Elijah doesn’t rush me.
We stand there for a moment, holding each other in silence—just the soft hum of the house around us. Then, with one last kiss to my forehead, he laces our fingers together and gently guides me toward the door.
The hallway is quiet as we make our way to the stairs, but as we get closer to the main living area, I can hear faint voices—familiar ones.
Laughter.
It’s not loud or careless. It’s soft, careful—like they’re trying to stay light for my sake.
I stop at the top of the stairs, and Elijah feels it immediately. He turns to me, his expression calm but attentive.
“You sure?” he asks softly.
I nod, even though my stomach is tight. “Yeah… just give me a second.”
He waits patiently while I gather myself. One deep breath.
Then another. And then we descend together, hand in hand.
As soon as we step into view, the conversation below stops.
Mia is the first to react—her eyes fill with tears, and she rushes toward me without hesitation. I let go of Elijah’s hand long enough to fall into hers.
“Oh my God, Ava,” she breathes out, hugging me tightly.
“I was so scared. I'm so happy you’re home now.”
“I’m here,” I whisper, my voice cracking. “I’m okay.”
Sophia is next, her arms wrapping around both of us. The warmth of them grounds me. I didn’t realize how much I missed the safety of this—of them—until I was back in it.
Elijah steps back slightly, giving me space, but I can still feel his presence like a shield at my back. He won’t go far. Not now.
The rest of the team is nearby—Kaleb, Keller, Kade, Kai, even Asher, all standing with quiet respect. No one says anything overwhelming. There are no rushed questions or heavycomments. Just nods of acknowledgment, soft eyes, and the unspoken understanding that the worst is over… for now.
Someone serves me a hot bowl of leek and potato soup, something simple, warm, and comforting. I think it might be Mia’s doing, because it's my favorite and she knows it. I offer her a tired smile as I sit down. Elijah takes the seat beside me, close enough to touch, but not crowding.
I take slow, careful spoonfuls. I’m not hungry, but I know Elijah will be calmer if I eat. The warm, creamy soup settles in my stomach, easing something deeper than hunger. Everyone’s giving me room to breathe. I appreciate it more than I can say.
Eventually, I glance at Elijah, who’s watching me with quiet affection. I lean into him, resting my head on his shoulder.
This is the beginning of healing. It won’t be easy, and there are things I still need to say, stories I need to share when I’m ready. But tonight… I’m not alone. I’m home. And he’s with me.
After dinner, Asher offered to drive Mia home. Sophia disappeared quietly too—I'm not sure with who, but I assume someone took her home. Everyone respected my space tonight, and I appreciate that more than I can say.
Elijah and I stand outside Kade’s office—the same place where we once had to bare one of our most intimate moments. It feels distant now, like something that happened to someone else.
Before we go in, I stop him with a hand on his chest.
“Elijah… before we go in there, I need to tell you something.”
He studies my face, immediately catching the shift in my tone. Without hesitation, he turns to the others and says, “We’ll be in shortly.”
The guys nod and step into the office, leaving us alone in the hallway.
“If you don’t want to do this right now,” he says gently, “we can wait. There’s no pressure.”
I shake my head. “No, that’s not it. I want to talk. I know it’s important… It’s just—before I tell you everything I remember, I need to say something first.”
