Page 111 of Roses in Summer

“We’re not watchingFreddy’s Dead. We’re going to do the original, and if you two are still awake, we’ll move on toFreddy vs. Jasonfor some comedic relief before we go to sleep.”

“A horror movie for some light viewing,” Bianca mumbles, throwing her phone at Olivia from across the room. “Ser, why couldn’t you make a normal friend?”

Olivia catches the device mid-air and tucks it into her pocket before looking at me expectantly. “You. Phone. Now.”

“Fine.” I roll my eyes and stand up to walk over to her. Unlike Bianca, who seems to be unbothered by the prospect of her phone shattering on the floor, I’m not willing to take that chance. Stopping in front of Olivia, I power down my phone, belatedly wondering if I should warn Lincoln or my parents that I’m turning it off. “Here.”

“Thank you very much,” Olivia quips, putting the phone in her other pocket. “Face masks?”

“If you’re going to deny me a distraction from the bullshit you’re about to force on us, then you absolutely will be giving me a face mask and a fat glass of wine,” Bianca calls out, walking into her room to get ready for our girls’ night.

—

“Olivia, was there avocado in that mask you made?”

“Yes, why?” Olivia responds to my sister, eyes glued to the scene as Freddy pulls Glenn out of bed.

“Because I’m allergic to avocado. Dammit, Olivia, you know this.” My sister pushes the blanket from her lap, standing up and blocking the TV as she does.

“Move out of the way, Bianca. It’s getting to the good part.”

“You mean the part where there’s more blood? Oh no. How could we ever miss that?” Screams from the movie echo in the small living room. Bianca moves out of the way just in time for blood to shoot up from the center of the bed on the screen.

Glenn’s mom opens the door, screaming at the flood of blood.

Our front door opens at the same time, and there’s no containing the screams that erupt out of our mouths.

“Go away, you demon!” Bianca shouts, picking up a throw pillow and hurling it at the intruder.

“Oh my god!” yells back at us, the pillow landing and hitting them in the head. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Ava?” I choke out, my heart beating in time to the suspenseful music playing in the movie. “What are you doing here?” My voice is breathy, and I’m surprised that I’m able to push the words out of my mouth.

“I told Lincoln he was overreacting,” Ava mumbles, flicking on the light to reveal the room, our face masks, and the amused presence of Greyson right behind Ava. “Lincoln called when he got off work because you hadn’t responded to his texts, and he was worried. He and Rafe are on their way because they assumed the worst.”

Beside me, I feel Olivia stiffen before she lets out a long sigh. “Oh, for fuck’s sake.”

“Oh, no, you don’t.” B waves her finger at Olivia. “You demanded we turn off our phones, and then you confiscated them like we’re inmates in a jail. If our brother shows up at our apartment because of this, it’s on you.”

Olivia huffs and picks up a throw pillow, tossing it at Bianca the same way one was lobbed at Ava moments ago.

“Hey, you two, stop throwing shit. What I want to know is why I wasn’t invited to this little spa and horror fest?”

“You were. Remember when I texted you last week?” Bianca hedges. “You said you thought you had a private dinner party and would let me know, but then you never got back to me.”

“Oh.” I watch as the annoyance fades from my older sister’s face, replaced by a dawning sense of realization. “Shit. I completely forgot about that. Lincoln is going to have a heart attack for no reason.”

I find mild amusement in the exchange until I realize the full extent of what Ava just said. “Wait, Lincoln’s coming?”

“No, ciern. I’m already here.” Lincoln’s voice rings out from behind Ava and Grey before he steps past both of them and enters the apartment. “You look good in green.”

I cringe—both inwardly and outwardly—at his acknowledgment of my face mask. “Shut up, Lincoln.”

He hums at my rebuke but otherwise ignores it. “There a reason why all of your phones were off?”

“Yeah, Liv, is there a reason why our phones are off?”

“Fuck off, Bianca. If you and Seraphina weren’t so obsessed with checking and typing away on your phones all damn day, I wouldn’t have demanded it.”

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