Evie | a lesbian fantasy romance [girlxgirl]

thirteen

There have been very few times since my parents died when I've felt hopeful about what's to come. It was hard to imagine anything ever being truly good again when they weren't here anymore. But those few times that I did... they always seemed to be because of Evie. And now, yet again, I find myself hopeful for the future. For Evie's future.

Within a day of Evie becoming human again, I force myself to make the painful phone call to my sister, knowing I can't delay it any further. She's still been pestering me about having the house ready for viewing, so it's literally now or never. And if Evie can find the courage to return to a life that's different from what she knew, or John can find the courage to start an entirely new one, then I can grow up and pick up the phone.

"Leila, hey," Maya answers casually, unaware of my clammy hands and tense shoulders. "What's up?"

Sucking up a breath, I force myself to say something. "Hey, Maya. How are you doing?"

It's awkward small talk, more awkward because we both know I called for a reason and won't say. But then it dies down and she's waiting for me to say whatever it is I need to say.

"We can't sell the house."

"What?" She's confused, no doubt. "Why?"

I close my eyes, wincing because it makes no sense what I'm saying, not in her eyes. "Because I'm keeping it."

A pause, and then she sighs over the phone. "Look, Leila... I know it's easy to get attached to places. I've been in that position, too. You work on a place for so long and it feels like it's yours. But this one... it can't be. It would go for a lot of money."

"I know," I interrupt before she can transition into a patronising lecture, "but this is more than that, honestly."

Entertaining my words, she asks, "Why? What's so special about this one? It's just a house."

I swallow hard, glad she's not here in person – this would have been a lot harder to tell her. "It's not just a house. It's... it's where I grieved mum and dad. It's where I've settled. Where I feel comfortable."

And that isn't a lie, though maybe a slight exaggeration of the truth. It's also where I met Evie. Where my life felt purposeful again. How will Maya understand that?

"So, what? All the money you've spent fixing it up is just wasted because you want it?" she asks, not in a rude way, but a genuinely confused why. I appreciate her trying to understand for my sake.

"I have savings," I tell her confidently. "A lot. I'll buy it."

She tries not to laugh. "Leila, it's not cheap. Can you even afford it?"

"Well, I'll be giving myself a family discount of course..." She snorts with amusement, making me smile a little, "But yes, I can."

She hums quietly, stuck in thought. The fact that she hasn't completely shut down the idea immediately makes me think she might actually listen to me.

"I know what I'm doing, Maya," I reassure her. "This is the right move."

"You're sure about that?"

"Never been more sure of anything since before mum and dad died," I tell her seriously, hoping she knows the weight of my words, that I'm not fooling around.

It must work, because she agrees. "Okay then."

I raise my brows, surprised. "O-okay?" I seriously expected more of a fight.

"I can't stop you," she admits. "It's your money, your life."

We both know she could stop me if she wanted to, but I don't say it. She's already agreed. And any anxieties I felt prior to this call are dispersing.