chapter 9

Elizabeth's POV:

When we finally pulled up to the house, I was greeted by my brothers and Dad at the door. The second I stepped inside, they bombarded me with questions about my day.

“How was it?”

“Did you make any friends?”

“Anyone bothering you?”

I could barely get a word in between all their questions. Finally, I smiled and said, “I made a new friend. Her name’s Anna.”

The room went silent for a second before my brothers and Dad broke into cheers. Mike threw his hands in the air like he was at some kind of sports event, while Levi pumped his fist, and Dad did a weird little dance move that made me laugh. I stared at them like they were crazy.

"What's the big deal?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

They just kept laughing. "We knew you'd make friends in no time," Levi said with a grin, while Dad nodded like he was proud of some kind of accomplishment.

I couldn't help but smile back at them. It felt good to have their support, even if they were being a little over the top about it. All in all, I was starting to feel really happy with how things were going at my new school. Sure, there were some stares, and people seemed a little distant, but if I could avoid anyone rude and stick to making friends like Anna, I knew things would work out fine.

"Eli, dinner!" Mike's voice echoed from the kitchen, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I sighed, standing up from my spot on the couch and heading downstairs. By the time I reached the dining room, everyone was already seated. We settled into our chairs, the smell of the food filling the room. It was comforting—the kind of meal that made you feel right at home.

We ate mostly in silence, just enjoying the meal and each other’s company. I liked that about my family. There wasn’t always a need for constant chatter. Sometimes, just being together was enough.

“So,” Dad started, breaking the quiet as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Your grandparents told your cousins about you moving, and they’re really excited to meet you, princess.”

At the mention of our cousins, my brothers groaned loudly, like they were being sentenced to something terrible. I shot them a confused look.

“What’s wrong with meeting them?” I asked, turning to Dad.

He smiled warmly at me, clearly happy that I wasn’t put off by the idea. “I don’t mind meeting them, Daddy,” I said quietly, offering him a small smile in return.

Dad’s face softened even more, and he leaned over, kissing my forehead gently. “That’s my girl,” he said proudly.

The rest of dinner went by smoothly, and once I was done, I stood up from the table and gathered my plate. “Thank you,” I mumbled softly, feeling content from the meal. I headed toward the kitchen, placing my plate in the sink, and turned to leave.

“Goodnight, everyone,” I called over my shoulder as I made my way upstairs.

“Goodnight, Eli!”

“Love you!”

The soft chorus of replies came from the dining room, making me smile. There was something so comforting about hearing my family’s voices in the background as I walked to my room. It made everything feel right, like no matter what, I was where I belonged.

Once in my room, I quietly shut the door behind me and let out a long sigh. The day had been tiring, but in the best way possible. A lot had happened, and I could feel the weight of it pulling me toward my bed. I didn’t fight it. I flopped down onto my bed and snuggled into the blankets, closing my eyes.

Before I knew it, sleep had taken over, and I was out like a light.