Platonic My Ass - hizzie

NINE. late night conversations

HOPE'S POV

"Bye, Uncle Elijah!"

"Bye, Sweetheart, hope you love your gifts."

"Enjoy the remainder of your night, brother." Dad says with a content grin as he waves goodbye to Uncle Elijah who stayed later than usual.

It was nearing eleven o'clock and the ditzy man forgot he owned cats and had three hungry mouths to feed when he got home, which is an hour drive away. Uncle Elijah really is such a role model to look up to.

After I returned home from the airport, half of dad's family were already here and dishing out presents. They almost decided to open them without me but mom thankfully threw a shoe at Uncle Kol and scolded him to wait a few minutes.

And yes, that's a true story.

The day was filled with the usual gift giving and exchanging, a fancy lunch, and settling down sharing new stories and reminiscing about the past memories.

Mom peaks around the corner, rubbing at her tired eyes and pulling the fluffy robe tighter over her shoulders. "I thought he'd never leave."

Dad laughs softly, kicking the door shut behind us and flicking the lock across. "For a second, I thought so too."

"He had to feed his cats." I state, smiling at the thought. Uncle Elijah loved his fur babies and spoils them rotten, they never miss out on treats, even when they're misbehaving. Imagine the man with kids...

Mom snickers, making grabby hands at dad. Wow, who allowed my parents to be so cute. "Bed time." She says and the man is already rushing over.

I pretend to cough, "Whipped."

Mom glares at me over dad's shoulder as they embrace each other. Gross. "You would be the same with that girl... what's her name-"

"You mean Lizzie?"

"No I didn't, but cute to see you think about her." My mouth slacks open at her response and realise she tricked me using mind power.

"I-"

"Darling, your mother and I are going to bed. Goodnight." Dad cuts me off with a small cheeky grin.

Sure, going to bed is a new insinuation for sex.

I nod my head without saying a word and the two act like children as they sprint up the stairs and almost fall down them.

"Guess I'm sleeping down here tonight." I mutter to myself, shutting the lights off and grabbing a blanket from the floor. The same one Aunt Freya tossed at my face to shut me up. I teased the woman about not seeing her often because Keelin never lets her leave the bedroom.

I hurl my body onto the sofa and snuggle into the blanket, tucking the cold tip of my nose inside the warmth.

I was seconds from drifting off to sleep when my phone dings inside my pocket that I forgot was even in there. I fumble around for a second trying to reach it and pull it out with a quiet complaint.

My eyes form slits as I try to read the blurry text, and when I do my heart thumps loudly inside my chest and my vision clears completely.

UNKNOWN NUMBER| 11:02 pm

This will gladly help me sleep at night

- attached photo

Frowning at the unrecognisable contact, I hesitantly click on the attachment to enlarge it. My throat dries and my breathing fastens as I shamelessly ogle the picture. It's a selfie of Lizzie freaking Saltzman holding up something that belongs to me. My Polaroid picture of my exposed nipple.