Chapter 25- Ellie #2
Oliver nods, mouth full, and I laugh.
I reach into the bag and pull out a small dog treat I always keep in there. Moony’s eyes widen like she’s just witnessed a miracle.
“Here, baby,” I whisper, giving it to her.
She takes it gently, then trots to her favorite spot by the couch, circles twice, and plops down with a dramatic sigh — like she’s settling in for the night.
Dad watches her with a smile. “She’s got the right idea.”
Oliver leans back, stretching his legs out, looking more relaxed than I’ve seen him in days. His knee brushes mine under the table, and neither of us moves away.
The room feels warm.
Safe.
Full.
Dad eats quietly, humming under his breath. Oliver steals one of my fries. I pretend to glare at him, but he just grins, and my heart does that fluttery thing again.
For a moment, it feels like this is our normal.
Like this is what life could look like.
The three of us.
Dinner.
Laughter.
Moony snoring softly on the floor.
By the time we’re all done eating, the living room looks like a battlefield of empty wrappers and crumpled napkins. Dad leans back in his chair, rubbing his eyes with the heel of his hand.
“Alright,” he sighs, “I’m officially done for the night. I’m going to bed before I fall asleep right here.”
I smile. “Goodnight, Dad.”
He stands, stretching his back with a groan. Then he looks at Oliver.
“You don’t have to rush out,” he says warmly. “Stay as long as you want.”
Oliver nods, grateful. “Thank you, sir.”
Dad gives us both a tired smile before heading down the hallway to his room. His door clicks shut, and suddenly the house feels quieter — softer — like the night is ours.
Oliver and I look at the mess around us, then at each other.
“We should probably clean this up,” I say.
“Yeah,” he laughs. “Before your dad wakes up and thinks we threw a party.”
We start gathering wrappers, stacking cups, wiping the table. It’s simple, easy, domestic — the kind of thing couples do without thinking. Oliver rinses the cups in the sink while I wipe down the counter. Moony follows us around like a tiny supervisor, tail swishing lazily.
When everything is clean, Oliver turns off the kitchen light, and the house settles into a warm, peaceful quiet.
“Wanna go to my room?” I ask softly.
He nods. “Yeah.”
We walk down the hallway together, Moony trotting behind us before curling up in her little bed by my door. I push it open, and the familiar comfort of my room wraps around us — soft lights, warm blankets, the faint smell of caramel apple from my candle.
Oliver sits on the edge of my bed, and I sit beside him, our knees touching.
“So…” he says, eyes bright, “we’re really going in two days.”
I grin. “I know. I can’t believe it.”
We walk down the hallway together, Moony trotting behind us before curling up in her little bed by my door. I push it open, and the familiar comfort of my room wraps around us — soft lights, warm blankets, the faint smell of vanilla from my candle.
Oliver sits on the edge of my bed, and I sit beside him, our knees touching.
“So…” he says, eyes bright, “we’re really going in two days.”
I grin. “I know. I can’t believe it.”
Something special.
Something new.
Something ours.
After we finish talking about the trip, the room settles into a soft, sleepy quiet. The kind that makes you want to stay exactly where you are forever. Oliver stretches a little, glancing at the clock on my nightstand.
“I should probably head out,” he says gently, though his voice sounds like he doesn’t really want to.
“Yeah,” I whisper, even though I don’t want him to either.
We stand, and Moony lifts her head, watching us with sleepy eyes as we walk toward the front door. The hallway is dim, the house peaceful, Dad already asleep in his room. It feels like the whole world has gone quiet just for us.
I open the door, and the cool night air rushes in. Oliver steps out onto the porch, then turns back to me with that soft smile — the one that makes my heart feel warm and full.
“Two days,” he says, voice low. “And then we’re off to Starlace Hollow.”
I grin. “Two days.”
He looks at me for a long moment, like he’s memorizing my face in the porch light. His hand lifts, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear in the gentlest way. My breath catches.
“Goodnight, my beautiful,” he murmurs.
“Goodnight, my handsome.”
He hesitates — just a second — like he’s debating leaning in. But instead, he gives me that soft, warm smile again, the one that says everything without needing words.
Then he walks down the steps, hands in his pockets, Moony trotting beside him until she realizes she’s supposed to stay and runs back to me. I watch him get into his car, the headlights sweeping across the driveway.
He waves once before pulling away.
I stand there for a moment, hugging myself against the cool air, my heart still fluttering from the night — from the laughter, the almost-kiss, the plans, the warmth of having him here.
Two days.
Just two days until our first trip together.
I close the door softly behind me, smiling to myself as I head to my room, already imagining the stars at Starlace Hollow… and Oliver beside me.