The morning light crept through the curtains, slipping across my face like a nosy cat refusing to let me sleep. Somewhere in the house, someone — probably Percy — was already blasting music way too early. I groaned, turning toward Keifer, who was still half-asleep beside me, his hair a messy halo against the pillow.
"Your family's louder than a parade," he murmured, eyes barely open.
"Correction," I said, stretching. "They are the parade."
That earned a quiet laugh from him, low and warm. He reached out, brushing my hair out of my face. "You really okay being back here?" he asked softly.
I paused, glancing toward the window where sunlight painted the walls gold. "Yeah," I said finally, smiling. "It's different now. Feels like I can breathe again."
Before he could respond, the door flew open with a bang.
"BREAKFAST! WAKE UP, LOVE BIRDS!" Percy's voice shattered the peace, followed by the smell of — was that burnt hotdogs?
Keifer groaned. "Your brother is going to be the end of me."
I laughed, rolling out of bed. "You say that, but secretly? You love him."
"Love is a strong word," he muttered, though the smile tugging at his lips said otherwise.
Downstairs was exactly the brand of chaos I expected — Tita Gemma yelling instructions from the kitchen, Horoscope trying to fix the toaster (badly), and Percy dancing in a pink apron that said Kiss the Cook. Aries was doing his best to ignore everyone, sipping coffee like it was the only thing keeping him sane.
"Morning, sunshine!" Percy sing-songed, waving a spatula dangerously close to Keifer's face. "Breakfast is ready — kinda!"
"Define 'ready,'" Keifer said warily.
"Edible. Mostly."
Tita Gemma clapped her hands. "Kids, sit! Before it all gets cold — or burned!"
As plates and laughter filled the table again, I watched them — this loud, imperfect, wonderful group I got to call home. Keifer caught my gaze across the table, his lips curving into that small, secret smile that felt like a promise.
To be continued… 💞