She nods, a flicker of worry lingering in her eyes. “I hate the idea of being away from them for too long.”
Her voice soothes something in me, easing my frayed nerves. Wanting to hear more, I ask, “Tell me about your family.”
Eliza's expression brightens. “They're a busy bunch. I'm the only girl in a sea of brothers. As you may know, Finn is in Anchorage visiting friends, Rhys is running the store, Reid runs a deep-sea fishing company, Nash is a hunting guide, and Kane… Well, you met him earlier with Hailey.”
She pauses, her face clouding with concern. “Mom is in Craig right now. She hasn't been feeling well, dropping pounds for no reason. Dad took her to see a specialist.”
I hesitate, unsure of what to say, but Eliza continues, seemingly grateful for the chance to share.
“What about you, Matt? Any family waiting for you back home?”
I shake my head. “Nope, I don't have what you have. You're very lucky, Eliza. It's only me.”
There's a flicker of curiosity in her eyes, but she doesn't press for details. Instead, she says, “I can see how that mightbe simpler sometimes. But I guess we don't always get what we want, do we?”
The howling wind outside underscores her words. The conversation lulls, but it's a comfortable silence now, filled with a newfound appreciation for each other's situations.
As the clock on the mantel chimes midnight, I realize we've been up far too long. The adrenaline from earlier has worn off, leaving us both exhausted.
“We should try to get some rest,” I say, my voice tired and worn. “Tomorrow's going to be a long day.”
Eliza's fatigue is clear in her eyes. I stand up, stretching, and head toward the bedroom. When I return with a pillow and blanket, I find Eliza arranging herself on the couch.
“Uh, what do you think you're doing?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
She looks up, confused. “Getting ready to sleep?”
I shake my head. “Oh no, you don't. It's my turn for a chivalrous moment. You take the bedroom.”
Eliza opens her mouth to protest, but I hold up the pillow like a shield. “I insist. Besides, it's in the guest handbook: 'In case of emergency, the host gets the bed.’”
She laughs, the sound brightening the room momentarily. “Oh? I must have missed that clause when I was reading the fine print.”
“It's there, trust me,” I say, a playful tone slipping into my voice. “Right next to 'In case of blizzard, all calories consumed don't count.’”
“Alright, alright. You win this round, Sir Matt.” As she heads toward the bedroom, she pauses at the door. “Good night. And ... thanks.”
“Good night, Eliza,” I reply.
She glances back, a softness in her eyes before she closes the door behind her. As I settle onto the couch, a small feeling ofvictory creeps in. It’s not much, but at least I did this one thing for her.
