The house buzzed with weekend energy — the kind that only came with summers spent together in one big, slightly chaotic home.
Mia stood in the kitchen, warm plate in hand, watching the scene unfold.
Zara and Lila were arguing over whether or not chocolate chips belonged in waffles , their mother declaring a firm, "Both kinds. No one's fighting today."
Eli was laughing over something Ethan's younger brother, Micah, said while Jade sat cross-legged on the kitchen island, wearing a cropped tank top and letting her eyes linger on Ethan every time he moved.
Mia slipped into a chair at the long dining table next to Eli. Across from her, Ethan sat, one arm draped casually over the back of his chair. His gaze met hers — for just a second.
It was fast.
But her skin prickled like it meant something.
"Morning, sleepyhead," Eli said with a playful nudge. "You missed Lila's kitchen meltdown."
"It wasn't a meltdown," Lila called. "It was a spirited debate."
"She threw a spatula at me," Zara added helpfully.
"Barely missed his face," Eli whispered to Mia. "Honestly, one of my favorite family traditions."
Mia smiled, easing into the rhythm of it all. It was loud and messy and home.
But different.
Because Ethan hadn't looked at her like that before.
By mid afternoon the house was bursting.
Voices layered over each other like background music — laughter from the living room, arguments in the kitchen, thudding footsteps from upstairs.
Mia stood in the hallway, watching it all unfold.
Ethan's house always came alive like this when both families were together — like someone lit a match and dropped it into a room full of energy.
Lila and Zara were yelling at Micah to stop stealing strawberries from the fruit bowl. Ethan's mom was trying to corral everyone into helping with lunch prep. Mia's mom was on speakerphone with her cousin, loudly asking where the cousins were in traffic.
Her older brother, Jalen, was sitting at the dining table, pretending to read but clearly eavesdropping on everyone.
Jade flounced through the kitchen in a skimpy tank top and shorts, dramatically licking whipped cream off her finger. "Ethan, do you want some? I'll feed it to you."
Eli choked on his water. "You're bold, Jade. I'll give you that."
Ethan, leaning against the fridge, didn't even flinch. "I'll pass."
Mia, by the doorway, hid a smile.
"Somebody say game night?" Zara yelled from the living room. "I'm still undefeated in Uno, by the way."
Micah groaned. "Because you cheat."
"You can't cheat in Uno!" Lila said.
"You absolutely can cheat in Uno," Jalen muttered from his chair. "Zara just does it so well, it feels legal."
—
In the living room, everyone gathered for round after round of chaotic card games.
Ethan sat at one end of the floor, legs stretched out, while Mia somehow ended up across from him again. His eyes flicked to her every time she smiled. Every time she laughed with Eli.
And Eli? He noticed.
He started playing it up more — little touches on Mia's arm, brushing her hand when he passed her a card, low jokes whispered too close to her ear.
"You two are cute," Jade said sweetly, lounging next to Ethan. "He's so into you, Mia. You should totally date him."
Eli raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think she doesn't want someone else?"
That earned a pause. A beat of silence.
Ethan's jaw tensed.
Zara threw a popcorn kernel at Eli's head. "Can we play, or are we turning this into The Bachelor?"
"I vote The Bachelor," Micah grinned. "Jade would totally be the villain edit."
Jade didn't even flinch. "Only if Ethan's the prize."
Mia kept her gaze on her cards. Her cheeks felt warm, but it wasn't embarrassment. It was tension. That same slow heat from the night before hadn't left her.
And when she finally dared to glance at Ethan, he was already watching her.
Not a little. Not subtle.
Like he couldn't help it.
—
After dinner — which was somehow chaotic and perfect — everyone moved to the den for movie trivia and dessert.
Mia sat between Zara and Lila, but her focus drifted across the room again and again.
Ethan's sisters were teasing Micah, Eli was lighting up the room with his charm, Jade was basically curled around Ethan like a cat… and yet, Ethan looked like he was miles away.
Only present when his eyes found Mia.
It was everything she ever wanted.
And nothing she was ready for.