Liliana finishes her sip of red wine, then says, “A month ago, about. Do you guys like it?”
“It’s nice. Really sturdy.” Derek answers, diamond earrings catching the light when he examines the wood.
“Good. We bought it with you guys in mind, for us to have dinners together.”
“Oh my gosh that is so freaking cute.” My little sister drops her fork to hold a hand to her heart. “Parties at this apartment on the weekly, then?”
The table is laughing, me included, when Grant clears his throat. “Actually, that’s something we want to bring up to you guys. We have an announcement.”
My eyes go wide. I side glance Rosie, who is already slapping a hand over her mouth.
“Holy shit are you guys pregnant?!”
“No!” Liliana throws her hands up and looks at Rosie with a shocked expression. “How did you get pregnant from ‘partying’ and ‘apartment’?!”
“I don’t know! Grant said announcement and that’s the first thing I thought!”
“She just wants you guys to have kids,” Billie says before faking a cough. “Me too.”
Liliana takes a deep breath and shakes her head. “There won’t be any kids before we get married. And no marriage before either of us has a 401K account.”
From his place at her right, Grant’s shoulders sag, and Derek laughs into his bite of stuffing.
Liliana takes a breath. “No kids. Grant said that because the two of us will be moving into a house together in the next year or so, and we wanted to let you know it’s always open to you guys. Our home is your home.”
A sharp warmth expands throughout my chest. Suddenly, almost uncontrollably, and I wonder if these are the kind of emotions Rosie tells me she struggles to keep at bay. When she’s so touched by the love she’s shown, she can’t help by let herself be taken over by them.
It’s overwhelming when I think of how welcoming my friends have been, but especially now, when Liliana and Grant explicitly open their doors to us. They created a safe space in these people.
I grab Rosalie’s hand under the table and my girl bounces in her seat.
“I’m so happy for you two! That’s so exciting!” I think she wants to clap, but she stays anchoring me instead. “How did you get a house?!”
“Without 401Ks.” My sister throws in her inevitable joke and chuckle half-heartedly.
“My parents are moving back home to Hawai’i.” Liliana’s arms are moving back and forth, like she’s turning and twisting her hands in her lap. Her head is tilted down, but I can see the shy smile on her face. “They won’t be fully retiring for another few years, but they’ll be staying in O’ahu primarily and teaching remotely. They said Grant and I can take care of my childhood home during the transition.”
When she tilts her head up, Liliana’s normal, stern expression is gone. Instead, she has a wide smile and eyes that look lost in childlike joy.
“Then, after they’ve completely moved back, we can have the house. As long as they get to stay there when they visit.”
Rosie squeals. Derek congratulates them, and I smile at both of my friends. Already building a family and a home with each other.
“I’m so happy for you two. Congratulations.”
That overwhelming feeling is there again. Surrounded by the decorations of fall leaves and faux pinecones on the white tablecloth, I remember this is the first holiday I’ve spent encased with love. Instead of a lonely night watching anime or playing video games, I’m here. Celebrating milestones with people who have me in their lives because they care about me, and not because it’s beneficial to their own wants.
They just love me; Care about me. The muscles of my chest constrict. I breathe through the realization that I’ve never felt love or family like this before. I don’t ever want to go without it again.
Friendsgiving—appropriately named, I think—continues. We eat more food, crack more jokes, and Derek shares his own life update. That he’s starting to work at his uncle’s sports memorabilia business to get together some cash and move out on his own.
I think there’s a story there, but no one presses. When he’s comfortable enough to share it with us, he will. I’ll be happy to listen.
The vibes are so high, I consider bringing up my gaming studio dream. Everyone would happily support me—that much I know. I only decide against it because I want to establish myself wholeheartedly, both in my mind and in my future, before I share it with everyone else.
Half the table is on their third plate of food, and the other half is discussing their dessert options, when there’s a loud knock at the door. A banging, really. Violent. Non-stop, despite a doorbell existing right next to the door handle.
Rosie is closest. From the edge of the kitchen island, she scrunches her eyebrows and turns, beelining straight to the door.
