Just a Matter of Time

Amara

I slipped into the kitchen, taking a deep breath as I closed the door behind me. The clatter of dishes and the hum of conversation from the dining room felt miles away. I leaned against the counter, trying to steady my emotions. Why did James have to bring up the wedding now? It's not like Eric and I hadn't been talking about it, but the pressure and his evasive answers always seemed to get under my skin.

The slick comments I made were meant to be subtle, but sometimes it felt like they were the only way to let off steam. As I took another calming breath, I heard the kitchen door creak open. I glanced up to see Elisha standing there, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity. "Mind if I join you?" Elisha asked, his voice gentle as he took a step inside. "I thought I'd check in. You seemed a bit... unsettled."

I gave a wry smile, trying to play it cool. "You noticed, huh? Well, it's hard to hide much when I'm practically fuming."

Elisha nodded, his gaze sympathetic. "Yeah, I could tell something was off. James' question seemed to hit a nerve." I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

"If you're going to ask me again what's wrong I won't tell you." I forced out as he nodded

Elisha leaned against the counter, giving me space while still showing he was there for support. "Im just checking in. Seems a lot has changed around here."

"Yeah well that's what happens when you're gone" I snapped said the sadness clear in my voice.

Before he could say anything, though, the kitchen door creaked open again. Eric stepped inside, his expression shifting from casual to cautious as soon as he saw Elisha.

He paused for a second too long, the faintest flicker of surprise crossing his face before he put on his usual charming smile. "There you are," he said, stepping forward as if he hadn't just walked in on something private.

His eyes flicked between Elisha and me, lingering a bit longer on Elisha, trying to gauge the situation. "I was wondering where you disappeared to."

I straightened up, trying to quickly mask the frustration that had been bubbling inside me. "Just needed a moment to breathe," I said, glancing at Elisha, who was still standing by the counter.

Eric chuckled, but it was a little too forced, a little too practiced. "Yeah, they do have a way of getting intense." His tone was light, but I could tell he was carefully navigating the conversation, trying to keep things smooth.

"I was actually just talking to your parents about how much I've been traveling. They're really curious about what's been keeping me away so much."

I raised an eyebrow, suppressing an eye roll. "Oh, I'm sure they are." Eric didn't seem to notice my sarcasm—or if he did, he was pretending not to. He turned to Elisha, giving him a quick, tight smile.

"Elisha, didn't expect to see you back so soon." Elisha, ever calm, shrugged with an easy smile.

"Yeah ,figured I'd come back, take all the attention." Eric blinked, his smile faltered for just a fraction of a second.

"Right. Well, good to have you here, man." There was an unspoken tension between them, subtle but unmistakable. Eric might've been smooth with his words, but I could tell he was recalculating, trying to figure out why Elisha was still here.

Elisha, completely unbothered, just leaned back casually, as if he hadn't noticed the shift in Eric's tone. "You know me. Always around to lend a hand when I can."

Eric's smile was tight. "Well, I appreciate that." There was a brief silence, heavy with everything unsaid. I could feel the tension rising, and I realized that hiding in the kitchen wasn't going to solve anything.

"Anyway," I said, cutting through the awkwardness, "we should probably get back out there before my parents send a search party."

Eric nodded, still looking a little uneasy, but trying to play it off. "Yeah, wouldn't want them thinking we've abandoned them." As I moved toward the door, Elisha caught my eye, giving me a subtle look as if to ask if I was okay.

As we walked back into the dining room, the hum of conversation filled the air. My parents were talking animatedly with James, and Eric, as usual, slipped right back into the mix without missing a beat.

He gave me a quick glance, then turned to the table, flashing that easy smile. "Sorry about being late again," Eric said, casually brushing it off as if it were no big deal. "You know, it's always tricky timing things right when Amara doesn't drive herself anywhere."

I froze. My stomach knotted at the comment, and I could feel the heat creeping up my neck. Why did he have to bring that up? The reason I didn't drive anymore was something I didn't like talking about—especially not in front of everyone.

I glanced at Elisha, who was sitting across the table, and saw the way his jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. He didn't say anything, but I could feel the tension radiating from him. He wasn't a fan of the comment either.

I forced a smile, trying to hide how uncomfortable I felt. "Well, I had a ride, didn't I?" I said, my voice tight but light enough that I hoped no one would dig any deeper.

Eric chuckled, oblivious—or maybe not. "Yeah, I guess you did. Lucky for you, huh?" The tension in the room spiked, and I could feel Elisha's eyes on me, protective in a way that made me grateful but also more uneasy.

My mind flashed back to that night in college—the screeching tires, the sickening crunch of metal, and the way everything had changed in an instant. It was the reason I never got behind the wheel again.

But Eric, of course, had never bothered to ask why. He just thought it was another quirk of mine. James, always the one to keep things going, chuckled along with Eric. "Yeah, lucky for you, Sis. Maybe one day you'll get back out on the road. You know Mom and Dad miss seeing you drive."

I bit my lip, swallowing the knot in my throat. "Maybe," I said quietly, not really meaning it. Elisha shifted in his seat, his eyes flicking from me to Eric, clearly irritated but keeping it in check. "Driving's not everything," he said, his tone sharp but controlled.

"Some people have better things to do with their time than sitting in traffic." Eric laughed lightly, sensing the shift but brushing past it.

"True, true. I mean, I don't mind being the chauffeur. Makes me feel useful, right?" I shot him a tight smile, wishing he'd just drop it. The way he made light of it felt like a jab, even if he didn't realize it.

The truth was, I wasn't ready to face those memories, and I hated that I had to navigate them in front of everyone like this. My mother chimed in, clearly missing the undercurrent of tension. "Oh, Eric, you're such a sweetheart. Always taking care of Amara. We're so grateful to have you in her life."

Eric, nodded slightly.

Elisha, though, remained quiet, watching everything unfold with that calm exterior of his, but I knew him well enough to know he was irritated.