**Chapter Eight: Sunny** Balancing a bottle of wine precariously in one hand, I raised my other hand, trembling slightly, and knocked on Sam's door. After three grueling shifts in a row, my appearance was definitely far from ideal—dark circles shadowed my eyes, and frizzy curls threatened to escape their bun. Despite my current state, Sam had been relentless in her invitation, insisting that being included in the family circle dinners was a rare honor. There wasn’t really a choice; saying no was not an option. And, to be candid, a part of me was eager to accept. “Sunny, you should know by now you don’t even need to knock!” Sam’s voice rang out cheerily through the door. Yet when it opened, I was surprised not to see Sam, but instead a girl with mousy brown hair and large gray eyes who stood before me, smirking as if she had just unraveled a delightful secret. I blinked in disbelief, swallowing hard as the recognition hit me like a wave. This was the same girl I had cared for in the emergency department weeks prior. How had life led me to this moment, colliding with not one, but three people from my past within a city so sprawling and vast? “So, you’re Sunny?” she said with a teasing smirk that made me unsure whether being recognized was a good or bad thing. “I’m Macey.” Her hand, adorned with blue nail polish, extended towards me, and I hesitated before taking it, memories flooding back to her bloodied hand in mine. “Yes, that’s me,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. The myriad of questions I had for her swirled in my mind, yet she appeared surprisingly unbothered, like she had truly moved on. “Sam has a major crush on you, which I’m sure you already knew, but I can see why,” Macey said as she stepped aside, inviting me in. The door clicked shut behind me, a decisive sound that felt like sealing a pact. “Keeping those ratty boys out,” she added with a wink. “Fair enough,” I retorted, chuckling to myself, as I did the same thing every night to my own door. “Here’s my darling Sunny Sunshine!” Sam cried out, practically launching herself into my arms. “Hello to you as well, Sam,” I laughed, burying my face in her soft neck, the familiar scent of her laundry detergent encasing me in warmth. By now, Sam’s apartment felt like a second home. The quirky loft, adorned with shades of pink and purple furniture, was still a delightful chaotic mess, despite the fact that company was on the way. My eyes drifted to the long dining table, set elegantly for the entire family, and I noticed a place had been reserved just for me. I had been invited to family dinners. Sam hurried back to the kitchen as Macey commenced pouring the wine I had brought. I settled onto a barstool beside her, relief washing over me that I could contribute, however small it might be. A thousand questions buzzed in my head, yet she seemed blissfully oblivious to the depth of our connection. “I’ve heard the tale of how you and Sam met,” Macey began, handing me a glass brimming with rich red wine. “The legendary paint shop incident. Sam trying to flirt with you, only to realize… well, you know.” She grinned, taking a sip, the corners of her mouth lifting mischievously. “Sounds about right,” I chuckled, trying to shake the tension from my shoulders. “Welcome to family dinner! Once you’re in, you’re in for life. Which means, you can’t leave, Sunny,” Sam chimed, her voice floating in from the kitchen, where the fragrant aroma of spices and simmering tomatoes hinted that pasta would be the star attraction this evening. I took a sip of my wine, the slight bitterness mingling with the sweetness of the moment, and I suppressed a chuckle at Sam’s warning. “Welcome to the family, Sunny. You’re going to adore it and simultaneously detest it,” Macey said, her arm throwing itself over my shoulders possessively. “It’s an honor,” I toasted, my spirits slightly sinking at the words since I knew I would be leaving in just a few months. “Hear, hear!” Sam clinked her glass against mine and Macey’s, a celebratory announcement echoing in our small gathering. “So, is Tyler bringing his girlfriend?” I pried, attempting to weave into the conversation. A chorus of laughter erupted from both Sam and Macey, thus marking an unmistakable “no” on that topic. “Absolutely not,” Macey said, shaking her head, her hair flapping lightly with the motion. “That bitch can rot in hell,” Sam declared fiercely. “Although, maybe an arranged marriage is precisely what I need,” Macey quipped, downing her glass with a dramatic flair. “Oh hush, little birdy! You’ll find your match!” Sam winked as she stirred her sauce. Suddenly, a vigorous knocking on the front door punctuated the air, followed by a frantic jiggling of the knob. “Hey! Why is it locked?” a man’s voice boomed from the outside, tinged with frustration. “To keep nasty boys like you out!” Sam shouted back, refusing to budge from her position in the kitchen. “We won’t bite!” another voice chimed in, this one bright and airy—a stark contrast to the first. “Speak for yourself,” came Tyler’s voice, smooth as velvet, effortlessly making its way to me, wrapping me in unspoken familiarity. “With each of you supposed to have a key! If you can’t find it, you’re responsible for changing my locks!” Sam hollered, stomping toward the door. As soon as she swung the door open, three tall figures tumbled inside in a heap, all laughter and banter as they collapsed against one another. “Sunny! Good to see you again,” Tyler purred, standing up straight and letting his green eyes trace over me. He rounded the kitchen island, casually making his way through the chaos. “Oh look, a blonde! Thank goodness, we needed one!” One of the others exclaimed with a dazzling smile that lit up his face, complementing his dark skin. “Anthony, seriously?” the last one said, his hand running through his dark hair with an effortless swagger that would make my mother cringe. “Hi, I’m Cole. Don’t mind my brothers; they can get a bit much sometimes.” His hazel eyes sparkled with genuine humor as he extended his hand towards me. “We all have our quirks. I’m Sunny,” I introduced myself, shaking his hand with the obvious warmth that radiated through his smile. “I know,” he grinned back, leaving me puzzled, but intrigued. Everyone slipped smoothly into their roles, their movements flowing with an ease I had never quite embraced since moving out of my family’s home. “So, you all do this every week?” I asked, curious to understand the dynamics of this newly formed family. Tyler meandered back to Sam and Macey, greeting them with affectionate kisses on their cheeks and warm hugs. He looked over to me, a boyish grin spreading across his face, albeit lacking the familiar warmth he offered his sisters. “Every single week! We shift who hosts based on schedules, events, holidays—things like that,” Anthony explained, pouring himself a drink as he spoke. “We spend every holiday together, at least a part of it. And then the rest with the families that don’t really matter.” “Hey, speak for yourself! I actually like my family,” Macey interjected, perching back onto her barstool with a half-serious pout. As they moved through Sam’s apartment in a way that felt effortlessly familial, I couldn't help but observe how alien it was to witness comfort woven into the fabric of friendship. They had constructed a family of choice, born from their painful histories, and it felt like a breath of fresh air in my tightly-wound world. Here they stood, absorbed in laughter, love, and the promise of togetherness after enduring trials that could derail many. “Each week, we alternate hosting duties,” Tyler announced, arranging a delightful assortment of homemade pastries on the kitchen island alongside fresh, uncooked pasta. “It depends on who’s available and who can cook. Sam wouldn’t know how to bake to save her life, so we brought dessert from Mike’s Pastry,” he added, gesturing playfully towards the box. I glanced at the pasta with a mischievous tilt of my head. “I didn’t know pasta qualified as dessert.” He chuckled, catching the humor. “I guess my pasta is just that good,” he winked back, striding over to the stove to lend a hand to Sam. “How long have you all known one another?” I inquired, enveloped by their camaraderie and eager to absorb their tales. Tyler’s gaze lingered on me as he moved around the kitchen, the air thick with anticipation of what it meant to introduce someone new into their cherished circle. “I’ve known these two since we were in diapers,” Anthony replied, slinging an arm around Sam and Tyler, who rolled her eyes in jest. “True,” Sam laughed, tossing a spatula playfully in the air. “We literally crapped our pants together!” “That’s disgusting,” Macey replied with a scrunched nose, earning a round of laughter. “Our parents are connected through business—my dad runs an insurance firm, and they collaborated before we even showed up in this world,” Anthony explained. “They quickly realized I was too social to be cooped up in an insurance office, so Tyler’s dad put my talents to good use, and I ended up becoming a high-end party planner for all their investment events.” “Sounds very impressive,” I remarked appreciatively. Then Cole casually added, “Tyler and I got into a bar fight once.” He lounged on the arm of Sam’s purple couch, propping his boots on the glass coffee table. “That’s definitely a story I want to hear in detail,” I said, leaning in closer. “Maybe another time,” Cole waved a dismissive hand. “We’ll have plenty of chances now.” A smile crept onto my lips before I could contain it. I quickly realized that there lay a profound difference between being wanted and being controlled. These people, they wanted me here. “Now meet our little baby bird,” Anthony said, stepping towards Macey and placing his hands on her shoulders in a way that felt protective. “Oh god, why ‘baby bird’ of all the nicknames?” Macey groaned, burying her face into her drink. Tyler stood poised, announcing with authority, “The moral of the story is that family isn’t confined to blood relations; it’s rooted in love and loyalty. This family—once you’re in, it’s a permanent bond. Being welcomed is a massive honor. Welcome to the family, Sunny.” He raised his glass, a calm, almost threatening intensity simmering in his eyes—this was a warning hidden in the fabric of his welcome. “Hate to break it to you, Tyler, but we’ve already done this,” Sam teased over her shoulder with a smirk. “Sam, don’t ruin the moment!” Anthony shot back, lifting his glass high. “Cheers, bitches!” “Cheers!” we all shouted, glasses clinking together with contagious enthusiasm. And just like that, I became an undeniable part of their family.