He could feel the anger bubbling as it had been since he got that phone call that uprooted his entire life. It's only been a couple years since he lost his mom but everyone was sitting around laughing with HER. Like she's some good given solace or something.
And they're all gushing over her son too. Who cares that he dances? Who cares about him at all? Eli certainly didn't.
For the last couple of months, his father and his ex-partner have been exploring a relationship with his permission of course. Permission he wishes he never gave because he hates them. Both of them and he wants them gone.
"Liv, you and Noah have to join us for our annual Stabler family week. We started it a couple of years ago. We all pick a city and for an entire week we have nothing but family time." Kathleen's voice brought him out of his thoughts.
3
"Yeah, Liv. It's so much fun and Noah we boys have a camping night. Sometimes if the weather or location doesn't allow for outdoor camping we build huge forts as tents in the living room." Dickie added more fuel.
2
"And while they have their little boys' night we women have a nice wine night. We give each other manicures, do each other hair, and sometimes we get massages too." Lizzie finished and the bomb went off.
1
"NO!" Immediately all heads snapped in his direction. "Why can't you just leave us alone? It's bad enough that you're constantly around and prancing your perfect little son around and we couldn't care less. Why can't you find you're own family and leave ours alone? You're not my mother and you'll never be her either."
Silence fell over the room and as Eli glanced around the table at everyone's faces he realized his mistake. "Noah. Go get your things. Now." He watched as the little boy who was always so bright and happy wiped his tears as he silently rose to obey his mother's command.
He looked at the chair next to now now-empty one at the brunette woman his rage was directed at. "I'm sorry Eli. We'll go." As she rose, she gave her dad a glare that made him shrink back from her.
His dad shook his head as he ran after her. "Liv wait." She was walking fast but he was faster. Standing in the hallway away from his children's eyes but not far enough from their ears. She let it rip.
"You lied to me, you bastard. You let me believe that we could actually be something but I told you we aren't ANYTHING if those kids objected to it and you told me no one did. That all gave you their blessing. How we belonged together. You needed me. YOU LIED THIS ENTIRE TIME." By this point, Noah had his bags and was standing by the door away from everyone and Olivia was so hurt and everyone heard it.
"Liv I didn't."
"No! I won't let hurt Noah and I won't let you hurt me. Not anymore." She came marching out with her bag and gave one more apologetic gaze at the kids before grabbing her son's hand and walking out the door. After a moment they all heard their dad's door slam.
"Nice job Eli. Nice one." He sat unmoved from his seat as his siblings walked out through the patio. Rising he made his way to the front door in her upset rush out Olivia wasn't mindful of locking the door. As he got there he heard the voices of the Bensons.
"I'm so sorry Noah. I didn't know he felt that way. I would've never put you in that predicament. You know what I'm thinking? Team Benson huh?"
Putting his eye to the peephole he watched an absolutely broken Noah throw himself into his mother's arms. Tearfully he spoke back. "Team Benson Mama. Just you and me. How it's always been."
Sorry y'all