Feel Pretty

twenty eight (Eli)

The day after Odell's birthday felt strangely serene, like the calm after a storm. But I knew that beneath the surface, something had shifted between us. It was in the way he looked at me, the way his gaze lingered just a second longer than before, and the way my heart raced whenever he was near.

I couldn't deny it anymore—I was falling for Odell.

And it wasn't just some fleeting crush. It was something deeper, something that had been growing for a long time, only now becoming impossible to ignore. Every time I saw him, I felt a pull, a magnetic force that made me want to be closer to him, to protect him, to make him smile in a way that lit up my entire world.

But I also knew how fragile he was, especially now. He was still grieving, still carrying the weight of Diana's loss on his shoulders. I couldn't just blurt out how I felt. I needed to be careful, to make sure that whatever was happening between us didn't break him further.

As I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, I thought about everything that had happened yesterday—how beautiful he looked in those clothes, how his blush made my heart skip a beat, and how much I wanted to just hold him and tell him that everything would be okay.

But I didn't. I couldn't. Not yet.

Instead, I decided to take things slow, to let him set the pace. If he was ready to open up to me, to explore whatever this was between us, then I'd be there, waiting with open arms. But if he needed time, I'd give him that too.

"Eli?" Everly's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah?" I called back, sitting up as she entered the room.

She closed the door behind her and gave me a knowing look. "So, what's the plan?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Plan?"

She rolled her eyes. "Don't play dumb. I saw the way you were looking at Odell yesterday. And don't even get me started on that whispering bit. You're smitten."

I felt my cheeks heat up, but I didn't deny it. "I... yeah, I guess I am."

"So, what are you going to do about it?" she asked, crossing her arms as she leaned against the door.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't know, Everly. I want to tell him how I feel, but I'm scared it'll mess things up, especially with everything he's been through."

Everly's expression softened. "I get it, but you also have to think about what's best for both of you. If you keep hiding your feelings, it might make things even more confusing for him—and for you."

"I know," I admitted. "But what if he's not ready? What if he's not feeling the same way?"

Everly smiled gently. "From what I've seen, there's definitely something there. Maybe he's not ready to admit it yet, but I think you should give him the chance to figure it out."

I nodded slowly, considering her words. "So, you think I should talk to him?"

"Yeah," she said, her voice firm but kind. "Not right away, but when the moment feels right. You don't have to pour your heart out all at once, just... let him know that you're there for him, that you care about him more than just as a friend."

I took a deep breath, trying to steady the nervous flutter in my stomach. "Okay. I'll try."

"Good," she said, grinning as she pushed off from the door. "Now, come on. Mom's making breakfast, and you know she'll be pissed if you skip it."

I chuckled, feeling a bit lighter after our conversation. "Yeah, wouldn't want to get on her bad side."

As we headed downstairs, I couldn't help but think about what Everly had said. Maybe she was right. Maybe it was time to take that first step, to let Odell know that I was there for him, no matter what.