By the time we finally got back to the mansion, the sun had already started dipping lower into the sky.
My legs officially hated me.
My cheeks hurt from smiling.
My hands were still full of flowers, gifts, a bracelet, and enough emotions to last me the next three years.
"...I'm home," I announced dramatically as I stepped through the front door.
No one answered.
Mostly because everyone else was already collapsing.
Mr. Ronson walked into the living room first and dropped onto the couch with the biggest sigh I'd ever heard.
"Haaaa..."
He leaned his head back. "...I feel like I just graduated."
Mrs. May laughed softly as she closed the door behind us. "I think you had more conversations than the graduates."
"I did."
"You introduced yourself to every parent."
"They introduced themselves to me first."
"You still exchanged business cards."
"...Networking never sleeps."
Mrs. May just shook her head with a smile.
I slipped my graduation cap off and carefully folded my gown. It felt weird.
I had imagined this day so many times... Now it was over.
I placed the gown neatly over the arm of the sofa.
Beside me, Jake did the exact opposite.
He peeled his gown off like it had personally offended him. "I'm never wearing this thing again."
Nena immediately snatched it out of his hands. "Fold it."
"It'll wrinkle."
"So?"
"...Future me will regret it."
"Exactly."
She folded it herself.
Jake watched for a second before mumbling, "...Thanks."
She smirked. "I know."
I looked at them. "...You two are disgustingly adorable."
"We know," they answered at the same time.
"...Ew."
Mrs. May returned from the kitchen carrying several cold bottles of water. "There."
She handed one to me.
One to Jake.
One to Nena.
One to Luca.
One to Mr. Ronson.
I twisted mine open immediately.
I'd never appreciated water this much in my life.
Half the bottle disappeared in seconds.
"...That might actually be the best water I've ever tasted."
Jake nodded seriously.
"Graduation water hits different."
Mr. Ronson raised his bottle.
"To water."
We all raised ours.
"To water."
Tiny clinks echoed around the living room.
Luca flopped face-first onto the rug.
"I'm..."
He took a dramatic breath.
"...so..."
Another breath.
"...so..."
Another.
"...so..."
Jake blinked. "Get to the point."
"...so..."
"..."
"...tired."
Jake scoffed. "As if you did anything."
Luca slowly lifted his head. "I shouted."
"So?"
"I shouted a lot."
"So?"
"My vocal cords graduated too."
I laughed so hard I nearly spilled my drink.
Jake pointed at him. "You spent the whole ceremony screaming."
"I was supporting."
"You were terrifying."
"I was encouraging."
"You scared two grandparents."
"They looked encouraged."
Mrs. May covered her laugh with her hand.
I nudged Jake's shoulder. "Leave him alone."
Jake looked offended. "I'm simply stating facts."
Luca crossed his arms. "Being supportive is exhausting."
"...Sure."
"It is."
"...Sure."
"It really is."
I smiled. "Let him be."
He looked at me immediately. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
He smiled proudly.
Jake rolled his eyes so dramatically I thought they might disappear.
I turned toward Nena. "So..."
I tilted my head. "...Aren't you going home?"
She casually took another sip of water. "No."
"...No?"
"I called my mom earlier."
"And?"
"I'm staying here tonight."
"...Just because?"
She shrugged. "Just because."
Honestly... That sounded exactly like Nena.
Then she looked toward Mrs. May.
Mrs. May smiled knowingly. "Remember something I promised you?"
I frowned for a second. "...Hm?"
"The spa day."
My eyes widened. "Oh! You. Nena. Emma. And me."
I pointed dramatically. "You actually remembered."
Mrs. May looked offended. "I always remember."
"I know..."
Then something clicked. "...Wait."
I slowly turned toward Dad. "So..."
I pointed between Mom and him.
"...This... ...is the party?"
Mr. Ronson nodded once. "Very good."
He smiled. "Smart girl."
I narrowed my eyes. "...You're making a spa day sound like a corporate event."
"It is."
"...Dad."
"It's a relaxation investment."
Mrs. May laughed. "Ignore him. I've been trying for years."
Dad pretended to be offended.
Then he suddenly looked toward Luca. "Oh. I almost forgot."
Luca blinked. "What?"
"I arranged something for you too."
"...Me?"
Mr. Ronson nodded. "You'll be spending tonight with the boys."
Luca sat upright. "...Really?"
Jake looked equally confused. "The boys?"
Dad nodded. "You. Mark. Liam. Ethan. One last boys' night before university."
Luca's eyes sparkled. "...Seriously?"
"Seriously."
Before Luca could celebrate I smiled innocently. "...Isn't he a little too baby for that?"
Luca gasped so loudly I almost applauded. "I am seventeen!"
He pointed dramatically at himself. "SEVENTEEN. Just because I like hugs doesn't mean I'm a baby!"
"Oh?" I folded my arms. "Really?"
"Yes."
"...Baby."
His jaw dropped. "I'M NOT A BABY!"
Nena nodded thoughtfully.
"...Actually..." She looked at him. "...You are."
Luca stared. "...Nena."
"Yes?"
"...Not you too."
She blinked innocently. "What? You're adorable. I can't help it."
He covered his face dramatically. "I am not cute."
She smiled even wider. "You're very cute."
"No."
"You are."
"No."
"You have flower pajamas."
"...They're comfortable."
"You pout."
"...That's unrelated."
"You hug everyone."
"...Affection is healthy."
"You call Mark every day."
"...Friendship."
"You call Mrs. May 'Mom.'"
"...Because she's Mom."
"You cried when your cactus died."
"...His name was Gregory."
Silence.
Jake slowly looked at me. "...He named his cactus."
I whispered back, "...Gregory."
We both lost it.
Luca folded his arms tightly and huffed. "I'm surrounded by bullies."
"Awwww," I cooed. "There it is. The baby huff."
"I DID NOT HUFF."
"You huffed."
"I breathed aggressively."
Nena reached over and pinched his cheek. "So cute."
He gently pushed her hand away. "Stop saying that."
"It won't make it less true."
Dad stood up, chuckling. "Anyway. That's the plan."
He adjusted his watch. "I need to head back to the company for a while."
Mrs. May looked up. "So soon?"
"I just want to make sure everything's running smoothly."
Then he smiled at her. "And while I'm there... I'll check on your company too."
Mrs. May smiled softly. "Thank you."
He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "My pleasure."
"Ewwww," Jake muttered.
Dad looked over. "You'll understand one day."
Jake glanced at Nena. "...Maybe."
Nena heard him.
Her ears turned slightly pink.
Dad pretended not to notice.
He grabbed his keys. "I'll be back before dinner."
"Bye, Dad," we all called.
The front door clicked shut.
For about three whole seconds...
Peace.
Then Jake wandered back into the living room and casually dropped onto the couch.
Without saying a word Nena walked over... ...and stole half of his seat.
Jake looked down at her. "You know there's an entire couch."
"I know."
"So why are you sitting here?"
"Because I wanted this spot."
"You mean my spot."
"Our spot."
"I don't remember agreeing to that."
"You don't have to."
"I absolutely do."
"Nope."
Jake sighed dramatically. "I live with a menace."
Nena grinned. "You love the menace."
"...Unfortunately."
"I heard that."
"It was meant to be heard."
Meanwhile...
Luca squeezed himself into the tiny space between them. "There."
Jake stared at him. "...Why are you here?"
"I like sitting between couples."
"We're trying to argue."
"I'll supervise."
"You don't supervise."
"I emotionally supervise."
Jake looked at me. "...Can we return him?"
I smiled sweetly. "No refunds."
Luca leaned comfortably against Jake's shoulder.
Jake sighed. "I was about to have a romantic argument."
Luca nodded. "And now you're having a family argument."
"...You know what?" Jake looked at Nena. "He's your problem now."
Nena wrapped an arm around Luca's shoulders dramatically. "Come here, my emotionally attached son."
"I'M NOT YOUR SON!"
Jake pointed proudly. "See? Baby."
"I'm seventeen!"
"...Baby."
"I PAY TAXES!"
Jake blinked. "...No, you don't."
"..."
"...Right."
The room exploded with laughter.
I leaned back against the couch, smiling so hard my cheeks hurt.
This... This noisy, ridiculous, impossible family... Somehow... Had become my favorite place in the world.