“There’ll be many more. Don’t you worry.”
Just as the show we’re watching ends, our plates are cleared, and I put them in the sink. My watch buzzes, and I see it’s my sister on FaceTime, so I quickly grab my phone.
As soon as I answer, Annie smiles at me.
“Merry Christmas, sis,” I tell her.
“You too! Whatcha doing?” Behind her, Sadie’s on the floor surrounded by colorful wrapping paper.
“Just finished breakfast and watching TV. What time did you wake up?” I laugh, seeing the bags under her eyes. She moves the phone closer to her lips and whispers, “Four. In. The. Fucking. Morning.”
I scrunch my nose. “Nooooo, thank you.”
“No kidding. Way too damn early.”
“Oh, there’s someone I want you to meet,” I say before Everleigh can run off.
She pops her head up with wide eyes, but I can tell she’s excited to finally be formally introduced. The last time we talked, Sadie bombarded Everleigh with questions before she walked away.
Everleigh slides in beside me, smiling wide.
“This is my roommate, Everleigh. She owns a shop in town that has the shirts you like.”
“Hi, Merry Christmas! It’s so nice to finally meet you,” Everleigh eagerly says.
“Same! I’m sure my brother has been boring, quiet, and has kept to himself the entire time there,” she states.
I give her a stern look, and Everleigh laughs.
“Just a little. Still trying to crack that hard shell of his, but I’ll get there.” She wraps her arm around me, and just her simple touch drives me crazy.
“Trust me,” she adds, giving me a smoldering look before pinching my side. I wiggle away from her.
“Oh, so you’re ticklish?Verygood to know...”
“See what you did.” I glower at my sister as Everleigh chases me around the living room, using her fingers as pinchers.
Annie gets a kick out of it and cheers Everleigh on.
“Whose side are you on anyway?” I ask, trying to catch my breath as I put the couch between us.
“Okay, okay. I’ll call a truce…fornow.” Everleigh comes back into view of our FaceTime call.
“Any other secrets you’d like to share about Archer?” She waggles her brows.
“Oh, the things I could say.” Annie shakes her head. “But he might disown me if I spilledallthe tea.”
“Lose a brother, gain a sister. I think I’m a fair trade,” Everleigh taunts, causing Annie to snort.
I playfully roll my eyes but adore how much Annie seems to already like Everleigh. “But anyway. I will give you two some privacy. I need to jump in the shower and start getting dressed for the day. It really was nice meeting you.”
“So nice meeting you too. I’m gonna have Archer send me the links to your shop.”
“Oh, please do. If there’s anything you like, just let me know, and I’ll give you the family discount. Or you know…” Everleigh looks at me, then back at Annie. “You could always come visit?”
“Maybe one day!” Annie grins, and they wave goodbye.
Everleigh winks, then walks toward her room. Before she opens the door, she turns and looks at me with pure fire in her eyes. Things wouldn’t be like this if we were two different people.