Page 73 of Poinsettia Lane

Everly hasn’t heard those words in years, probably close to a decade, and they instantly bring tears to her eyes. She blinks and scrunches her nose in an effort to keep them in. Frankie gives her soft smile, and she can see all of her own emotions reflected in it. They’ve been her rock for years; they know the heartbreak, loneliness, hurt, sadness, despair… everything Everly has gone through, they’ve been by her side, and they also know how much happier she is now.

She’s more free, fulfilled. Everly has found herself and her people, and it shows. She’s been practically glowing lately, not to mention she’s had more motivation and energy; she’s even started walking Moose and chatting with some of the other dog owners in the neighborhood.

A truly astounding turn of events.

“Thanks, Frankie," Everly says, her voice thick. She pulls them into an embrace, then swipes under her eyes to clear any tears that might have leaked before they walk back into the living area together, stopping in the doorway.

Addison and Asim are in a heated debate, and it takes Everly a few moments to piece together what, exactly,the topic is. When she realizes they’re debating the reality of aliens, and that they both seem to be arguing for aliens being real rather than taking opposing sides, she shakes her head and relaxes back into the cushions next to Asim. Frankie plops onto the couch beside Addison, causing her to bounce into them and let out a tiny squeak, which instantly turns her cheeks red and effectively ends the pointless alien debate.

Asim puts his arm around Everly, pulling her close into his side. Frankie, on the other hand, is eyeing Addison up and down like she’s their next snack while they take a playful sip of their drink, and Addison, for once, doesn’t seem to know what to do with herself. When Frankie asks if they all want to play “never have I ever,” Addison’s eyebrows shoot into her hairline and Everly buries her smirk in Asim’s arm.

This should be good.

“I don’t think I’ve played that since college," Addison says.

“Were you a good girl then, too?” Frankie asks, quirking one eyebrow. Their lips tilt up in a mischievous grin that Everly doesn’t want to be within ten feet of when Addison’s jaw falls open.

“Close your mouth, love," Everly whisper shouts to her sister, reaching across the space between them to tap her chin with her finger.

Addison’s mouth snaps closed and she bounces a narrow eyed glare between Everly and Frankie, who simply chuckles in response.

Thirty or so minutes and many drinks later, they’re all out of fingers. Everly is in Asim’s lap and Frankie appears to have reduced Addison to a puddle of wistful adoration with the way she’s looking up at them like a lost little puppy who has finally found its way home. When Frankie decides to turn the charm on like that, she doesn’t think even a cold, dead corpse would be able to resist, and poor, sweet Addison has no chance. Everly isn’t surprised by her best friend’s interest; people have always been drawn to Addison, and it seems Frankie is no exception.

Everly looks up at Asim, tilting her head toward the two of them and raising her eyebrows in a nonverbalquestion. The twinkle in his eye confirms that he sees it too, there’s definitely something going on there.

Luckily, Frankie decides to take pity on all of them after destroying everyone in the drinking game. They’re the one who could party for hours, but they read the room and correctly recognize it’s time to call it a night. Her friend asks Addison to walk them to the door, and Everly snorts a drunken laugh at the astonishment on her sister’s face.

With light fingers Asim pinches her hip teasingly in response. “That was you not so long ago, you know," he says, lips grazing her ear.

“It was not," she says, sounding petulant as the ’t’ snaps off her teeth like it’s readying for a fight. Everly’s face flames—with fury, of course—there’s no way she was as transparent as either of those two.

“It absolutely was, and I loved every second of it," he says, pulling her mouth toward his with a hand on the side of her neck.

She gives in easily, accepting his kiss and lingering in the moment until they draw apart for air. They hear Addison’s quick “good night” a few minutes later as she rushes up the stairs to her bedroom without stopping or turning in their direction, and they share a giddy smile.

Asim stands up with Everly still in his arms, depositing her on her feet and ensuring she’s steady before gathering the dirty glasses and dishes. He tidies up, quick and efficient, loads up the dishwasher, and helps her get the place back in order before he leaves.

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay?” Everly sways into him, her words coming out much more needy than she intended.

“You know I’d love to, but I have a very early morning.”

Everly scrunches her nose, not pleased in the slightest with that predicament.

When they step out onto the front porch together, Frankie is long gone and the neighborhood is dark, silent and still. Asim gazes down at her and cradles her jaw in one callused palm, his eyes tracing over every inch of her upturned face.

“You’re amazing, you know that?” he says, his voicesoft in the night air.

“Well duh, I snagged you after all.” She turns her head slightly into his hand, kissing the soft skin of his palm below his thumb, and he smiles.

“Seriously Ever, you did all this. You brought the four of us together, and we are all better for it. This night, these people… none of it would have happened without you," he says.

Everly tilts her head and thinks about that for a moment. She did bring them all together, and it feels incredible to be on the inside, in the middle of a group of people who truly know and care about her, rather than on the outside looking in and pretending to be part of something she’s not. She’s found her core circle, her favorite people in the world, and she doesn’t feel alone anymore.

Her heart is full and her soul is happy.

She smiles up at Asim and his own smile grows wider, softer, more tender as he gazes at her, nodding slightly and twining his other arm around her waist as he recognizes that she sees it. She sees the impact she’s had on all of them, herself included, and she understands the significance.

“My beautiful Ever. My Ever-after," he says, brushing his nose against hers. His voice is still low and soft, and his eyes capture hers in their gaze. Asim’s hands trail reverently over her curves to lightly brush her hair back before he cups her face in both of his hands. He searches her eyes, just as she searches his, seeing everything in her heart reflected there.

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