I jabbed her leg with my foot. “Stop it. You’ve always made things work. Besides, when has my sister ever backed down from a challenge?”
“It’s a lot. At least at the hotel, I had help.”
“What are you talking about? All of Firefly wants to pitch in. You’ll be annoyed with how much help you get.”
“That’s different.” She closed the laptop, setting it on the floor. “The owners might have been a pain, but at least I could bounce ideas off them. We never agreed, but they were like a safety net.”
“You have me! I’ll scoff at all your ideas. Give me a chance to work on my disapproving face.” I straightened upright, pursing my lips and shooting her a dirty look. “It’ll take practice, but I’ll get it.”
“I say this with all the love and support I can muster.” Tensing, I prepared for the right hook that followed. “I’m glad we’re in a good place. It’s nice having my brother in my life again. But you’re leaving.”
She meant it as a matter of fact, but it came with a hint of sorrow. I had walked out on her once before. I originally thought I’d bear that regret for the rest of my life. After tonight, I decided to?—
“About that.” I flashed her a smile.
“Jonny.” She leaned forward. “Does that mean…”
Leave it to a group of drag queens and a sassy bartender to change my perspective. I realized I had nothing to lose and everything to gain by moving. My ties to the city and the people I call friends wouldn’t vanish if I uprooted my life. Instead, I’d be surrounded by my family, blood, and chosen.
“You’re not doing this alone.”
“Jonny.” It came out in a gasp. “I can’t let you throw away your life to help me.”
I shook my head. “It’s an adventure.”
To anybody else, it might have sounded like a hollowjustification. After cleaning out a dozen rooms with Evie, we uncovered countless moments when Mimi chose adventure over tedium. Those words were anything but empty. They honored our grandmother’s legacy and came like a mid-life rally.
Evie understood the intention. She sprung across the couch like a feral cat, wrapping me in a hug. Two months ago, this moment would have been impossible. We had been strangers who shared a bloodline. Every night since she arrived, I debated if this was Mimi’s goal all along.
“She played us,” Evie said, pulling back. I hadn’t allowed myself to imagine the possibility of us rekindling our relationship. Even in death, Mimi had set out on one last adventure. “She’s diabolical. But are you sure? I don’t want you doing this just for me.”
I nodded. “My family is here.” I had to fight back the surge of emotion as my heart reached capacity. “You. Jason. Amanda. The guys. The bed-and-breakfast. Everything is here. I can work remotely. At first, I was worried about what I’d be losing. Now…” Tears. I wiped my face. “I’m thinking of all the things I’d gain.”
“Jonny…” Her hand rested on my calf. “If this is the adventure you need, you know I’ll support you.”
“Good. Do you know where I can rent a room?”
She snickered. “It’ll cost you.”
“Family discount?”
“Whoa, now.” She held up her hands, halting me. “I don’t think we’re there yet.”
We both chuckled. I’m glad she recognized we still had aways to go. The bridge had been built. We had found a way back to one another. Right now, that tie remained delicate, almost fragile. I was ready to put in the work. In time, we would be the Olsen siblings again.
“I noticed you didn’t mention a certain somebody.”
I let my cheeks turn red. There was no point in hiding it. I know she expected me to gush, but truth be told, I didn’t make the decision because of Tyler. Had he been a consideration? Absolutely. But my well-being didn’t rest on his shoulders.
“Mimi opened the door,” I admitted. “I want to live a life so full that when people sift through my belongings, they’ll be surprised.”
“I mean?—”
Evie froze when I shot her a look. “I want to regret the things I did, not the things I didn’t. I got comfortable in that rut. Then Tyler walks into my life, shaking things. I think about the possibilities with him. But it wasn’t until Mabel Syrup came to my rescue with the Glitterati Guild?—”
“You’re making this up.”
“We’ll circle back to that.” I couldn’t wait to see her jaw drop. “My friends will find me wherever I am. But I have a family here. Why wouldn’t I want to chase the best things in my life?”
