Serendipity ○ All 14

18. Addie

Time flew by and before she knew it, autumn colors were taking place in the usually green trees. It was her favorite time of year. Not too warm and not too cold.

The boys would no longer be considered 'greenies' in the next month which they loved to brag about.

Addie couldn't believe that they had already been there for two months. They had gotten closer after the dinner they cooked for her. She would no longer consider them 'barely friends', as they had spent every day getting to know each other.

They spent most of their time getting familiar with New Haven and learning all there was to be considered a local.

You'd think the sun had shone down on all the townies with the way they gushed over their presence. She heard her grandmother gossiping with her fellow nudists about how the boys were such a blessing and how she didn't know how everyone survived before they had shown up.

Addie could tell that her brother, Laws, Simon and Tyler were starting to become a little jealous. Teddy especially. He prided himself on being the go-to for everyone, and now his spotlight was being stolen.

She often teased the men that they were God's gift to New Haven. They didn't take it very well.

Speaking of Lawson's jealousy, he was sitting next to her in the townies tavern sulking. They hadn't spent much time together and she missed him like she'd miss her own left arm if it was cut off. She already lost her metaphorical right arm when her twin brother passed.

Addie didn't want to lose another one.

"So you're upset that Jessica has been spending more time with Tyler and Simon?"

He hiccuped, buzzed and wobbling on his chair. "Yes. She doesn't come see me at all when I'm at home, but she goes over to Tyler's place all the time!"

Addie knocked back a drink of her whiskey, thanking God it only got better as it aged. "Have you ever thought it might be because she doesn't want to get caught?"

"Whaddya mean?" he asked, slurring slightly.

"Kota would likely kill you if she were caught coming over to our place to see you."

Lawson snorted in bitter amusement. "I thought he got over that already! S'not like we're stealing his sister away from him!"

"Well..." Addie hesitated. She debated on whether she should put fuel on the fire. "To him it would seem that way."

"We're not stealing Jess, they're stealing you!" Laws pouted with honest to God sullen pride. "I never see you anymore."

Addie chugged more whiskey, starting to feel emotional. "I feel like we're being adopted into different homes or something."

It was true. She had hardly seen Laws for more than minutes in a day and they lived in the same house. With her going over to the mansion, she had been able to give Jessica time to sneak out to see her boys.

Happiness is what she felt for Laws who had never experienced a relationship after the virus hit. She prayed that things worked out between her three best friends and Jessica. She just knew Kota and the others wouldn't be happy about it.

As much as she liked them, she would choose Lawson's side any day. They were family. If it came to blows, she would do her best to protect him. Honestly, Jess deserved some happiness as well. If her best friends were the center of it, then so be it.

"I'm moving out," Laws blurted out of nowhere, causing her stomach to drop.

"What?" Addie exclaimed, upset beyond belief, hoping he was joking.