“Perfect,” I assure her, helping her set up the makeshift bed.
Once we’ve got everything arranged, she pauses in the doorway of her bedroom. “Hey, Atlee?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you,” she says softly. “For pushing me about Carson. I don’t know if anything will ever happen there, but…it’s nice to know you believe I deserve something good.”
“You do,” I tell her earnestly. “You deserve everything good, Len.”
She smiles, a real smile that reaches her eyes. “So do you. Good night, sis.”
“Good night,” I reply, watching as she disappears into her room.
As I settle onto the pull-out couch, my phone buzzes with a text from Devlin.
Devlin
Miss you. Jesse is cheating at poker and I’m down $50.
I smile, typing back quickly.
Me
Miss you too. And he’s definitely cheating. Watch his left hand. I’ve heard rumors about that being his tell.
Devlin
Thanks for the tip. How’s your night with Lennon?
Me
Good. Talked about Carson actually.
Devlin
Oh yeah? Anything I should tell him?
I think about Lennon’s reluctant promise.
Me
Maybe. I’ll fill you in tomorrow. Go back to your game. Love you.
Devlin
Love you too. Sleep well.
I set my phone aside and snuggle down under the blankets, my thoughts drifting between Devlin and Lennon. I hope my sister will give Carson a chance. I hope she’ll open herself up to the possibility of finding what Devlin and I have found.
Not everyone believes in love stories with happy endings. Lennon has always been more pragmatic than I am and more guarded with her heart. But I’ve seen the way her eyes light up when Carson is around. I’ve seen the spark that she tries so hard to deny.
As I drift off to sleep, I find myself hoping that my sister is wrong, that she’s not meant to be alone, that there’s someone out there for her too. Maybe it’s Carson, maybe it’s someone we haven’t even met yet. But everyone deserves a chance at the kind of happiness I’ve found with Devlin, especially Lennon.
And if there’s one thing the Walsh sisters know how to do, it’s fight for what we want. Even if sometimes the hardest fight is against our own fears.
EIGHTEEN
DEVLIN
