[Hazel]
Two days after that call with Elisabeth…
“Thanks again, Hazel.” Elisabeth’s voice was softer than usual as she pulled away from the hug—and for the first time, it actually felt like a hug. Not the cold, one-arm pat she usually gave, not the awkward lean of someone being polite. It was real. Warm. A little too long. A little too honest. “You’re the best,” she added with a smile—one that didn’t drip with sarcasm or smugness.
For a heartbeat, I just stared at her. Who are you, and what have you done with my asshole cousin?
I offered a small smile back, though my mind was racing. I wasn’t used to this version of Elisabeth. This was the girl who once called me a “useless accessory to the family tree.” And now? She was grateful. Appreciative. Maybe even… proud of me.
Wild. Almost g
