Kyrie was the first to arrive, carrying a brown paper bag. “I stopped for some of those veggie spring rolls we love from the place on Figueroa.”
“Oh my God, those are amazing. Thank you.” By now, Anna had finished the stir-fry prep, and she joined Zoe and Kyrie on the patio for a beer. Anna loved to be outside this time of year. It had been in the low seventies earlier, but now that the sun had begun to set, it had dipped into the sixties. Perfect hoodie weather.
Unlike San Francisco, where she’d grown up, springtime in LA tended to be crisp and clear, not endlessly gray and damp. Her phone buzzed with a text.
Eden:
I’m here.
Anna popped out of her seat embarrassingly quickly and went inside. She pulled open the front door to see a sleek black sedan idling outside. The back door opened, and Eden stepped out. She had on skinny jeans and a pink patterned top, and Anna’s traitorous heart gave a little leap in her chest. “Hi,” she said, motioning Eden inside.
“You know, I had been trying to picture where you lived,” Eden said as she stepped through the door.
Anna shut it behind her. “And?”
“And this is pretty close to what I had imagined.” Eden swept her gaze around the living room. “Colorful, comfortable, and not at all pretentious.”
“Is that how you see me?”
“I think you’re those things and more.” Eden held out a small bottle. “I would have brought wine, but you didn’t quite strike me as a wine drinker.”
“I do drink wine sometimes, but you’re right. It’s not my first choice.” She accepted the bottle of spiced rum, which looked expensive and elegant, just like Eden. Anna was trying to play it cool, like she wasn’t ridiculously touched by Eden’s thoughtfulness. Like she wasn’tdeveloping a massive crush despite her best efforts not to. “This looks amazing. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Eden smiled at her, and for several beautiful seconds, they were caught in the moment, just watching each other, relaxed and happy and comfortable. Then Eden looked down at her feet.
Anna followed her gaze and saw Nelle sniffing Eden’s boots. “This is the actual owner of the house, Nelle. She’s currently evaluating whether you get to stay.”
“Uh-oh,” Eden said. “I hope I make the cut.”
“Looks promising, but I wouldn’t try to pet her just yet. She’s a total asshole sometimes.”
“Got it.” Eden looked up, her eyes sparkling with humor. “Nelle, hmm?”
“Yeah, she’s, um ... I named her Villanelle because one minute she loves you, the next minute she’s drawing blood. A very complicated lady.”
“A bit of a psychopath, are you, Nelle?” Eden asked. “Beautiful and lethal, just like your namesake.”
Nelle looked up at her and meowed. Behind them, the patio door slid open, and Zoe stepped inside.
“Figured I’d see where you ran off to,” she said, looking first at Anna and then Eden. “Zoe Morales. Nice to meet you.”
“Hi, Zoe.” Eden extended a hand, which Zoe took. “I’m Eden. Anna was just introducing me to Nelle.”
“Oh, you want to watch out around that one.” Zoe gave the cat an affectionate glance. “She’ll slice you open when you least expect it.”
“So I hear. Zoe Morales, your name is familiar. How do I know you?” Eden asked.
“Anna and I were onHex Hightogether, and now I’m starring onThe Match. I live in the other half of the duplex.” She jerked a thumb over her shoulder in the direction of her house.
“That’s nice, having a friend next door,” Eden said.
“It’s great,” Anna confirmed. “What can I get you to drink? We’ve got beer, soda, water, sparkling water, and now spiced rum.” She held up the bottle.
Eden glanced at it and then at Anna. “What are the rest of you drinking?” There was something in her voice Anna hadn’t heard before, hesitation or maybe even the tiniest bit of insecurity, as if Eden was worried she wouldn’t fit in. And that was as unexpected as it was adorable. As if Eden Sands could ever possibly not be the coolest person in the room.
“Beer,” Zoe said, holding hers up.
“Same,” Anna said. “I left mine out back when I came to get the door.”