Work in Progress

Chapter 57: Dinner

*ELI'S POV*

"Eli, stop fidgeting you look fine." My Aunt tells me for the thousandth time.

"Sorry." I mumble. "I'm just nervous."

Aunt Tessa chuckles at me and pats my hand. "Aww look at you acting like a lovestruck teenager about to meet her girlfriend's parents."

I shake my head at her, "Because that's exactly what I am."

"You admit you're lovestruck?" She smirks at me.

"Shut up." I mumble and slide down my seat. But a small smile creeps to my face.

It's finally Friday night and we're on our way to Sam's for dinner. I was both excited and dreading this day. Knowing my aunt, she'll for sure tell embarrassing stories about me. But this dinner also meant that my aunt will finally be leaving my apartment the next day. Don't get me wrong. I love spending time with her and bonding. But these past few weeks has seen a bit too much of smothering and I'd just like a bit of my independence back again.

"We're here. You ready, champ?"

I roll my eyes at the nickname. "As long as you don't embarrass me, yeah."

"I guess you're not ready then. Come on." Aunt Tessa exits the car and heads to the front door without even waiting for me. I take a deep breath then follow her.

As I get to Aunt Tessa's side, the front door opens with a smiling Jules and Tom right behind her.

"Tessa! It's so good to see you again." Jules greets my aunt and they exchange cheek kisses. Ok, when did they get so close? I watch with wide eyes as Tom and my aunt hug as well.

"Eli, don't you look dashing?" Jules turns her attention to me and gives me a hug and a kiss on the cheek as well. What is up with all the kissing?

I rub the back of my neck and manage to say thanks but Jules was already leading Aunt Tessa by the arm into the house. Tom chuckles beside me and drapes an arm around my shoulder and leads me inside as well. "I'm excited for you to try the brisket I made. I made two sauces, a family original recipe and another one more of an experiment type but I'm not gonna tell you which is which so you have to give me an honest opinion."

I wasn't even able to say another word and before I knew it we were already seated around the dining table with Sam in front of me giving a sheepish smile. Aunt Tessa was beside me scooping mash potatoes onto my plate.

"Tita, I can do it myself and I think that's more than enough." I protest, looking at the mountain of mashed potatoes on my plate.

"Oh shush, you need to eat so you can grow." She brushes me off and starts placing meat on my plate.

"You've been stuffing me nonstop. I'm starting to think you're planning on putting an apple in my mouth and basting me yourself."

The whole table laughs at my comment. "Let your aunt feed you, Eli. She's only got til tonight to do that anyway." Jules passes the bowl of greens to Aunt Tessa who then starts scooping some onto my plate that I can't even see anymore from the sheer amount of food.

"You're leaving already?" Sam asks my aunt as she takes the bowl of greens from her.

"I'm heading out tomorrow. I need to get back to the office and get some proper work done. Someone needs to make sure this kid keeps eating." My aunt elbows me.

"It's not my fault you don't like the jobs I get."

"What jobs have you done?" Tom asks curiously. I also see Sam looking at me surprised.

"None actually because my aunt won't let me. But I've applied for a mechanic, a gardener, a dog walker, and even a grave digger."

Tom laughs. "Those are some interesting choices."

"I'll let you work any physical job you want next year but for now find something that uses more brain than brawn." Aunt Tessa tells me.

"I agree, Eli. I think it's best if you take it easy for now." Jules nods her head in agreement. "How about tutoring? Sam tells me you're quite smart."

I look at Sam, surprised she talks to her mom about me. I give her a smirk before answering, "I guess I could try that... Could be a way to meet new people too." I watch as Sam's lips thin and her eyes narrow a bit. Possessive are we?

Dinner went on for an hour with conversations going from my potential job, to which sauce was better, to Leo trying to grab the adults' attention, and to me constantly deflecting the conversation to another topic whenever I feel Aunt Tessa building up to an embarrassing story about me.

It was already 9pm and we were finishing up tea in the living room with my Aunt and Sam's parents conversing and me and Sam just talking about whatever. Leo had begrudgingly gone to bed.

I was seated on one of the one-seaters and Sam had decidedly squeezed herself with me, her legs across mine and using the armrest to lean her back on. When she did this I went into automatic panic mode but her parents just laughed at her antics and after much whispering to convince her to move and failing, I just let her be.

I notice Sam wearing the necklace I gave her on her birthday and start tracing the gold chain with my fingers.

"You like it?" She asks, craning her neck to give me a better view of it on her.

"Mm-hmm. But I don't think it matches your ring. I'm gonna have to replace that with a gold band too. Oh wait! I probably have to get you a rock first." I smirk as she blushes from my words.

"You'll have to tutor a hundred kids first to afford that rock." Aunt Tessa chimes in.

"And dig a hundred graves." Tom adds, earning a slap on the arm from Jules.

The three of them laugh while Sam buries her head in the crook of my neck embarrassed from being overheard. I'm just glad they're not opposed to us marrying.

A/N: Some cuteness on a Monday night for y'all