Chapter 24

Liam

I love spending the holidays with my family. Mom has always made them special from going all out with decorating to making everyone"s favorite pie even if that means she needs to make four different ones. Also by enforcing her no phone policy so we can spend time face to face as a family. I've never minded that rule before, locking my phone away in my room and forgetting about it for the day was always nice, but this year is different. I wanted my phone on me just in case Emilia needs me or wants to talk. She surprised me when she said she was headed home for the holiday weekend, knowing she isn't close to her mom and hasn't seen her in nearly a year. I hate the idea of her being there alone, though it's probably safe, something in my gut feels off.

Through her texts this morning everything seemed okay but when she sent me that picture my heart broke a little. It seems like she's making dinner all on her own, I wonder if her mom will help her at all. My mom loves to cook but each of us help her in the kitchen at various points to make sure she isn"t overwhelmed and my stepdad always takes over the meat since mom hates cooking turkey. Growing up she made us all different types of recipes and when my sister Eliza had to completely change to a gluten free diet, mom took it upon herself to make every recipe safe for her. Now, our house is strictly gluten free so there's no risk of cross contamination or Eli getting sick.

I spend some time helping mom with the potatoes and rolling out the pie crusts until she sends me away and to the living room to hang with my siblings. Ryan's sitting on the recliner, watching the game on tv with Eliza on the couch, I ruffle her hair before plopping down next to her.

"How's school?"

"Fine." She pops a shoulder, barely tearing her attention from the game that I know she's not that interested in.

"Just fine?"

"I want to go to Watertown next year." She focuses her attention on me now, Ryan also looking over, his interest peaking. Ryan may not have been there the day Eli was born but ever since we all became a family he has taken the role of older, protective brother just as seriously as I have.

"Eli." I warn.

"I don't think mom would like that." Ryan shakes his head.

"I'm going to be twenty next semester. Two years past official adulthood. I think I can make my own decisions." She huffs, glaring daggers at both Ryan and I.

"I worry about you El."

"I'm fine. I know how to take care of myself. I can make all my own food."

Scrubbing my hands over my face, I nod. "You're right." It scares me picturing her in a dorm or a situation where she can't find access to safe food but she is an adult. She's also proven over the past two years how resilient she is and her ability to stand up for herself honestly amazes me.

"Then help me convince mom. I'm applying as a transfer student to go to Watertown in the fall, and you guys can help me." Her eyes change from daggers to pleading, basically puppy dog eyes that neither Ryan nor I have ever been able to say no to.

"Fine." Ryan says before turning his attention back to the tv.

"Okay." I relent. Eli jumps up, triumphantly.

"Yes! Thank you, thank you." She hugs me and Ryan before settling back into her space on the couch.

Thanksgiving dinner was delicious. We"ve always kept the holiday small just the five of us but it's our uninterrupted time to catch up and create new memories. After dinner, Ryan and I head into the kitchen to start the cleanup. I'm scrubbing the dishes that didn't fit in the dishwasher while Ryan dries and puts them away so mom can wake up to a spotless kitchen in the morning.

"So what's going on with you and Emilia?" He asks, wiping down one of the pie dishes.

"What do you mean?" I decide playing dumb is my best bet.

"Are you going to take the risk?"

"What risk?" Eli appears behind us handing me a stray plate.

"He has this huge crush on a girl named Emilia but doesn't want to risk their friendship." Ryan fills our sister in.

"Liam, oh my gosh, you have to ask her out. Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes." Eliza squeals.

"Tropes?"

"Yeah you know like in romance books and stuff."

"This isn't a book El. It's my life."

"So? Love exists in real life too Li. Do you think she likes him back?" She directs that last part at Ryan.

"I'm like seventy five percent sure she does." I hand him a dish to start drying. "There's just something about the way she looks at you."

"You have to tell her! I want to meet her. How cool would it be to have a sister-in-law?" My sister has always been a hopeless romantic.

"I want to." I sigh, turning my focus back to scrubbing one of the pans. "I don't want to ruin our friendship though and sister-in-law is a big jump Eli."

"You can't hide your feelings forever. You were miserable when she went out with James. If you act like that with every guy she dates, she's going to find out and it's going to ruin your friendship anyways. Might as well be honest with her."

Damn him for having good points. "When did you become so wise?"

After finishing up the dishes, I head upstairs to shower and get ready for movie night, another Thanksgiving tradition. We all breakout an old set of matching pajamas and get on the couch to watch Home Alone and start the Christmas season off right. Mom loves celebrating each holiday for as long as possible so Christmas starts before Thanksgiving even ends. Tomorrow, we'll put up the tree and decorate the rest of the house, turning it into a winter wonderland.

I hop in the shower quickly rinsing off the savory smells that feel like they've soaked into my hair and clothing. One of the best parts of movie night is eating the pies mom was making yesterday and earlier today, the apple pie she made for me is calling my name. Before heading back downstairs I pick my phone up from the nightstand to check if there's any missed texts. There's a few from the group chat with guys on the team, one from Vanessa that has me rolling my eyes, I don't know how she got my number and I only know it"s her because she signed it off with her name, but that's it. My heart sinks a little with no texts from Emilia in sight.

I mean I did tell her I couldn't talk today but I still had hoped to come back to my phone with at least one text from her. Maybe she's still enjoying time with her mom. Even if they don't have the best relationship I hope that maybe just for today it's a good one. I reassure myself that, that's why I haven't heard from her while pulling a sweatshirt over my head and going back downstairs, the scent of apples and cinnamon hard to resist.