THE GUY NEXT DOOR
And I can’t wait to live.
When I finally get up to leave, both girls stand, too. Lillian holds out her pinkie first, then Ellie, and finally me. We link them all together. “Always,” I say.
“Always,” my friends whisper right beside me.
Steve comes home on New Years Day. Stalker-ish, I know, but I’ve been watching for their car. I should probably give him some time to rest or unpack, but I can’t stop myself from going straight over. He cocks his head at me when he sees me coming and leans in the doorway.