HIS STUNNING 18+ (discontinued)

FOUR

4. trying and failing

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EDEN ABRELL

The warmth hit my cheek causing my eyes to flutter open. The light golden rays shone in slits around the room. Sitting up, I rested my head against the headboard and smiled.

This is what I needed. The quiet. No stress. Just time for me and my family.

No feelings.

A soft knock on my door caught my attention, "Come in."

Levi and Leo poked their heads through the door. I smiled and waved my hand, ushering them to come inside.

"Hey cousin," Leo said quietly while he and Levi made their way to my bed, laying on either side of me.

"So," Leo started once they've made themselves comfortable. "You catch some feelings for the guy who was here yesterday," Levi stated. No judgement. Just curiosity.

I smiled weakly and sighed, "Yeah. Unfortunately."

"What do you mean unfortunately?" Levi said, shaking me. "This guy could be your soulmate."

"Yeah, this could be your epic love," Leo said as he took his shot at shaking me along with Levi.

"I'm not going to ruin my best friends family for some 'epic love' you think me and this guy have," I said before giggling from all the shaking. "Guys, fucking stop it. I'm not a fucking yo-yo."

Levi and Leo scoffed dramatically, "Maybe not to other people."

Levi laughed and stopped shaking me before turning serious, "But seriously, Ennie." He paused so Leo could speak.

"How long have you had these feelings?" Leo said when he got the chance.

I looked down, fiddling with my fingers in my lap and mumbled, "A little over a year."

Levi and Leo each wrapped an arm around me before speaking in turn. Levi first, "Well baby, these feelings aren't just going to go away."

"It's going to take time," Leo concluded.

"I know," Sighing, I ran my hands through my hair. "I'll do whatever it takes to get rid of them."

"Well, we're gonna go have breakfast so get your cute little ass ready and come downstairs," Levi said, bringing a lighter mood around us.

They both got up, kissed me on the cheek and walked out my door.

I hopped up, walking over to my dresser. I took out a white shirt with thin black stripes and a knot tied at the front, black leggings and a matching set of black bra and underwear, setting it down on my bed. I walked over to my vanity and grabbed my toiletry bag before walking outside into the upstairs hallway, closing my bedroom door behind me. I walked to the linen closet and took out a towel, closing the door afterwards.

I walked into the bathroom and placed my toiletry bag on the sink in the bathroom. I took off the pyjamas I wore before stepping into the shower. I turned on the hot water first and waited for the shower to steam up before I turned on the cold water. Once the water was not too hot but hot enough, I stepped under the water. The hot temperature of the water was like needles pricking into my skin and I loved it. It's like a form of punishment for having these feelings for Gracie's married father.

I sighed.

Horrible. Selfish. Don't think about it.

I finish the rest of my shower, shaving my legs and washing my hair as well.

I rubbed the towel over my body, soaking up any water still there. I put on my undergarments, following with a pair of black leggings and a navy green t-shirt. Stepping over to my vanity, I took out some white ankle socks and slide them on each of my feet before lacing up my black vans.

I wrapped my towel around my hair and dragged it down, soaking up as much moisture as possible. I took a black hair tie and bent over, tugging my hair forward and gathering up the strands of my hair to pull it into a messy bun. After spritzing some perfume and deodorant on my clothes and areas of exposed skin, I placed my towel on the door hook and made my way out.

When I enter the dining room down stairs, I saw my uncle sitting at the table. "Hey, Henry," I said to him.

"Hey, diamond. How are you this morning?" He asked, taking a sip of his coffee.

I smiled at his nickname for me, "I'm better. I think this is just what I needed. Time away with my family." As I was talking my aunt and cousins came in and sat with us.

"Here you go," Leo muttered, handing me a cup of tea.

"Thank you," I smiled gratefully.

"That's good," My uncle humoured, grinning like a motherfucker. Which, I guess, he is. My eyes shift to Ivana as I smirk to myself.

I thought he was finished talking but a moment later he surprised me with what he said next. "So are we going to talk about how your best friends father was secretly fawning over you?"

My cheeks heated up and I sunk down into my chair. I took a sip of my coffee to try and hide my embarrassment.

"Henry! He was not secretly fawning over Eden," Aunt Ivana chastised and I was about to thank her before she continued talking, "He was trying and failing to secretly fawn over Eden."

I groaned, my cheeks turning bright pink. This is so embarrassing. I took another drink of the tea in my cup and shook my head.

Leo laughed and bit some of his toast, "Poor guy, I don't think he even knew he kept staring at her during dinner."

I stole a piece of Leo's toast and took a bite. Leo looked at me and shrugged his shoulders.

Mine now.

Aunt Ivana's eyes lit up, "Oh! Last night I was eavesdropping and I overheard him and Eden talking outside." She paused, basking in the attention that everyone but me is giving her. I took another bite of my toast as she continued speaking. "He asked if she had boy trouble and Eden said 'no, Gracie was being ridiculous and she knows it, it's a ridiculous assumption' and then he looked at her and said 'it's not a ridiculous assumption, Eden'. And then they just stared at each other. It was amazing. Adorable. Subtly telling her he thought she was beautiful. He probably didn't even realise it."

"Your friend's dad," Levi paused and shook his head, looking at me. Leo smirked, finishing his twin's sentence, "is a smooth motherfucker."

I let out a closed laugh and smiled, drinking more of my hot tea.

He sure was.

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more here.

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What do you think about the rest of her family now that they've been introduced a little bit more?