Maybe One Day

20: Born Irresistible

Late the next morning, I wake up completely disoriented. "Wha...?" I sit up in bed and rub my eyes groggily. I yawn and stretch my arms up, then sit there trying to remember the weird dream I had.

Eventually I make my way downstairs, mumbling a good-morning to my mother in the kitchen. "I had a crazy dream," I comment without looking up as I start making a pot of coffee. "Eli was in it," I quickly look down to hide the involuntary blush forming on my cheeks.

Realizing she hadn't said anything yet, I glance up suspiciously. She's sitting on her chair with one leg tucked under the other, trying but not succeeding to hide a smile with her coffee cup.

"What?" I ask, slightly irritated and confused.

"What was your dream about?" she asks calmly.

"Well," I say slowly and suspiciously. "I was in the woods, really upset for some reason, and I was running but not really getting anywhere and I turned around and Eli was there and I-" I stop again. She stopped trying to hide her smile and just let it shine. "WHAT?" I ask, exasperated.

"Maybe it wasn't a dream, honey." She glances behind me, causing me to whirl around in confusion.

My eyes bug out slightly when the tall boy with dark hair says, "Hey." Eli stands, hands in his pockets, a boyish grin creeping onto his face. 

"Well, look who decided to come back," I tease, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Ouch, Liv, I thought I'd get a slightly warmer welcome since the love of your life came back," he puts his hand over his chest dramatically.

"Oh did he? Where is he?" I mock.

"You seemed to have a slightly different reaction last night when you were sobbing in my arms," his eyes twinkle with amusement.

Suddenly, all the events of last night come flooding back in a cascade of memories. I whirl around, and yell, "Mom! Noah! He- is he-"

She laughs. "He's fine, he's upstairs resting, but honey -" she tries to stop me but I'm already bolting up the stairs.

"Noah?" I burst into the room, causing him to jump in bed. I walk over and kneel at the side of his bed. "Noah, I'm so sorry, buddy, I don't know what happened, I just, I got mad and, will you, forgive me?" I plead.

His face is stoic for a minute, as if deciding what his answer should be. Then he breaks out into a grin and throws his arm around me. I pull him off the bed onto my lap and he giggles with glee.

"How's your head?" I ask.

"Better. I have a head wrap, see?" He points to the medical tape wrapping all the way around his head.

"Yes, very stylish," I add.

Eli and my mother then take that moment to stand in the doorway, watching us.

"Feeling better?" my mom asks, coming toward him.

"Where's daddy?" he asks immediately.

Slightly hurt, she answers, "He's at work, sweetie. So it's just me, Livie, and Kendall."

Suddenly he notices Eli and screeches, "Eli! That means Kyla's home! I have to see her!" he leaps up out of my lap as I fight to bring him back down. "Let - me- go!" he says, struggling against me.

"Noah, just hold on a minute. We'll get her for you," my mom says reassuringly.

"No! I - want - to - see - her - now!" He smacks my hand with all his might.

"Noah!" I say, horrified.

"Get out, Olivia," my mother commands, wrapping her arms around her son. "Go!" she says again when I haven't budged.