Chapter 22

I trudged downstairs, still half-asleep, rubbing at my eyes as I made my way into the kitchen. My stomach felt weird probably from the thought of tonight. I still wasn't thrilled about meeting Elijah's girlfriend, and honestly, I wasn't sure if I ever would be.

As I stepped into the kitchen, I heard Easton and Elijah talking quietly at the table.

"—so they're coming back for Christmas?" Easton was saying, his arms crossed as he leaned against the counter.

Elijah sighed. "Yeah. They're hosting a company party here. Apparently, they want it to be a big thing since they're announcing their retirement."

I stopped mid-step.

Our parents? Here?

I frowned. They were never home. Business trips, meetings, clients—there was always something keeping them away. The last time they'd been in the house for more than a few days was... I didn't even remember.

Easton ran a hand through his hair. "And they're officially handing the company over to you and Oscar?"

Elijah nodded. "In a year."

I suddenly felt even less awake than before.

Our parents were coming back? For Christmas? To make some big retirement announcement? And Elijah and Oscar were taking over?

Before I could even think of something to say, I yawned.

Both Elijah and Easton looked up.

Elijah smiled. "Morning, Bunny."

Without thinking, I walked over and plopped down onto his lap, curling up against him.

Elijah chuckled but wrapped an arm around me, leaning back in his chair. "Still tired?"

I hummed a response and shut my eyes, letting my head rest against his shoulder. He was warm, and I was not ready to start the day yet.

I could feel Easton watching us. "You know, you're way too old to be sitting in people's laps like that."

I cracked one eye open to glare at him. "Shut up."

Easton snorted. "Fine, whatever. Anyway, we're going shopping today. You coming?"

That woke me up.

I groaned and pushed my face into Elijah's shoulder. "Nope."

Easton sighed. "Come on. You could use some new stuff."

"I hate shopping," I muttered. "And crowds. And people. And I'm in a bad mood."

I didn't mention why I was in a bad mood, but I saw the way Elijah glanced down at me knowingly.

"You don't have to come," he said, squeezing my shoulder lightly. "But we do need to get you something nice for dinner tonight."

I frowned but didn't say anything.

I didn't want to go shopping. And I definitely didn't want to meet her.

Before anyone could say anything else, the twins came barreling down the stairs, already bickering.

"Alex, you stole my shirt!" Miles complained.

Alex scoffed. "It's our shirt, idiot. We share clothes."

"That's not how it works—"

"Good morning to you too," Easton said dryly.

Alex ignored him, plopping down at the table while Miles practically threw himself into a chair across from him.

Elijah sighed. "Where's Henry?"

"Still sleeping," Alex answered, shoving a piece of toast into his mouth.

Elijah shook his head. "He's worse than Adrian."

I scowled. "Hey."

Elijah ignored me. "Anyway, listen up. We're going clothes shopping today."

Both twins groaned in unison.

"Why?" Miles whined.

Alex frowned. "We have clothes."

Elijah smirked. "Not ones that are fancy enough for tonight."

The twins immediately perked up.

"Wait—fancy?" Miles asked suspiciously.

Miles narrowed his eyes. "What kind of fancy?"

Elijah grinned. "We're going to a nice restaurant."

The twins groaned again, louder this time.

Easton just rolled his eyes. "It's one dinner. You'll survive."

"Will we, though?" Alex muttered.

I stayed quiet, staring down at my hands. I already knew I wasn't going to enjoy tonight.

But I'd promised Elijah I'd behave.

I just wasn't sure if I actually could.

Elijah sighed and pushed his chair back. "Alright, I'm going to wake up Henry."

"Good luck," Easton muttered. "He sleeps like the dead."

"Yeah, you might have to dump water on him," Miles added with a smirk.

Alex snickered. "Or set off the fire alarm."

Elijah rolled his eyes and walked out of the kitchen. The second he was gone, the twins turned on each other again.

"I still don't get why you took my shirt," Miles grumbled.

Alex shot him an exasperated look. "Our shirt."

Miles threw his hands in the air. "We do not share everything, Alex!"

Alex scoffed. "Uh, yes, we do. That's the whole point of being a twin."

I snorted. "Pretty sure that's not the definition of being a twin."

Miles pointed at me. "See? Adrian gets it."

Alex ignored him. "It looked better on me anyway."

Miles gasped, utterly offended. "Excuse me?"

Easton groaned. "Can you two shut up for one minute?"

The twins just smirked at each other, then said, in perfect unison, "No."

Easton muttered something under his breath and shoved the last bite of toast into his mouth.

I just sat there, half-listening, half-dreading tonight.

Elijah's girlfriend. Fancy dinner. Forced socializing.

Yeah. Great.

I picked at my food, not really hungry, but forcing myself to at least take a few bites. The last thing I needed was for my brothers to start hovering.

A few minutes later, heavy footsteps echoed from upstairs, followed by Henry's annoyed voice.

"Elijah, what the hell—"

We all turned toward the kitchen doorway just in time to see Henry stomp down the stairs, his hair a complete mess, looking extremely unimpressed.

"What time is it?" he grumbled, rubbing his eyes.

Elijah followed behind him, smirking. "Time to wake up."

Henry glared. "You're so annoying."

Elijah just ruffled his hair, making it look even worse.

Henry swatted his hand away. "What's so important that you had to drag me out of bed?"

"We're going out for dinner tonight," Elijah said simply. "And we need to get ready."

Henry blinked. "...So you woke me up early for that?"

"Yep."

Henry groaned dramatically and flopped onto the couch. "Wake me up in five hours."

Easton snorted. "Yeah, not happening."

Elijah clapped his hands together. "Alright, everyone finish eating, then go get ready. We're leaving soon."

The twins groaned again, but they got up anyway. Miles shoved the last of his toast into his mouth while Alex tried to steal his juice.

"I swear, Alex—"

Alex grinned. "Sharing, remember?"

"You're so dead—"

I sighed and pushed away my plate. "I'm going to change."

Elijah watched me carefully but didn't say anything.

I knew he could tell I wasn't thrilled about tonight.

But I had promised I'd behave.

Even if I wasn't sure how long I could keep that promise.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Getting five brothers out the door was a nightmare.

"Elijah, tell Adrian to hurry up!" Henry groaned, dramatically throwing himself onto the couch. "At this rate, we'll be shopping for funeral suits because I'll have died of old age before we even leave."

"I heard that!" I shouted from upstairs. "I'm coming!"

"You've been saying that for fifteen minutes," Miles called back.

Alex snickered. "Pretty sure we could've walked to the mall by now."

"I will leave you both behind," Elijah warned, rubbing his temples.

Easton, who had been patiently sipping his coffee in the kitchen, finally sighed. "Adrian, if you don't come down in the next ten seconds, I'm carrying you to the car in whatever you're wearing."

I groaned but finally stomped downstairs, hoodie slightly rumpled and hair still a mess. "I was fixing my hair."

Henry looked unimpressed. "Dude. You literally look exactly the same."

I flipped him off.

Elijah jingled the car keys. "Alright, let's go before one of you kills the other."

The twins immediately turned to each other.

Miles smirked. "Race you to the car."

Alex grinned. "You're on."

Before Elijah could even protest, they bolted out the door.

Henry sighed, muttering, "Idiots." But he wasn't far behind, jogging after them.

We finally made it outside, where the twins were already bickering over who got to sit in the front seat.

"I won the race," Miles argued, gripping the car door handle.

"Barely," Alex shot back. "And you cheated!"

Henry rolled his eyes and pushed past them. "Neither of you get shotgun. Move."

Elijah sighed. "Me and Easton get shotgun as we are the oldest and I'm driving."

Henry didn't argue, but the twins continued to shove at each other all the way into the backseat.

I climbed in next to Henry, who gave me a knowing look. "Don't act like you didn't take forever on purpose."

I slouched down. "Maybe."

Elijah finally started the car. "Alright, we're splitting up once we get there. Miles, Alex, and Henry, you guys are on your own. Easton and I are making sure Adrian actually picks something decent."

Henry smirked. "So... babysitting him."

I groaned. "I hate all of you."

The car finally pulled out of the driveway, the twins still bickering as we drove toward the mall.

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Word count: 1412

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*EMMA HETHRON*