Page 4 of Uniquely in Love

“Huh?” I turned, and Quinlan had an amused expression on her face.

“Whatcha thinking about there?” She sipped on her dirty chai latte while giving me a knowing look.

Looking down at my coffee on the table, I shoved the straw of my iced coffee in my mouth, drinking deeply. “Nothing.”

Chuckling, she readjusted her long braid. Quin worked as a zoologist at our local zoo, and I was pretty sure she had the coolest job out of all of us.

Of course, I still didn’t have an actual job, so that was probably the reason for the apprehension in my gut. That, and the unread text message on my phone.

Hopefully, a teaching position would open up over the summer, otherwise I’d just be substitute teaching until I could find something. It was a strange limbo to be almost twenty-two, a college graduate without a job lined up, and planning on moving back in with my parents. I was grown up, but it didn’t feel that way.

And I knew my mom—she would love on me and dote on me, treating me the same as she always had. I was her baby. But she also had treated me differently ever since the skating accident where I had hurt my knee. Like I wasfragile. Like she knew my dream of being an Olympic figure-skater had shattered with one wrong move. A lot of my plans had fallen apart that year.

“Okay, maybe not nothing. I need to find a job,” I said, letting out a deep sigh.

“You can always come work here with me,” Penny said, gesturing to her mom’s coffee shop. She’d also lined up a job teaching ESL—English as a second language—classes online, but I knew she felt the same way that I did. We’d talked about it a lot, with all our siblings and cousins being so successful. How we were both worried we wouldn’t live up to them. How we hadn’t really made it. It felt like everyone around us was doing great—professionally, at least.

In the love department, we were all a little lacking.

At least Penelope was writing her first novel, though. She wanted to follow in her mom’s footsteps as an author. I’d already told her I’d be the first one in line to buy it when she published. Pen also had her art studio, and I loved to sit and just watch her paint.

“Don’t worry, El,” Beau said, leaning over and messing with my hair. “You’re going to find the perfect placement. I just know it. Look at you. Who could say no to that face?”

“You’re just saying that because you’re my brother,” I said, rolling my eyes as I leaned away from him, feeling like he was about to pinch my cheeks like I was still a toddler.

“Maybe,” Abigail shrugged. “But it doesn’t mean it’s not true.”

“Thanks, Abs.” That meant a lot coming from her. She’d always had this air about her, confident and put together. My sister had been a dancer for years, and I’d been mesmerized watching her on stage, so graceful with her long legs and slender frame. I’d danced too—it was really helpful with figure skating, and I loved seeing my mom at the studio, but there was something different watching her.

“Alright,” Wesley said, sitting down at the table with a fresh cup of coffee. “What’d I miss?”

Zachary rolled his eyes at his twin brother. My cousins were spitting images of Angelina and Benjamin, but the Bradford genes were strong, and when they were with Beau, people often mistook the three of them for triplets.

Everyone burst out laughing, and then we all continued our various conversations.

Penny looked over, squeezing my hand.

No matter what else, I had my family. The people crowded around me as we shared laughter and love while we drank coffee in the place we grew up.

The people I loved more than anything else.

Even if therewasone person missing.

My graduation gown was unzipped,and I was clutching my diploma case and my decorated cap as I searched through the crowd, looking for my family. I was desperate to take my heels off, but we’d still have a bunch of photos to take, so I hadn’t yet.

When I caught sight of them, I practically beamed. “Hi!”

“There she is,” Mom announced. “I need to take pictures. Oh my gosh. Our little girl, all grown up.” She pulled out her phone, snapping pictures of all of us before asking someone nearby to take one of our family.

“Proud of you, sis,” Beau said, handing me a bouquet of white roses.

I smiled, looking at the beautiful flowers. “Thank you.”

My older sister pulled me into a hug, whispering in my ear, “You’re going to do amazing things, Ellie.”

“Congratulations, El.” My dad wrapped his arms around me once Abigail had pulled away, holding me tight. “I’m so proud of all you’ve accomplished.” I’d always felt safe and loved in his arms. He’d always been the best dad—driving me wherever I needed to go, sitting on the benches during my time at the rink, and always making sure I felt loved and supported.

“Thanks, Dad.” I hugged him back, he squeezed me tighter.

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