Chapter 14

That Sunday,they all gathered at Parker's, this time for the chef's special casserole rather than a barbecue since it was raining. They were all in the kitchen, Hazel leaning against the counter next to James.

She turned her attention to Eli. "How's your research going?"

Eli closed the fridge with a bump of his hip, two beers in hand. He gave one to Parker. "Good. I've got my recording box in a new location, and I've started doing some mapping through the neighborhoods."

Parker popped the cap off his beer, handed it back to Eli, and took the other for himself. "We're going to hit the trails soon too."

Hazel looked momentarily confused. "For the study?"

"Yeah." Parker opened the other beer. "Eli needs to map the vein north of town."

"Oh." Hazel nodded and took a slow sip of her drink like something didn't add up.

Eli gave James a look. "You didn't tell Hazel that Parker and I are together, did you?"

"No." James's brow crinkled. "Was I supposed to?"

Eli huffed. "Well, it's not a secret."

"Yeah, James." Hazel shoved his shoulder in a friendly-yet-annoyed fashion. "Could have told me."

James grunted, a sure sign he was ignoring everything they were saying.

Eli laughed at his brother and leaned against Parker. "I've actually got more news for you all. Beyond my dating life."

Parker tipped Eli's shin up so their eyes met. "You do?"

Eli beamed up at him. "Not new news to you. But kind of?"

Parker's eyes narrowed as he smiled. "Ooo…kay. I have no idea what you're talking about."

Eli was making a big deal of this, but it felt justified. He took a breath and announced, "I want to move back here after I'm done with my degree."

Hazel choked on her beer. James thumped her on the back, a look of tentative joy on his face.

"I've been thinking," Eli went on. "I want to study the magic here. More than I'm doing just for my thesis. I mean, I'm only looking at one aspect of the vein. There's so much more to investigate."

James set his drink aside like he didn't want it distracting him. "And you can do that?"

Eli shrugged, but his smile didn't dim. "It's not guaranteed. I'd need to get a job at a university or research institute after I graduate and apply for a study grant. But I think there's enough unique magic around Moonlight Falls that I'll be able to find someone to fund research up here."

James crossed his arms. "What about your life in LA?"

It was like he needed to cover all the bases before he'd believe this might actually happen. Eli got where James was coming from. Still, he suppressed a sigh. He didn't like having to admit this.

"I'm not going to miss LA. I already don't. I actually like living somewhere small and quiet, and I'd miss everyone here if I left way more than I've missed the people I know down south. I'm not that close to anyone. It's nothing like this." He gestured at everyone in the kitchen.

Eli would lose a lot if he left Moonlight Falls, while he only felt like he was gaining good things by leaving LA. It wasn't that he didn't have friends, but he didn't have anyone he was genuinely attached to. He had lots of study partners and roommates but not a best friend or anyone who came close. Eli had always been more of a relationship person, opening up to his girlfriends but not so much with anyone else. As a result, he didn't have anyone worth moving back to LA for.

And here in Moonlight Falls, he had everyone. Eli wanted to make up for lost time with James. He wanted to be there for his brother now that he was older. Eli wanted James to know they could look after each other. Neither of them were alone, even if they were the last people left in their family.

And, of course, there was Parker, whom Eli could see a whole future with. Parker had always been there, always paid attention and been interested in Eli's life, always wanted to include him. Parker cared deeply, and not just because he was James's brother. Parker had liked Eli in his own right as a friend and then, over the past couple of years, as something more. Eli would move home for that, even if there was nothing else.

But there was. Eli had Hazel and the potential to get to know Sam again. He had a whole damn town that was interested in his research, itching to help him with it, and wanting to see him succeed.

Eli also suspected that allowing himself to love this place would bring him closer to everyone he'd lost. His parents and grandparents had loved Moonlight Falls as much as Parker did. It could be a way to connect with them, even if they weren't here.

"We'd miss you if you left again," Hazel said, surprisingly genuine, before adding, "Plus, I'm not going to talk you out of it when you're just one more person to beat at pool."

Eli laughed.

James gave Hazel an exasperated look, then enveloped Eli in a hug. "I'm so happy," he whispered in Eli's ear.

"Me too," Eli whispered back.

Deciding to stay in Moonlight Falls gave him a settled feeling he hadn't known he'd longed for. Like he'd been restless or searching for something over the past five years and had finally found it. Maybe it was part of the town's magic. Maybe it was knowing he was surrounded by people who loved him. Either way, this place was home.

The End