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Elliot

“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think”—LM Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Rain pelted against the sliding glass , and the histled through the tiny crack where the front door was propped open by a single red flip-flop Three neatly stacked boxes and two giant suitcases blocked the path to the living area Hushed conversation drifted from the bedroom The words weren’t clear, but there was an unh-pitched voices that communicated a desire to

Thankfully, I didn’t have much to do here My main chore was to schlep a few boxes andto love this guy Her extra intonation on the L-wordwith her was a little “extra” Including her exit She brought irlfriend with her “to help her pack” Anna and I were cool, but geez, this felt like the longest day ever

I stuck my hands into my pockets and strained to listen for a hint that they were almost ready

“Hey, Soph How’s it going?”

“Good We’re packing up the last bits in the closet Braden should be here any minute,” she called from the bedroom

Any minute could mean twenty with Sophie Plenty of time to make a sandwich I skirted the kitchen island and opened the refrigerator, staring at the e of cheddar cheese and a stick of butter Grilled cheese was easy And it was co I didn’t This situation was just…aard

Knock, knock

“Hello?” a masculine voice called

I set the cheese and butter on the counter just as Sophie and Anna appeared carrying a couple of overstuffed tote bags and a ruffled pink-and-yellow duvet between them They could have easily passed for sisters Both were on the petite side with long blonde hair and blue eyes Sophie was an inch or two taller than Anna, and she was uber vivacious—the type of person oke up singing hed at all my dumb jokes

We’d been good friends since fresh at a party and alht her before she fell into the hedge, but her heel ca dude—however, I wasn’t usually that cluo apeshit crazy onShakespeare “For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo” I only knew that because she spent the rest of the evening telling e and cine to her, my lack of appreciation for the arts was the reason ere never more than friends The other reason was Anna

Sophie dropped a bag on the floor, squeezing uy as Anna sidled up next to me She tore off a strip of cheddar cheese and popped it into her mouth