Welcome To Hawkins

15

"I am so sorry--" the words escape me in a hurried breath the moment we're out of earshot from my family.

Eddie doesn't say anything, chuckling as he makes his way to the driver's side door. The clicking of the key turning in the lock interrupts the quiet as Eddie pops the trunk. He comes into view again, leaning his arm on the car's roof.

"It's no problem, (y/n). I promise I found it funny, honestly. Gam Gam's a straightforward kind of lady. I like that."

"Still!" I can't help my eyes from dropping to my feet. He's not upset over my grandmother's prying, but that doesn't ease my mortification. "I really didn't expect her to-- to--" My hands come up to cover my face.

"Get right to the point?" He's still grinning like this whole thing is a hilarious joke.

"Yeah, exactly," I say, wiping my hands on my dress, "I'm honestly surprised you haven't run off into the horizon screaming."

Eddie shrugs, walking around to the trunk, "It comes with the territory of old people."

I can't get over how... chill, he's being over this. The moment she asked about babies and rings and-- all of that, I'd half expected him to word vomit the truth out to my grandma and ruin the elaborate web of lies.

"How are you just-- I mean, I'm frazzled."

His grin only widens, "I can tell."

"You're really not-- it didn't upset you?"

"Nah. If we have to get fake-married to keep up this ruse, I won't be too upset. Besides, if we did get fake-married, then Gam Gam would get her great-grandbabies, and then she'd like me even more." He's teasing, I know it, but my insides still do a flip-flop over the words.

"Oh." My laugh comes out strangled as he yanks the car trunk open, pulling the blue and white cooler out.

He drops the cooler to the ground, glancing over at me, "Is something wrong, (y/n)?"

"Oh, no. Nothing's wrong."

Eddie frowns, "No, something's wrong. You're acting all weird--"

I hold up my hands in mock surrender to the conversation, "I already told you I'm frazzled."

He snorts, "Yeah, you could say that. Really, you don't have to worry about it. I'm-- playing along with it." He leans down to pick the cooler off the ground, "How did your dad even miss this cooler?"

I shrug, happy to drop the previous topic of conversation, "Probably expected you to get it."

He chuckles, "I'm doing really great with your dad, aren't I?"

"He's a lot less scary than he's making himself appear."

"Well, he must be trying to be extra cold with me then," Eddie readjusts the cooler in his arms, "He'll be really thrilled when I fake propose."

"No one is fake proposing, Edward."

"You can't stop this fake love, (y/n). If I want to fake propose, I'll fake propose," He leans closer, "You'd fake accept, wouldn't you? Be my fake wife?"

"You're such a dumbass," I roll my eyes, a small smile on my lips.

"A dumbass that you fake love," he says in a sing-song-y voice.

I lightly shove him in the shoulder, trying not to smile, "C'mon, you're being slow."

"Kiss for good luck?" He leans over.

"Absolutely not," I turn on my heel, heading towards the gate.

Eddie follows behind a few steps, the sound of the ice shaking in the cooler the only indication. Politely, I hold the gate open for him.

"Thank you, baby," he says sweetly.

I open my mouth, ready to say something snarky back to him, when the familiar screeching and hollering begins.

"(y/n)!" The eldest of my little cousins comes barreling towards me, her two younger siblings running to catch up.

Sandy, aged twelve, wraps her arms around me, talking rapidly and incomprehensibly about something as the other two try to weasel their way into the tight hug.

"Sandra, I can't understand a word you're saying," I try to pry the three off of me to get a better look at them.

"It's not my fault you've been gone for a year and missed everything!" She pouts, shoving her head back against my sternum. The other two pout in solidarity with their sister.

I laugh, "It's been less than a year, squirt."

Eddie chooses this moment to step behind me. All three kids blink up at him, apprehension silencing their chattiness. I can't help but laugh over their sudden timidness.

"What's wrong?" I tease, pretending to not notice Eddie's presence.

"Who's that?" Aaron, the second eldest, whispers.

"Uh-- I'm Eddie," Eddie waves at the three children, who try to hide behind my body, taking turns to glance at him.

"Are you (y/n)'s husband?" Sandy asks, peeking at him from behind my body.

"Sandra," I shake my head, "boyfriend. We're not married."

"Yet," Eddie leans in to press a kiss to my cheek. The kids all detach themselves from me, making fake gagging noises. The youngest, Ben, takes the largest step away as if he's afraid he'll catch whatever this disease is.

"Oh, c'mon. This is natural, kids!" Eddie pulls me into his arms.

I turn my face, laughing as the gagging sounds start up again, "Edward!" He lands a kiss on my lips this time. Ben runs away, screeching unintelligibly.

Eddie chuckles, "They're quite the audience."

"Aren't they?" I turn towards him.

Sandra tugs on the back of my dress, "(y/n), come watch me do my gymnastics."

"Gymnastics?" Eddie asks with a tilt of his head.

"Yeah! I can do a roundoff now!" Sandra says with an excited bounce on her heels.

"I don't believe you," Eddie teases.

Sandra falls for it instantly, her brow screwing up in annoyance, "Can too!"

Eddie crosses his arms, "Go on then. Prove it."

I catch her arm before she can roundoff right into Uncle Jerry, "How about you prove it somewhere people aren't standing, Sandra."

She nods, walking towards an open patch of grass. We're about to follow her when Gam Gam's voice rings across the lawn. "(y/n), dear, come help me with my salad," Gam Gam calls through the screen door.

"One second, Gam Gam!" I yell back. Turning towards Eddie, I give him a sympathetic look, "You'll be fine with these--"

"Hooligans? Yes, I'll be fine."

"Hurry up, guys!" Sandy yells impatiently.

"One second, Sandy."

Smiling reassuringly, I squeeze his arm, hoping it conveys strength to get through this afternoon, though I know he's enjoying what's happened so far. Especially the crazy grandmother and the excitable children. "Okay, I'll be back soon."

"I'm counting the seconds," he says with a chuckle.