Page 7 of Poinsettia Lane

“I…” Everly spins in a circle, her eyes darting around for answers, and Frankie grabs her shoulders to stop her. Everly shakes her head, though she doesn’t know what she’s saying no to.

“Are you okay?” Frankie asks.

Everly’s head, of its own volition, continues to twist back and forth.

Frankie nods. “Okay, it’ll be fine. We’ve got this.”

They steer Everly to the sink and turn the water on cold, then stick her hands under it. Everly jerks in their grip, her eyes refocusing and coming back to meet Frankie’s concerned gaze.

“Big breath,” Frankie says, and Everly sucks air deep into her lungs.

“And out slowly,” Frankie continues, “focus, Everly.”

They search her gaze, eyes flitting back and forth between hers, and their eyes soften from concern into something a little less imperative.

“Okay?”

“Yeah,” Everly says, “okay.”

“Good. Now. You have guests to greet.” Frankie hands over a towel to dry her hands. “We can have a breakdown or whatever you need to do later. Yeah?”

Everly nods, muttering a quick “later” to herself.

Frankie snags the towel back and then turns Everly toward the foyer, giving her a hearty pat on the back.

“You’ve got this.”

Everly pushes her shoulders back with another slow breath, tips her chin up, and steps back into the party, doing her best to keep the swirling thoughts at bay.

Everyone looks genuinely surprised to see Addison, which results in more than a few sideways glances between the two of them when people think she isn’t looking. Luckily, Addison is eager and ready for theattention; she doesn’t look even half as uncomfortable as Everly feels.

Everly watches from the sidelines as Addison returns smiles and hugs, asking after people’s businesses and families as though she hasn’t missed any of the gossip from the last eight years. Everly is floored by this woman. Her sister has always been bubbly and outgoing, but in a more reckless and immature way. She supposes that’s because she hasn’t really known Addison since she moved out for college, and Everly shouldn’t be surprised this is how she’s turned out.

She fits in with this crowd perfectly.

Everly, on the other hand, has never fit in here. She doesn’t like the person she pretends to be around all of her parents’ old friends and acquaintances, but doesn’t know how to be anyone else either since this is who she’s been for years; it’s who they expect her to be.

Frankie keeps telling her how wonderful the event is going, that everyone is happy and having a good time, to stop worrying, but everywhere she turns, she either sees Addison, or she sees flowers. Brilliant red poinsettias popping out at her no matter where she looks, reminding her of Asim and heating her cheeks.

Asim, who she wants to see again but doesn’t know how to contact. Asim, with his kindness and charm, who somehow brought out a different side of her, one she thinks she likes. Asim, who gives her even more nervous butterflies in her tummy than she normally gets when she goes out in public, but for some reason she doesn’t hate in this scenario. Asim and his biceps, barely contained in that t-shirt, that she wants to wrap her hands around to see if her fingers will touch or not.

Asim, who will not get out of her freaking head.

A few flustered hours and many glasses of champagne later, the party is finally winding down. The guests trickle out, repeating the same polite lines and gestures as when they arrived. Addison stands by the door with her, saying goodbyes and offering well wishes, which makes Everly feel slightly awkward, but despite that, Addison’s presence is not unwelcome. Turns out Everly kind of likes having her sister there, and not only for her excellent buffering abilities.

After the last guest leaves, and while the hired staff begin their breakdown routines, Addison offers to help clean up. Everly isn’t sure how much more socializing she can take, but this isn’t an opportunity she can afford to pass up, so she agrees.

Frankie pops their head out from the kitchen and gestures with their arms and hands–what Everly assumes to be them asking if Everly wants them to stay or go. She nods her head for them to take off, giving a look that says she’ll fill them in later. Frankie gives a thumbs up, then crosses their fingers with a raised eyebrow before ducking out through the garage with Addison none the wiser.

As Addison sweeps and Everly collects scattered bits of trash, they dance around the topics she is sure they both really want to talk about, but are too afraid to broach.

“How is California and the beach house?” Everly asks her sister, while her mind screams about how weird this is.

“It’s great, I did some redecorating there as well. It doesn’t look nearly as sophisticated and gorgeous as this place does though!”

“What does it look like? I’m sure you did a great job!”

The conversation is stilted, a bit too enthusiastic for this reunion, but they manage. Addison describes some of her favorite local beach spots, where she likes to eat, shows Everly a couple pictures of the beach house she’s taken over the years and describes what has changed in the area since they last visited as a family. The conversation turns back to Stone Ride, drawing into the present again.

---