Gravity | Embry. Call. |

Chapter Thirty Five

Gravity

Chapter Thirty Five

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            "Would you hurry up!" Paul's knuckles dramatically pounded against the bathroom door as Eli stood behind it finishing off her hair and makeup.

She rolled her eyes and unplugged the curling iron before swiftly pulling open the door and pushing passed him.

"Took you long enough." Paul huffed and stepped into the bathroom quickly. "I miss when you didn't care about your hair as much."

"And I miss when you're not talking." Eli shot back in a playful tone as she made her way down the hallway and towards the kitchen.

"Havh chi, Love Bug." Alex greeted her with a good morning from the kitchen table. He sipped on a cup of coffee and held the News paper in hand. "You look nice."

"You do too." She eyed her father closely and inspected the nice shirt and pants he wore. "I guess we're both feeling anxious today." She noted, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"When are we not." He gave a hearty chuckle and folded the news paper back up before placing it on the table. "It's Christmas Eve and your mother should be here any minute."

"I don't know how you managed to talk her into coming here for Christmas." Eli clicked her tongue, leaning back against the countertop.

"I have my ways," He grinned mischievously.

"Was your way offering to pay for her stay in the nice cabins?" She squinted at him.

"Maybe..."

"Better than going to Tacoma." Eli shook her head and sipped on the hot liquid. "Not after what happened last time."

"Especially not with what's happening right now." Alex agreed. "And I highly doubted that I could wrangle the two of you away from here for even a day."

"You'd have to catch me first." Paul suddenly appeared with dripping wet hair and half dressed.

"Do you even properly wash yourself? That was like two minutes." Eli's nose scrunched up at her brother.

"I have things to get done!" Paul nudged her away from the counter so he could fix himself his morning snack before breakfast.

"You don't have patrol until later." Eli noted.

"I'm spending today with Rachel's family and tomorrow here." He informed her.

"Then what do I do?" Eli whined out, turning to their father. "I cannot handle mom by myself! Once she finds out you're with Rachel's family, she'll never shut up about it!"

"We barely celebrate, I don't see what the big deal is." Paul grumbled through a mouthful of toast. "Dads alright with it."

"I am but your sister has a point. She'll see it as you picking them over us." Alex answered with a heavy sigh and ran his fingers through his hair. He clearly didn't think everything through until Eli mentioned how their mother would react.

"But I'm not!" Paul exclaimed in a huff.

"But she doesn't know that." Alex quickly responded. "And it's probably for the best if she doesn't know the truth."

"I guess... I could distract her for today?" Eli hesitantly offered. "I'm not sure with what though. Every time we do something together it ends in an argument."

"Or..." Alex held his hands up as an idea popped into his head. "We could all spend time together?"

"Dad–" Paul was about to plea his case before Alex stopped him.