One Week Later
“Crap, I forgot my toothbrush again,” I groaned as I closed the medicine cabinet.
Eli popped his head into the bathroom. “You know, forgetting basic things like a toothbrush and a change of clothes could be easily avoided if you just moved in with me.”
He walked in and planted a kiss on top of my head. “Or it could be avoided if I just bought a second toothbrush to leave here.”
He stroked his chin and pretended to think about it. “I like that solution a lot less.”
Eli had been joking about me moving in pretty much ever since that first night I’d spent at his townhouse a week ago. While I appreciated that he wanted me around, that step felt a bit premature.
“I told you, it’s way too soon to be talking like that,” I insisted, brushing past him and entering the massive walk-in closet off his bedroom. He’d completely cleared a side for me and I’d brought over a few outfits to make our almost-nightly sleepovers more logistically sound. “Although, this closet space is tempting.”
“And I told you, we met on reality TV. Our relationship is already a completely different ballgame,” he called from the bathroom. “Should I shave? I don’t want your mom to think I’m a scrub.”
I smiled as I pulled on an old sweater. Today was the day Eli was going to finally meet my mom. We were headed to her place for dinner, and it was absolutely adorable how nervous he was. He was also nervous to face Piper again after everything that had gone down. I’d assured him that they might give him a hard time, but they would likely favor him over me soon enough.
“You look fine, don’t worry about it. We have to go soon, anyway.”
“Fine,” Eli said walking into the closet. “At least help me decide what to wear—” He paused as he took in a poster I’d hung on my side of the closet. “What the hell is that?” he asked, pointing at it.
I grinned. “What? You don’t like it?”
He took in the poster of himself at sixteen. Now that we were back together, I had, of course, done some extensive research on his old movies. When I found out he’d been a bit of a teen heartthrob back in the day, I’d really had no choice but to purchase this poster of him with highlighted, straightened hair, pouting at the camera.
“I look ridiculous.”
“Will you autograph it for me?” I asked sweetly.
Eli shot me a look before reaching to tear down the poster, but I stepped in his way. “Hey! Leave my artwork alone.”
He dragged a hand across his face. “Where did you even find that?”
“I found it on eBay. ”
He looked at me incredulously. “You paid for that?”
“Best twenty dollars I ever spent.”
“Only twenty?” he pressed his hand to his heart. “Ouch. Guess my heyday really has passed.”
“I’ll never forget it.” I grinned up at him.
“I’m definitely shredding that as soon as you aren’t looking.”
“Don’t worry, I have more on the way,” I said. “It was hard to pick a favorite, so I just ordered as many as I could find.”
Eli’s eyes twinkled. “Oh, you think you’re funny or something?”
I squealed as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to the bed, pinning me beneath him. As I writhed beneath him, he demanded I cancel any further embarrassing orders. When I refused, he continued to tickle me until my sides ached from laughter.
When I was finally able to breathe again, and Eli looked down at me lovingly, I realized that us being together wasn’t everything I had hoped.
It was already more.
“Nice to see you again. Thought I’d never have the pleasure after you shattered my sister’s heart,” Piper said sweetly as she greeted us at the door.
Eli looked between the two of us, panicked. “I-uh...I?—”
“Relax, she’s joking,” I said, wrapping my arm around him and squeezing his waist. “Right, Piper?”
“Totally,” she said, not dropping her devilish smile.
I knew that she had completely forgiven Eli and was happy for the two of us. But I also knew she intended to give him a hard time for as long as it continued to ruffle his feathers.
Not that long ago, a joke about him shattering my heart would have sent me spiraling. But now? Now it hardly registered. Even though we had only been back together for a week, everything felt right.
“Eli, welcome.” My mom came bursting out of the kitchen and greeted Eli with a warm hug. “It’s so wonderful to finally meet you.”
“You too,” Eli said, handing her the flowers he’d carefully picked out. “These are for you.”
“Beautiful,” she breathed them in. “Piper, please go put these in some water, and please be nicer to Eli.”
Piper rolled her eyes. “We’ll see.”
My mom gestured for us to sit down. “You have to tell me all about your movie. It sounds amazing.”
My heart filled with warmth as I watched Eli and my mom talk animatedly about his film. Eli took such pride in what he was doing, and my mom was so genuinely interested in getting to know him. Even Piper joined in the conversation after she came back into the room, unable to hide her interest.
My favorite people, all in the same room.
The roller coaster of emotions I had been on ever since I’d arrived on the set of Tough Love had finally evened out. From grief, to fear, to thinking I’d found my person, to having my heart broken, to realizing that Eli actually did love me. I wouldn’t miss the highs and lows, but I was eternally grateful they had pulled me from my apathetic state.
Eli easily took my hand in his before resuming his conversation with my mother.
I sat there, just taking it in. This life was all mine. It might not look how I had expected, but it meant everything to me.
And it was just getting started.