"Why didn't you tell me?" I whispered.
"People talk. Almost everyone knows my parents. They would find out in a day. I would get kicked out. I would have no where to go."
"My mom said you could stay with us. If you ever need to. She doesn't care. She loves you."
"Mama Joesph has always loved me."
"She always will." I smiled and laid my head on his shoulder. "Let me take you out tonight. As friends. Kinda a low key first date."
"Will your parents like it?"
"I'll tell them I'm staying at a friend's. It's the end of the year so they won't care."
"So you're staying over?" I asked.
"If I can."
"Of course."