them right now."

"What did they want?" I asked quietly, standing up from the couch and walking towards him.

"They're going to family therapy or some shit and she wants me back in their life." Noah whispered. "And holy shit I just walked out on them." Noah's eyes widened.

I pulled his hands away from his hair, holding them tightly in my own.

"Take a deep breath."

"I just walked out on her... I'm a horrible son." Noah whispered. "They were bringing up everything from the past and I just snapped and oh my goodness."

"Stuff from the past?" I asked quietly, scanning his face. "Like what?"

"It doesn't even matter. I just... Harper." Noah whispered, reaching up to cup my face. "They just showed up."

"Your parents?" My dad suddenly said, standing up from his chair.

Noah just blankly looked at my dad, stepping back from me.

"Well good. I think I'd like to have a word with them actually." My dad said firmly, setting his beer down on the coffee table.

"No you don't." I said suddenly, stepping towards him. "Dad not right now. Clearly they're vulnerable and really they don't know us at all and they'll think you're just some coach that's weirdly involved in their kid's life you really shouldn't go talk to them."

Noah slowly looked down at me, realization crossing his face.

But he was in shock and he was emotionally vulnerable. He stayed completely silent, reaching for my hand again.

"Sit down before you pass out." I told him, practically forcing him down onto the couch. "Head between your knees."

"I'm fine I-"

"Head between your knees." I said harshly, knowing that he got really dizzy in stressful situations.

"Yes ma'am." Noah whispered before leaning forwards.

"What's going on?" My dad asked, crossing his arms. "Why can't I go talk to his parents? Why can't I go give them my opinion on the son that they so kindly kicked out?"

"Because you can't just-"

"Because this kid is one of the best I've seen." My dad said firmly. "And I oughta give them my two cents about that. Noah Keller doesn't get kicked out of a house. Clearly somethings fucked up with his parents and-"

"Dad chill." I said suddenly.

"No, Harper! A parent should never go without knowing their kid grow up into a proper young adult and they missed it! Noah showed up here scrawny, quiet, and emotionally unstable and now look where he is!" My dad exclaimed. "He was my football player before he was your boyfriend and I'm sorry but I look out for my team!"

"You can't just-"

"I'm going to talk to them." My dad said firmly, walking towards the door. "Stay here with Noah."

"Dad don't!" I exclaimed, torn between staying with Noah and running after him. "You can't do this!"

"What! Harper, you're acting like you're hiding something what's going on?" My dad said as he pulled on his jacket. "I wish someone would've knocked some sense into me when I let you slip out of my life."

"Please." I whispered, walking towards him. "You just... You can't go talk to Noah's parents."

"What's wrong with them? Is he gonna shoot me or something?"

"No but you'll shoot me." I whispered, quiet enough so that my dad couldn't hear.

"What was that?" He frowned, stepping closer. "I couldn't hear you."

"Nothing." I shook my head. "Just... Come back into the living room and let's talk this over."

My dad let out a frustrated sigh but put his keys down and walked back to the couch.

Noah still had his head between his knees and was breathing heavily. Dad sat down next to him and gave him a firm pat on the back.

"Head up son, let's talk." My dad said seriously.

My heart warmed for a moment at the sight, it was what I'd been dreaming about since that day that my parents lost their minds and the last day I saw Noah before everything happened.

Noah slowly sat up, his face pale and his eyes wide.

"I got a girl pregnant, sir." Noah whispered. "And her parents freaked out and my parents freaked out and when my parents made me promise to never see her again I ran away to try and be with her but her mom threatened to file a restraining order. When I went back to my parents they wouldn't take me in so they shipped me off to live with my aunt and uncle."

My dad slowly nodded.

"Well then you and my daughter have a lot more in common than I thought." My dad said softly. "But let me tell you, no parent should disown their parent for a mistake like that. It's not a life or death situation and it's not the end of the world. Trust me, I know."

Noah slowly nodded.

"Alright listen. I won't go talk to your parents but you bet your ass if they cause you any more problems I won't hesitate to step in and back you up."

"Thank you sir." Noah whispered before standing up. "I should get back."

"Back?" My eyes widened.

"Back." Noah said quietly. "They'll be gone by now."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Yes." Noah nodded. "I'm sorry I just showed up like this I just..."

"I'll walk you out." I sighed.

"Thanks, Coach." Noah whispered.

I practically pushed him out to the car, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Our parents can not meet." I whispered urgently as he unlocked his car.

Noah stayed silent, his hand on the door handle.

"Noah, seriously. My dad knows your parents! You guys lived near us forever! They played golf together! They were friends before the divorce and if they meet, they'll figure everything out and we're toast." I hissed.

Noah slowly turned to look at me, still silent.

"I think... I think we've got some bigger problems than that." Noah whispered, running a hand through his hair. "They want a relationship with me. They'll be sniffing around and something's bound to come out anyways."

"We've gotta tell my dad." I whispered.

"Well I wasn't going to go that far but..."

"If we don't tell him, he'll find out some other way and he'll get super mad." I shook my head. "At least we'll have the upper hand if we tell him."

"Not today."

"Oh God no, it's a holiday." I sighed.

"I should get back."

"If your parents are still there just punch your dad and make a run for it. We'll hide you." I teased, wrapping my arms around his waist.

Noah leaned forwards, pressing his lips to mine.

"I haven't seen them in two years."

"Fuck 'em." I whispered, kissing him again.

I waited until he'd driven away before turning to head back inside.

I sat down on the couch and picked up my pizza again.

"Thanks, that was cool." I said softly to my dad.

"Hm?" He raised his eyebrows.

"Being so willing to stand up for Noah like that, thanks." I mumbled. "I uh... I like that you two get along."

"Of course." My dad smiled. "He's a good kid, Harper."