Page 72 of Poinsettia Lane

“You made it!” she says, a wide smile on her face.

“I did!” Addison hops out and slams the door closed, then strides around the car toward Everly. Without hesitation, Addison throws her arms around her sister and Everly’s breath catches at the ease with which Addison embraces her.

Everly’s arms come up and wrap around her in return, and she breathes in the moment, savoring the feel of her little sister in her arms and exulting in this epic hug of all hugs. It feels like love and joy and comfort.

It feels like home.

As Addison chatters about the flight and how she recognized a book someone was reading in the row in front of her, Everly can’t stop smiling and her cheeks already hurt with how wide it is. They stow Addison’s luggage for the week in her old bedroom upstairs, not even unpacking before they agree drinks are in order.

They’re sitting on barstools at the kitchen counter catching up when Addison asks about Asim.

“He’s definitely still stressed and has a lot on his plate, but it’s coming back together. He’s at the garden center, but might swing by later," Everly says.

“Okay cool, I can’t wait to officially meet him.” Addison’s eyes twinkle as she clasps her hands in front of her.

They’ve said hello a couple times on video calls over the last two weeks, and Everly can’t wait to see how they get along in person.

Then she surprises Everly by bringing up someone else.

“So what about your other friend, Frankie?” Addison says. She glances sideways at Everly from the corner of her eye.

“What about them?”

“Are they coming over too?” Addison’s cheeks are pink and she’s shifted her focus to looking resolutely at her hands.

Everly narrows her eyes.

“Ad…” Her sister’s eyes flick to hers briefly before darting away again. “Do you want me to invite them over?”

“Oh, no, that’s not,” she stammers, “I mean, ifyouwanted to, I don’t mind, is all.” Addison takes a swig ofher dry Manhattan and immediately starts hacking, pounding her chest with the heel of her hand and leaning over in her seat.

“Geez, are you okay?!” Everly pats her back on her way to the sink for a quick glass of water. She slides it in front of Addison, who nods her indication that she’s fine and takes a grateful gulp. “If you like Frankie, that’s okay. I won’t be mad. But I’ll be honest, I don’t know if they’re interested one way or another.”

“Oh my god, Ev!” Addison’s cheeks are more than pink now.

“I’m just saying!” she says, throwing her hands in the air in surrender.

Addison downs the rest of the water before looking back at Everly. “I don’t know if it’s like that. I guess I just want to get to know them.”

Everly nods and decides to go easy on her for now, while a plucky trail of schemes start flitting through her brain. She holds in the maniacal laugh, but lets it ring through her mind loud and clear.

“So what happened with those other two? Your ex and your… other ex?” Everly asks, still unclear on the relationships between all of them, and Addison sighs dramatically, rolling her eyes to the high heavens, then launches into an update on what sounds like an incredibly awkward ex-love triangle which she somehow keeps getting pulled into, despite her consistent denials of any lingering interest in either of them.

Addison gets up to refill her drink, offering one to Everly as well and grabbing some snacks while she’s near the pantry. As she’s distracted, Everly texts both Asim and Frankie to come over, debating whether or not to warn Frankie about her sister’s possible crush. She decides to stay out of it; they’re both adults and can figure it out on their own.

~~~

Alone in her kitchen a few hours later, Everly leans against the counter as she looks out the sink window at the night sky and listens to the beautiful sound of her sister, boyfriend, and best friend laughing and chattingin the next room. She’s filled to the brim with a sense of cozy joy, a sort of peaceful euphoria she can’t exactly put her finger on. It’s a new feeling for her, something that’s been coming up the last couple weeks that she’s trying hard to be accepting of. Everly sighs and smiles to herself, eyes unfocused as she gets lost in the moment, then jumps when a hand lands on her shoulder.

“Good god, Frankie.” Everly presses her palm against her chest, willing her heart to slow before it catapults her into an early grave. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“Wow, sorry. I didn’t know you’d be so jumpy, what’s up?” Frankie asks.

“Nothing, I was just getting some water.” Everly turns to the purified water dispenser on the fridge, waiting for her glass to refill.

Frankie is silent for a few moments, waiting for her to turn around before speaking again.

“They’re both really great, you know," Frankie says, their voice uncharacteristically serious. “I’m really proud of you.”

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