Page 11 of Hooked on a Demon (Leeside Witches #3)

Eliana

“I ’ve thought about what you asked me to last time,” she says, crossing her legs onto the oversized cushion.

“Oh?”

“I think part of what’s been contributing to my sense of being lost, is that I don’t necessarily feel anchored here anymore.

I spent so many years needing to get out and to leave Leeside, and now I’m back here, essentially against my will,” she holds her hand up, stopping the anticipated question, “and while I have family and a friend or two here, I still don’t feel like it’s where I’m meant to be.

My days in the city were filled with action.

I was constantly busy. I was an active member in the dance company.

And I don’t have that here. I need something to sink my teeth into. ”

“And how do you propose you find that something to sink your teeth into ?”

“I don’t quite know yet, but I think that’s what I need. Some kind of task to feel connected and more purposeful.”

“And what about your family?” Colson asks.

“What about them?”

“How do they help you to feel connected?

It’s a good question. Eliana doesn’t see them nearly as often as she feels she should.

Friday night dinners used to be a regular occurrence before she moved away, and now, it’s only when she has the time or the energy.

However, she is planning to attend tonight’s dinner.

“Family is hard. I feel like I’m constantly lying to them.

They still don’t know everything that happened.

But I don’t want to focus on that right now. ”

“Okay. Then, I expect an update on the progress toward your goal at our next session,” Colson replies as he makes a note on his pad.

She smiles, feeling, not for the first time, more renewed with a sense of motivation with a goal post in mind. “That I can probably do.”

“But I do want to provide, maybe, a word of caution.”

“Okay.”

“You’ve said you felt lost, and now you’ve come up with a goal to work toward.

I want you to be aware of how you’re feeling now and be careful that this feeling doesn’t become a crutch for you later.

You can’t spend your life constantly chasing goals as a way to avoid dealing with whatever else is going on inside. ”

Well, I didn’t need to be called out like that.

“I understand and appreciate the warning,” she replies, knowing she’s come up with this plan for that exact reason.

* * *

Friday family dinners are a regular occurrence for the Oaks family.

The invite is basically open, with Eliana and Everest showing up when they can.

Their parents are really good about understanding that their work schedules are not consistent, and as such, that means they may not be able to stop in every week.

As is the case with Eliana. She’s only attended once since moving back, and it’s likely been three or four weeks since her last attendance.

As she pulls up to their childhood home, she feels a sense of calm wash over her.

She’s missed these nights.

“Hello?” she calls into the house, closing the door behind her.

“Kitchen!” her mom’s warm voice responds from deeper inside. Eliana kicks off her ankle boots and hangs her coat in the front closet before walking down the hall toward the center of the house.

“Hi, Mom.” She opens her arms and gives Cora, her mother, a hug, breathing in her vanilla scent.

“Hello, darling. It’s been too long,” she says, releasing Eliana and holding her at arm’s length, taking her in.

“It definitely has. Work’s been so busy lately.”

“Always is. You’d think people would want to spend time with their children on Friday nights.”

Taking a glass from the cupboard, Eliana laughs. Her mother has a point. For some reason, the Friday evening classes are always the first to fill up. “Apparently, they’d rather spend time with me.”

“Well, I can see why!”

“Really? I can’t,” Everest says, sliding in behind her and grabbing a glass as well.

Eliana rolls her eyes. She steps away, opens the fridge, picks up a container, and pours herself a glass of mango juice. She puts the container back and closes the door in Everest’s face. “Oh, I’m sorry. Did you want something?” she says before sticking her tongue out at him.

“Oh, you two, give it a rest,” Cora says, playfully tossing dishtowels at them. “Dinner is about ready, go set the table.”

“Yes, Mom,” Eliana and Everest answer in unison.

“So, how’s the car?” Everest asks, placing plates around the table.

Eliana follows behind him, placing the cutlery and napkins down at each setting. “It’s good. Started without a problem to come here.”

“Good. Declan’s a good guy and a great mechanic. I’m not happy that you’re still driving that piece of junk, but I’m glad you wound up there.”

“Hey, you leave my hunk of junk alone. It’s been a great car to me, and I won’t let her go before she’s ready.”

Everest stops, leans in, and with his voice low, says, “Lil’ foot, she was ready about five years ago.” She scoffs, and he jumps away before she can swat him. The audacity.

Crossing her arms across her chest, she glares at him in the way that little sisters do when trying to make a point. “Well, when you want to pay for a new car for me, let me know.”

Laughing, he replies, “Yeah. I’ll get right on that.”

Before Eliana can say anything else, their mom and dad come into the dining room, hands full of delicious-smelling food.

Their dad, Amos, puts the already sliced roast on the table while their mom places the mashed potatoes and roasted carrots.

“Sit, sit,” he says, gesturing to the table, “let’s eat before it gets cold. ”

“Don’t have to tell me twice,” Everest responds, placing a napkin on his lap and sitting all in one swift movement.

Pretty soon, they settle into comfortable chatter while they eat.

Amos asks Eliana about her day and what’s going on at the studio while Everest tries to coerce their mother into agreeing with him that Eliana should get a newer and safer car.

Despite his enthusiasm, Cora ends up agreeing with her, as Eliana is the one who needs to pay for it.

When dinner is done, and Everest and Eliana have washed and dried the dishes—with only a small bubble war in the process— they settle in the family room for their family game night.

Everest, of course, chooses the worst game in history, Monopoly.

Nothing spells family fun like cheating each other over with capitalism. But that’s what they do.

They play, they joke, they bond. These nights, while becoming less common with all of them there, are some of her favorites.

Some of her best memories have come from these nights.

Being able to spend time together and feel that sense of connection.

She loved growing up in this house and loves her family, as frustrating and persistent as some of them can be.

As she looks around, she realizes how much she’s missed all of this.

Years away in Hollybrook, while pursuing her dreams, kept her from her family.

At the time, she felt like the sacrifice was worth it for her success.

Of course, now, she realizes that it wasn’t likely the case.

Hollybrook allowed her to live her biggest dream, but it also brought her her worst nightmare and forever changed the fiber of her being in so many ways.

Eliana is the first to go bankrupt in the game, and soon after, the game collapses completely as Everest buys up everyone’s properties.

Somehow, he always manages to win when they play this game, and now that she thinks about it, Eliana is pretty sure he has it rigged in some way. There’s no way he’s that good.

Putting her coat back on in the entryway, her hand slides into her pocket and wraps around the little business card from a certain demon mechanic.

Not wanting Everest to question why she has it, especially not with Declan’s personal number on it, she makes sure she pulls her hand out slowly so the card doesn’t slip out, and then buttons the pocket closed, keeping it secret and safe.

Hugs and kisses are given, and then she and Everest are ushered out the door. Standing on the front step, he motions for her to go first. “I wanna make sure it starts properly.”

“I thought you said Declan was a great mechanic.”

“He is. But your car is a disaster, so I wouldn’t put it past the junk heap to stop working in protest.”

Eliana lets out a frustrated groan. “Fine. But look, I know you mean well underneath all that snark, but can you give me a bit of a break?”

He casts his eyes down for a moment, seeming to think over her request. “Fine. I want what’s best for you, Ellie.

I always have. I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you.

Your moving away was hard. I kept away because I knew you didn’t need your big brother hovering over you, but it was still hard.

I worried, like I do now with that piece of junk.

I just ask that you call me if you need help, okay? ”

The moment of sincerity nearly breaks her. She wants to tell him everything that happened in Hollybrook, but it doesn’t feel important now. Instead, she simply responds, “I will. Love you, Ev.”

“Love you too, lil’ foot.”

She climbs into her car, hoping that it won’t prove her brother right. Thankfully, it starts without issue.

* * *

It’s been two days since her family dinner. She’s spent a good chunk of those same two days staring at the number scrawled on that silly business card.

She spins the card on the counter, watching the numbers blur. When it stops, she runs her thumb along the writing, feeling the indent from the pen and marveling at the slant of the text.

The curve of the eights, in particular, makes her toes tingle. Never in her life has she found a number sexy, but the thought of his hand making the mark and how his hand moves… it’s hot.