Page 42 of Poinsettia Lane

“I have no idea. I mean, my emotions were up and down all day leading up to it, and I had been feeling nervous, so maybe it was a combination of everything? I don’t know. I’m going to ask Carrie about it next session. I just hope it doesn't happen again," she says, sitting up and crossing her legs, sighing in resignation at the fact that it likely will, as that wasn’t the first one in the last few weeks.

Frankie looks at her thoughtfully.

“It sounds like even if you do have another one, if Asim’s around he can help you through it. From what you said, it doesn’t seem like it even phased him, and based on that kiss… yeah. Girl, you’re fine.” They state this as though their word is law and there is no question about it.

Everly laughs, acknowledging Frankie’s words are likely the truth. They spend some time catching up on both of their lives, and Everly putters around the house taking care of minor household chores she’s been putting off. As they finally end the call over an hour later, Everlyis smiling and humming to herself, putting the last of the clean dishes away in the kitchen.

She heads up the stairs to bed, deciding she doesn’t need that bubble bath after all, and feels lighter than she has in years. Joyful to have a friend she can share everything with who won’t judge her for her flaws, and eager to spend more time with Asim in the next couple days.

~~~

Asim backs the delivery truck up to the front porch steps, in the same spot he had it when he first dropped off the plants for the holiday party so many weeks ago. Everly is already waiting on the porch with the front door open, grin stretching her cheeks and hugging a cheerful red poinsettia in her arms, ready to be loaded.

As he jumps down and closes the truck door behind him, Asim sees her and grins back. Everly lifts one of her hands from the pot, clasping her forearm with the other, and gives him a small wave before wrapping it around the pot and holding it tightly to her front again.

“Ready to get right to work, I see.”

“I’m excited!” Everly says, bouncing on her toes. She feels good about this decision, bringing a bit of joy and life to those in her community.

Asim skips up the steps and strides right over to her like he owns the place, sliding his hand to the nape of her neck as his lips take hers in a searing kiss above the poinsettia’s flowers tickling her chin. Before Everly can so much as try to return it, he’s pulling away and turning to open up the back of the truck. Everly rocks up onto her toes, a blissful feeling lighting up her chest.

They both start grabbing the potted poinsettias from inside and loading them into the truck. Once they get a few in, Asim suggests she hop in the back and start organizing them while he hauls the rest out to her.

Before she can finish saying “sure,” his hands are around her waist and he’s lifting her up into the bed of the truck. Everly gasps, the combination of his touch, his hands nearly encircling her waist, and the ease with which he lifts her sending her mind into a buzzingfrenzy.

She shakes her head quickly, not letting herself get sucked into the distraction that is Asim right now. They are on a schedule today and she won’t be sidetracked from it. Everly shuffles into the truck’s depths, scooting and sliding the potted plants around so they’re secure and will be easy to unload when they get to their new homes.

Asim easily carries out four at a time with two in each hand, somehow gripping the lips of the pots together and dropping them into the truck for her to arrange. After only a few more trips, the house is cleared out and the truck is loaded.

“Well that was way easier and faster than if I had tried to do this all myself," Everly says, hands on her hips and her voice wry as she looks down at Asim from her vantage point in the back of the truck. Asim chuckles and waves her forward. She sits down at the edge with her legs dangling off, intending to reach for his hand, but he has other ideas. Once again, his hands circle her waist, and hers go to his shoulders as he lifts her down, setting her feet on the ground in front of him.

“That’s way too easy for you.” Everly’s breath hitches in her lungs and she struggles to keep her eyes locked on his when what they really want to do is admire the tattooed biceps that are being lovingly hugged by his short shirt sleeves.

“Because of my monster arms?”

Asim’s grin is playful as he crowds her space, reminding her of the way her mouth ran away without her permission the first time they met. Her eyes flare as he reaches up over her, and her mind blanks. Everly has no idea what’s happening now, other than that she’s surrounded by him. His broad chest is pressing into hers, her nose is at the base of his throat with his masculine, earthy scent invading her lungs, and his arms are raised on either side of her. She’s ready to climb him like some sort of rabid spider monkey, when he abruptly pulls down the roller door to the back of the truck. Everly squeaks in alarm, nearly crashing her nose into his chin when she instinctively jumps away from the loud sound, inadvertently launching herself at him.

Asim throws the latch behind her before leaning back and meeting her gaze again. His eyes are twinkling with mischief and she narrows hers, pinning him with a glare as she wills her heart to slow. He knew exactly what he was doing and how it would affect her. Everly unclenches her fists from his shirt and lightly smacks a very hard pec in retaliation. She’s pretty sure her palm stings more than his chest.

Asim’s smile oozes male smugness. Everly whirls around, whipping him in the chest with her long, dark hair, and strides toward the passenger door of the truck. She hears his amused chuckle behind her, and acknowledges it with a secret smile of her own. She likes playful Asim.

A moment later, he climbs in next to her, his corded forearm flexing as he turns the key in the ignition.

“Where to first?”

“I was thinking that apartment complex for 55 and older, the one over on Elmwood?”

“I know the one.” Asim nods and shifts the truck into gear, driving carefully down the driveway and turning out onto her street in the direction she indicated. Everly cracks her window open so she can feel the cool morning breeze on her cheeks as the neighbors’ houses slide by outside the window.

“You don’t think this is silly, do you?” Everly is having second thoughts, wondering if people won’t want poinsettias in February.

“I think it’s a really thoughtful idea, Ever. If I didn’t think people would like it, I would have told you so.” Asim has always been honest with her, and she has no reason to doubt him. Everly relaxes back into the seat.

They arrive a few minutes later and walk up to the resident services building. To her surprise, an older man, who she assumes must be the leasing office or building manager, walks right up to Asim with a warm smile on his wrinkled face and his hand stretched out. Asim meets him halfway, warmth lighting his face in return as they greet each other while Everly stalls behind him.

“Mr. Williams,” Asim says, “great to see you again.”

“You as well, young man," Mr. Williams says. “How are you? How’s that old truck holding up?”

---