Chapter 62 His Family

Chapter 62 His Family
By the time Eddie pulled the car to a stop in front of his house, my nerves had started buzzing again, that quiet hum under my skin that always showed up when I stepped into unfamiliar territory. Downtown Perth looked nothing like New York, nothing like the heavy, towering city I’d left behind. The street felt open, warmer somehow, lined with houses that didn’t loom but instead seemed to breathe, like they belonged to the people inside them.

“Welcome to my humble abode,” Eddie said, way too excited for someone who’d probably said those words a hundred times before.

I stepped out slowly, my box cradled against my chest, and took a proper look around. Humble was not the word. The house wasn’t flashy or intimidating, but it was beautiful in that quiet, lived-in way. Cream-colored walls, wide windows catching the afternoon light, a small porch that looked like it had hosted a lot of conversations and laughter. It felt… safe. The kind of place where people argued loudly and forgave easily. Where doors were probably left unlocked without a second thought.

I smiled before I even realized I was doing it. “It’s really beautiful.”

Eddie grinned like I’d complimented him personally. “Thank you.”

Inside, the house smelled like coffee and something warm I couldn’t immediately place—maybe baked bread, maybe spices. It reminded me of mornings that didn’t begin with dread. My chest tightened at that thought, but I swallowed it down and followed Eddie as he motioned for me to come along.

“Come on, I’ll show you the guest room.”

I trailed behind him, my steps hesitant, like the floor might suddenly reject me for being an intruder. He led me down a short hallway and pushed open a door, stepping aside so I could see.

I gasped before I could stop myself.

The room was bright, sunlight spilling in through sheer curtains. The bed was neatly made with soft-looking covers, pillows stacked invitingly. There was a small desk by the window, a lamp, a wardrobe that looked empty—waiting. It didn’t feel like a room people forgot about. It felt prepared. Like someone actually cared whether the person staying there felt comfortable.

Eddie chuckled at my reaction. “You like?”

“Are you kidding?” I blurted out, turning in a slow circle like I needed to make sure it was real. “I love—” I cut myself off, laughing a little at my own enthusiasm.

He looked genuinely pleased, and that alone made something warm bloom in my chest.

But the warmth didn’t last long before reality crept back in, tapping insistently at my thoughts. I turned to face him, my smile faltering just a bit.

“But… are you sure it’s okay for me to stay here?” I asked carefully. “I mean, I could just settle in a hotel. I already feel like you’re being way too kind to me, especially since we literally just met and stuff…” The words tumbled out, awkward and honest.

Eddie didn’t even hesitate. He waved it off like I’d suggested something ridiculous. “Don’t bother about it. Besides, you tipped me for your coffee earlier, remember?”

I scoffed, the sound slipping out before I could stop it. “Wait. Is this about the tip?”

He made a face that was half guilty, half amused, and I almost laughed outright at how unserious he looked.

He shrugged. “Since you’re new in town, I figured you’d need help settling in. And besides,” he added, rubbing the back of his head, “you looked harmless. I don’t go around offering to help every damsel in distress, you know?”

I raised a brow, something playful stirring despite myself. “But you decided to help me.”

“Yeah,” he said simply, scratching the back of his head again.

There was no hidden agenda in his tone. No calculation. Just a statement of fact.

I felt my throat tighten unexpectedly. “Thank you, Eddie. I really appreciate it.”

He nodded, like gratitude didn’t make him uncomfortable, like this was all normal to him. Maybe it was.

“I’ll leave you alone to settle in for now,” he said, already backing toward the door. “I’ll let you know when dinner’s ready so I can introduce you to the others.”

“The others?” I asked, suddenly aware of how alone I’d been for days.

He smiled. “My family.”

I nodded, my heart giving a strange little flutter at the word.

“See you later,” he said, and then the door closed softly behind him.

The room fell quiet.

I stood there for a moment, just breathing, listening to the muffled sounds of a house that was alive—footsteps, distant voices, the faint clink of something being set down. Slowly, like my body finally remembered how tired it was, I set the box down and lay back on the bed.

The mattress dipped beneath me, supportive, real.

I stared up at the ceiling, one hand resting on my stomach, and let out a long, shaky sigh. For the first time since I’d left everything behind, I wasn’t running. I wasn’t hiding in transit. I was just… here.

Somehow, against all my expectations, here didn’t feel so terrifying.

Later, just like he promised, Eddie knocked softly on the door and called my name. I pushed myself off the bed, smoothing my clothes even though no one was judging me, and followed him out. My heart felt strangely light as we walked down the hallway, like I was stepping into something normal—something I hadn’t had in a very long time.

The dining area was warm and noisy in a comforting way. There was laughter already bouncing around the table, the kind that didn’t feel forced or careful. A chirpy woman with bright eyes was talking animatedly, her hands moving as much as her mouth, while an overly amused guy leaned back in his chair, clearly entertained by whatever she was saying. The table was set, food laid out generously, the air thick with the smell of something home-cooked and familiar.

For a split second, I forgot everything I’d run from.

Eddie cleared his throat and gestured toward them. “Abby, meet Laila,” he said, pointing to the chirpy lady, “my girlfriend. And meet my brother, Joseph.”

I smiled, a real one this time, the kind that reached my eyes. “It’s really nice to meet you both.”

Their reactions were immediate and warm, like I’d passed some invisible test without even trying. Laila smiled at me like she’d known me for years, not minutes.

“Good to have you around,” she said, her voice bright and welcoming.

Joseph nodded, his grin easy and amused. “Welcome to the family, Abby.”

Something in my chest tightened at that word. Family. I hadn’t realized how much I’d been starving for it until it was offered so casually.

“I really appreciate you all for having me,” I said honestly. I felt it in my bones, that strange sense of belonging settling in too quickly, too comfortably.

“Eddie, is everyone at the table?” a female voice called from the kitchen.

My heart skipped, just slightly. The voice was calm, authoritative, familiar in a way I didn’t immediately want to acknowledge.

“Yes, mother,” Eddie replied, then leaned closer to me and lowered his voice. “Already told her about you and the fact that you’d be staying.”

I smiled at him, grateful, my lips curving before my mind could catch up with the unease crawling up my spine.

Then she walked in.

Carrying a dish. Moving with the same composed grace I had memorized without meaning to. The room seemed to tilt, the warmth draining out of my body so fast it felt violent. My breath caught painfully at the back of my throat, like I’d swallowed ice. My lips trembled before I could stop them, before I could pretend.

“Nina?” I whispered under my breath as my blood ran cold.