Page 56 of Chasing Elliott
“But if I tell you, you’ll say no,” he pointed out as I turned my attention back to him.
I raised a brow, trying to stifle the smile that was threatening to appear on my face. “Now, Benny, why on earth would you admit that?”
“I’m honest to a fault,” Cooper responded with a shrug of his shoulders.
I let the laugh I was holding escape me as I grabbed a pair of jeans and a white tank, pulling a flannel off a hanger to tie around my waist. I quickly changed in the closet beforewalking back into my room to find Cooper sitting on my bed.
I walked over to him, moving to stand between his legs as I rested my hands on his shoulders. “You’re lucky you’re so cute. I’ll give you an hour and a half before we have to get back here so I can decorate.”
“You’re the best,” he said as he stood, picking me up and swinging me in a circle. “You won’t regret this, I promise.”
“And why don’t I fully believe that?”
Cooper bent down and placed a quick kiss on my lips before reaching for my hand and dragging me out into the hall and down the stairs. “Because you know I’m always up to something.”
We pulled up in front of a large, three story Victorian looking home. I slowly climbed off the back of the bike, looking at the house in front of me in awe. Cooper suddenly wrapped an arm around my shoulders and started to lead me up the large, winding sidewalk to the front door.
“Where the hell are we?” I questioned softly, still unable to take my eyes off the gorgeous exterior.
Before he could answer me, the door was yanked open and a young girl, no older than sixteen, came running down the steps. Cooper removed his arm from me and took a few steps forward, catching her with ease as she leapt into his arms.
“Hey, Millie,” Cooper said as he set the young girl down, ruffling her light hair. “What have you been up to, Trouble?”
“I made the Varsity team,” she replied proudly, puffing out her chest slightly.
Cooper beamed down at her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “That’s amazing, I’m so proud of you.”
“Aren’t you going to come say hello to dear old mom?” I heard a voice say from thedoorway.
My eyes widened as I looked up at her, noticing the striking resemblance between her and Cooper. Mom? Cooper did not seriously bring me to meet his family without telling me first, did he?
“Oh, how I’ve missed my sweet boy,” she told him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. She pulled back, looking around him to find me. I stood glued to the sidewalk a few feet away from the steps, completely blindsided. “You must be Elliott.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced my feet to carry me forward. Walking up the steps, I nodded and plastered a smile on my face. “That’s me. It’s nice to meet you.”
“None of that now,” she replied as she reached for my hand and pulled me into a hug. “No need to be so formal. I’m thrilled to finally meet the girl who’s giving my oldest a run for his money.”
“Thanks, mom,” Cooper grumbled from beside me as I chuckled softly. “Elliott, this ismy mother, Eleanor.”
His motherwaved a dismissive hand once she had let me go. “You can call me Ellie, dear. Call me Mrs. Hearst and I won’t respond. I may have four kids but I’m not that old.”
I looked over at Cooper with a shocked expression. He had three siblings that I didn'tknow about? I was so overwhelmed but trying my best to show otherwise. Much to my surprise, I actually wanted to make a good impression; I wanted them to like me.
Eleanor looped her arm through mine, pulling me into the house with her. My eyes widened as I took in the entryway; this area alone was definitely more expensive than what Ipaid for rent in a year. Dark wood floors, two staircases on either side leading up to the next floor, a large chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
“Your home is absolutely beautiful,” I told her, unable to stop looking around.
“Why thank you, dear,” she replied, pulling me deeper into the house with Cooper and his younger sister following behind us. “Jace, Charlie, we have visitors.”
I heard the sound of footsteps approaching, my arm still looped through Eleanor’s as two people rounded the corner. The boy could pass as Cooper’s twin, but the girl must take after their father; she had blonde hair and green eyes, much like the girl Cooper had called Millie.
“Long time no see,” the boy who I was assuming was named Jace said to his brother as he walked over, the two of them clasping hands. “Been a little busy I see.”
“You could say that,” Cooper responded as he glanced over at me. “Guys, this is Elliott. Elliott, this is my brother Jace and sister Charlotte.”
I smiled, shaking each of their hands as Eleanor refused to let go of my other arm. “It’s so great to meet you both.”
“You’re even prettier in person,” Charlotte said as she walked over and looped her arm through my free one, mimicking her mother so I was sandwiched between them.
