Don't Apologize
Keeley had only been living with him for slightly less than a week and Aaron missed her already. Pathetic. It was just an overnight stay at her family home; it was nothing to worry about. But he missed her. She brought life into this place.
When he heard the elevator door open downstairs, he had to stop himself from running down to greet her. She probably wouldn't appreciate that. So he focused on his magazine and stayed put on the couch.
He planned on casually asking her if she had a good time with her father before he saw her face. It was puffy, red-eyed, and had tear tracks all over it.
Aaron immediately jumped up and barely stopped himself from reaching out to her. So much for playing it cool.
"What happened? Are you okay?"
Keeley put on a brave attempt at a smile. "I guess there's no point in hiding it. Today is the anniversary of my mom's and Kaleb's deaths."