Page 47 of HER SISTER

Soon I was back down in my room after carefully going back down the two sets of stairs with clear paranoia.

And as soon as I made it to my room, I was picking out my clothes for the day, deciding on a chill outfit, which just so happened to be leggings and an oversized hoodie.

Getting ready didn't take long, all I had to do was brush my teeth, take a quick shower, do morning skincare, and get dressed into my picked-out clothes.

I furrowed my brows as I checked my phone that I had left behind on the charger last night—noticing a couple of texts from Mya.

My heart pounded in my chest as I navigated toward my messages to read what she had sent me.

I smiled slightly, letting out a relieved breath as I brushed my dark hair up into a neat ponytail before sliding my slippers back on.

Soon I was climbing down the stairs with a small smile on my lips, easily passing by the front entryway that everyone's suitcases sat by.

I couldn't lie and say I wouldn't miss everyone, but I knew it would still be fun with just us.

As I suddenly entered the kitchen I couldn't miss the smell of fresh breakfast and coffee.

Akeyla, Terrance, and Mya seemed to be gathered around the kitchen island—while the rest of our friend group sat at the long table scrolling through their phones as they discussed various topics.

My eyes suddenly darted over to the stove, where Mili seemed to be—and even laying eyes on her seemed to light everything inside of me up.

From her straightened dark hair pulled into a low ponytail—to the cropped black tank top that exposed her toned stomach and arms, which she paired with matching black sweatpants and slippers.

I really should've agreed to the idea of staying in her room for the next two weeks.

"Finally you're up," Mya suddenly said as I walked over to the kitchen island, easily making my presence known.

Mili suddenly turned around from the stove, and I had to force myself to not lock eyes with her, or else I would probably blush.

"How'd you sleep?" Akeyla questioned as she sipped on her coffee beside Terrance.

I hummed with a smile, "Really good," I said, thinking back to last night—which easily made me think of the time I spent with Mili just last night and this morning.

"Hmm, are you sure you're all right? You're really smiley," Mya joked, nudging me playfully.

And the statement alone made something inside of me drop.

I shrugged, trying to play off my sudden nervousness, "It's just a really nice morning—even if everyone is leaving today," I pointed out, feeling somewhat sad by the fact that our friends wouldn't be here anymore.

Mya nodded, "Honestly, but it'll be nice to have a quiet house," she whispered the last part.

"Hey! We heard that!" Damon suddenly called out, easily earning a laugh from me and the rest of our friends.

Mya only chuckled, "It was just a joke," she defended.

Willow only hummed, "I don't know—your tone didn't sound very jokingly," she pointed out in her lawyer voice.

Ryder groaned, "Here we go again—lawyer Willow on the case," he said.

And just like that, we were all back to laughing.

However, my laughter easily halted when I smelt Mili's familiar sweet cologne before her body brushed past me.

She pressed a respectable hand to my shoulder, "My bad, I need this plate," she murmured, grabbing the empty plate from the island in front of me before pulling away entirely.

And even if everyone seemed to be engrossed in a new conversation, I was suddenly quiet, clearly trying to get my very inappropriate thoughts in line—and Mili seemed to know her effect, raising a slight brow at me.

She was definitely doing this on purpose, and two can play that game.

"Do you mind if I try one?" I suddenly addressed Mili as I looked over to some of the blueberry pancakes on the plate.

Mili didn't hesitate to nod, "Go for it—although I think Mya might fight you over it," she joked.

And I swear our conversation felt so normal and natural, but the looks we were exchanging were far from it.

Mya suddenly grabbed one of the pancakes from the plate, "If she's having one then so am I," she determined as I grabbed a pancake as well. Mya suddenly hummed as she took a bite of the pancake, "Every single time—she does it every single time," she said, patting Mili on the shoulder.

I took a bite from the pancake, "Mmm she does," I hummed out deeply as everyone else began walking over to the kitchen to make their plates.

Meanwhile, Mili's dark eyes seemed to be zoned in on me as she raised a slight brow—and when she suddenly cleared her throat before forcing her eyes away from me, I knew I had somewhat sparked something inside of her.

"Hey, Mya bear—do you mind coming with me to pick out a gift for grandma?" Akeyla suddenly questioned.

Mya groaned dramatically, "But I was just at the shops yesterday," she pointed out.

"And I brought you into this world—what point are we making?" Akeyla countered back.

Terrance suddenly laughed, "Looks like you're going shopping, Mya bear," he joked as he playfully nudged Akeyla.

But Akeyla only managed to give him a narrowed look along with Mya.

Terrance suddenly cleared his throat, easily halting his laughing, "And I'm apparently going to pick up those steaks for you guys for dinner tonight," he said, clearly trying to stay on his wife's good side.

Akeyla suddenly smiled, "How sweet of you honey," she said, pecking his cheek.

Mya smiled too, "So sweet of you—don't forget to pick up the ingredients for Christmas milkshakes tonight," she casually added in there before looking over to me, "Ana, did you want to come with us?"

I suddenly looked to Mya with a smile—I definitely didn't want to go, mostly because I wanted to stay in with Mili, but also because I was just out shopping yesterday.

"No, yesterday's shopping kinda wore me out—I'll just stay here for the day," I told Mya, who nodded with a smile.

But I couldn't miss the casual glance from Mili, who clearly knew why I was trying to stay in.

Soon we were finishing up with breakfast before everyone seemed to help pack up the cars—even Mya and Akeyla had the blacked-out Range Rover on so it could heat up while Terrance had the matte snowy white Range Rover on as well.

I found it cute how they managed to match.

"I'm going to miss you so so much," I told Arielle as we hugged each other.

Arielle swayed us back and forth in the hug, "Trust me, I'll see you in no time—and then you can catch me up," she said, subtly lowering her voice for the last part.

I raised a brow as we pulled away, "Do you—"

"Let me stop you right there," Arielle cut me short with an amused smile, "The fact that she's looked at you a few hundred times this morning when she couldn't even spare you a glance yesterday tells me all I need to know," she whispered to me.

And just like that my stomach was twisting in knots, "Do you think it's too obvious?" I whispered back.

Arielle only shook her head, "Not at all, I just know all the details from you, so I can pick up on it," she reassured me, which easily calmed my suddenly anxious nerves.

I smiled as I pulled Arielle back into a hug, "You better text back for any friend emergency's," I joked.

Arielle laughed, "Uh, duh—I'll drive back up here in an instant," she joked back, easily earning a soft smile from me.

"Ari—you ready?" Damon suddenly asked from the open SUV door.

Arielle nodded a few times as she took a step back from me, "I'll text you," she said, easily earning a few nods from me as I walked back over to Mya and her parents who were by their running cars.

"Did you need anything while we're out?" Mya questioned as Akeyla slid into the driver's side of the running car.

I shook my head, "No, but thank you for asking," I said, giving her a brief hug that she easily reciprocated.

Mya sighed, "Great, I'll be back soon—or probably a few hours, knowing my mom," she joked.

Terrance laughed as he slid into the white Range Rover, "It'll definitely be a few hours," he concluded.

Mya gave her dad a narrowed look, "Hey, don't forget that peppermint ice cream from Trader Joe's," she suddenly called out to him.

Terrance raised a brow, "But the nearest Trader Joe's is two towns ov—"

"I know, maybe you might be a few hours too," Mya cut him short, and I couldn't help but laugh when Terrance shook his head at her.

I swear their family dynamic is so funny to me.

"Text me if you need anything," Mya said as she slid into the warm car with her mom.

I nodded a few times, "I will. Love you," I said.

Mya smiled, "Love you more," she said as she pulled her door closed.

And just like that, the Range Rovers were slowly driving down the hill behind the two Escalades with my group of friends in them.

I suddenly turned back around to the large cabin, realizing that I was about to be completely alone with Mili for the next few hours.

Bless you, universe.