Page 38 of How We Fooled

She nods but continues to look around, surprise of the area not hidden on her face.

I make the turn onto our private driveway that takes us to the top the hill, the overlook giving a view of the entire valley.

“This is where you live?” she asks in disbelief.

I inhale a breath and state defensively, “It changes nothing.”

She senses my tone and grabs my hand with both of hers. “Hey, you’re right. It changes nothing. I’m just shocked, is all.” She looks around again. “I’ve just never been to a place like this.”

I put the truck in park with a huff, and she stops me again.

“I can see why this bugs you. Don’t worry. I’m not the kind of girl who cares about all of this.”

I look in her eyes and see her honesty. My entire life, everyone has known who I am—or rather, who my dad is. It was nice, being just Eli for a change and not having TimeLand held over my head that way.

This is why Ben, Dalton, Maya, and I are so close. It’s our world to understand and live in when others can’t even comprehend it.

We both exit the truck, and I walk around to grab her hand as I lead us toward the house.

“We’re home,” I announce as I shut the door behind us.

“In the kitchen,” my mom yells out.

I grin toward Liza and head to the kitchen. Before we get there, my mom turns the corner to greet us, eager to meet Liza herself.

“Liza,” my mom says with her arms opened wide for a hug. Liza is not shy to return the affection even though they’ve barely met. “It’s so nice to finally get to meet you!”

“Hello, Mrs. Jones,” Liza says. “It’s nice to meet you too.”

“Please, call me Heather,” Mom says as she pulls back to get a good look at her. “Aren’t you beautiful?”

I love the blush that covers Liza’s face from my mom’s words. I tell her all the time how beautiful she is, but by her reaction, I don’t think she’s used to other people saying that to her.

“Thank you,” she says, blushing even more. “You have a lovely home.”

“Here, come in. I’ll show you around.” Mom gives her a tour, stopping at Ava’s room. “Ava, I have someone here to meet you.”

Ava hops up from her drawing she was working on while lying on the floor. “She’s here?” she asks with so much excitement that we all laugh.

Ava runs straight into Liza’s arms, giving her a big hug.

“Hi, sweetie,” Liza says with a giggle.

“I finally get to meet you in person!” Ava says with a big smile, then smacks me. “This big doofus wanted to keep you to himself.”

“Hey, I’m allowed to have something private in my life, aren’t I?”

She holds out her finger to me. “No. Not when it comes to someone I can hang out with too. Maya is always with Ben, and I’m not hanging out with Dalton. You need more friends.”

“You do have your own friends too, you know,” I reply.

“Yeah, but it’s fun, hanging out with teenagers for a change.”

I roll my eyes, making Liza laugh. “We’ll hang out, for sure. This big guy doesn’t talk much. I’ll get all my girl talk out with you. Sound like a plan?”

Ava jumps up and down. “Yes!”

They high-five, and my mom laughs. “Okay, we’ll be in the kitchen whenever you want to join us.”

---