Chapter 56: Sofia

As I step out of the bedroom, now dressed in something more comfortable—a soft oversized sweater and leggings—I feel Nate’s hand gently holding mine, guiding me down the hall. The warmth from his touch calms the lingering flutters in my chest, and I find myself smiling as we head toward the dining room.

The smell of food wafts through the air, and when we walk in, I’m met with the sight of the boys around the table. They’ve already set it up, the plates and silverware neatly arranged, and the meatloaf I prepared earlier is sitting in the middle, steaming. I blink, surprised.

“You guys finished everything?” I ask, looking from one to the other.

Danny grins from across the room, his mischievous eyes sparkling. “We weren’t gonna let that masterpiece burn, were we?”

I can’t help but laugh. “I thought for sure it’d be charcoal by now. Thank you.”

Leo, who’s placing food on everyone’s plates, looks over his shoulder at me with a smile. “We told you we’ve got this, didn’t we?”

Riley winks as he pulls out a chair for me. “Took you a bit longer than thirty minutes, though.”

I blush, but the teasing is lighthearted. I sit down next to Nate, who’s still holding my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. I feel relaxed, surrounded by them like this. It’s easy, warm, and full of laughter. Danny hands me a plate with a slice of meatloaf and veggies, and I thank him with a nod.

As we settle into eating, the conversation shifts to stories, like it always does with them.

“Hey, remember the pelican incident?” Riley starts, glancing at Leo, his eyes mischievous.

Leo’s expression shifts into one of exaggerated offense. “Oh no, you’re not gonna bring that up right now.”

“Oh, I absolutely am,” Riley grins, leaning back in his chair. “This is too good not to share with Sof.”

I raise an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued. “Pelican incident?”

Leo groans, shaking his head. “It wasn’t that big of a deal.”

Danny chuckles, his grin widening. “Oh, it was a big deal. We were at this beach a while back, and there was this pelican, right? Big one. Just chilling near the dock. And Leo, being the brave guy he is, decides he’s gonna feed it.”

Leo interrupts, “I was trying to be nice! It looked hungry.”

“Uh-huh,” Danny continues, not missing a beat. “So, Leo grabs this fish and goes up to the bird, and the thing just snaps at him.”

I burst out laughing at the image, already picturing it. “Wait, it bit you?”

“Right on my arm!” Leo exclaims, holding out his arm as if to demonstrate. “I’m just standing there, minding my own business, and the next thing I know, this thing’s got its beak around me like I’m its next meal.”

“And he screamed,” Riley says, his voice dropping to a mock whisper. “I’ve never heard a sound like that come out of a grown man.”

Leo shakes his head, glaring at Riley. “It wasn’t a scream. It was more like a... battle cry.”

The table erupts in laughter again, even Nate joining in with a soft chuckle beside me.

“Oh my God, that’s amazing,” I giggle, wiping at the corner of my eye. “What happened next?”

Danny leans forward, clearly loving the story. “So, Leo’s flailing around, trying to get this pelican off him, and we’re just watching, because honestly, it’s hilarious. The bird finally lets go and flies off, but the whole beach heard him yell.”

Leo crosses his arms, pretending to sulk, but there’s a smirk playing on his lips. “You guys are never letting me live that down, huh?”

“Nope,” Riley says, leaning forward with a wink in my direction. “Not a chance.”

I take another bite of my food, the story settling around us like a warm blanket. “You guys are ridiculous. But honestly, it makes me feel better. Knowing that a pelican managed to take down the big, tough Leo.”

Leo laughs, his shoulders relaxing as he grins over at me. “Yeah, well, don’t get too comfortable. I’ve still got my dignity intact.”

“For now,” Danny teases, and we all laugh again.

After the laughter dies down and everyone finishes the last bite of dinner, the boys immediately start gathering up the plates. I make a move to help, but Danny shakes his head with a teasing grin.

“Uh-uh, Sof. You cooked, so we’ll clean.”

I roll my eyes, but I’m already up, grabbing a stack of plates before they can stop me. “I don’t mind. Besides, you basically finished the meal while I was... um, well, busy.”

Leo winks as he grabs the remaining utensils. “Alright, fine."

In the kitchen, we form an assembly line of sorts. Danny rinses the plates, handing them to me to dry, while Leo puts everything away. Nate and Riley are still at the table, collecting stray napkins and glasses, their movements relaxed but efficient. The warm, homey feeling of the night lingers between us, an easy comfort that’s settled in after the meal.

“Hand me that dish, Leo,” I say, reaching out, and he passes me a plate, his fingers brushing mine just enough to make my skin tingle. I quickly dry it and pass it along to Danny, who’s humming under his breath, seemingly in his own world.

“You know,” Riley calls out from the doorway, watching us, “I think this might be the first time all of us have done dishes together.”

“That’s because none of us ever volunteer to do them,” Nate adds, his voice amused as he comes in behind him. “You should’ve seen the sink before Sof came around.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “Glad I could bring some order to your chaos.”

After we finish up, Riley and Nate head outside, grabbing their jackets and heading toward the stack of firewood they’d gathered earlier.

“We're just gonna cut a bit more for the night,” Nate says, giving me a reassuring nod as they disappear into the cold.

Danny and Leo join me on the couch. The crackling sound of the fire fills the silence, the flames casting a soft glow around the room, making everything feel warm and cozy. I pull a blanket around myself, nestling into the corner of the couch as Danny flops down next to me, his shoulder bumping into mine gently.

“So,” Danny says, stretching his legs out and putting them up on the coffee table. “Now that you’ve experienced cooking with us and laughing at Leo’s pelican story, what’s next on your bucket list?”

I pause, thinking for a second. “Well, I’ve always wanted to travel more. See the world. Maybe write a book one day.”

“Write a book?” Danny asks, surprised.

I nod, smiling softly. “Yeah, I love writing. It’s just something I’ve always kept to myself. I never thought it would actually happen.”

Leo nudges me gently. “Well, why not? You’re smart, talented, and determined. You could totally write a book.”

I bite my lip, feeling a little shy at the compliment. “Maybe one day. We’ll see.”

Danny turns to face me fully, his expression curious. “What would it be about? Adventure? Romance?”

I shrug. “Maybe a bit of both. I’d want to write something that feels real, you know? Something that makes people feel.”

Leo nods, his gaze lingering on me for a second longer than usual. “I think you’d be amazing at it.”

As the conversation lulls, I feel my eyelids growing heavier. The warmth from the fire and the sound of their voices fades into the background, my body sinking deeper into the cushions.

Leo notices, his hand brushing my arm lightly. “You tired, Sof?”

I mumble something incoherent, my head already nodding forward.

“Looks like she’s out,” Danny says with a small smile, glancing over at me. “Long day, huh?”

“Yeah,” Leo agrees, his voice softer than usual. “She’s been through a lot. Let her rest.”

Before I can fully drift off, I feel someone lift me gently. My body is cradled against a strong chest, and I can smell the familiar scent of wood and fresh air. It must be Leo carrying me, the warmth of his arms enveloping me as he moves me from the couch.

“You good, baby?” Leo whispers, his voice close to my ear.

I manage to nod, too tired to say much, but comforted by the feeling of being cared for. My eyelids flutter shut again as he carries me to bed, my thoughts fading away into the warmth and safety of his presence.