Page 68 of Of Flesh & Bone

It's time to see V.I'm giddy on the way over.Even when I've been home recently, I haven't gotten to spend quality one on one time with her.I stop at The Market and get all of V's favorite things: Bomb Pops, Sour Patch, banana Laffy Taffy, and mango ice cream.

As soon as we see each other, we squeal and stomp our feet before rushing together.We squeeze the breath from one another and breathe in deeply, inhaling the other.Still giggling, we plop down on the overstuffed couch and settle in to watch our show when my phone begins to ring.I know who it is without looking.Adam should be heading to practice now.Deep breath.You've got this.

"Hey."

"Hey, love.How are you feeling?"

"Great.Are you at practice?"

"About to get started.What did you do all day?"

No one was home when I left this morning, and no one will be home now either since they're at practice.Cotton clearly didn't tell him that I was at school.

"Not much.How was your day?"

There's a pause.

"What did you do today, Eve?"

It's my turn to pause.

"I went to my classes and now I'm at home with Vaughn, getting ready to watch Grifters."

Another pause.

"I'll see you after practice.Be there when I get there."

"Yep."I pop the p in my response.

Vaughn and I laugh and binge on junk for the next hour.After Grifters is over, we sit and talk about Adam, Eli, Ada and everything else going on in our lives.

Vaughn wasn't born my sister, but she is my sister in every way that counts.The retelling of her version of events of the time that Adam and Ada came to the door looking for me has me doubling over in laughter and tears rolling down my cheeks.V is not someone to be trifled with.She's not big in size, but she is mighty in spirit.I think the phrase was coined about her.

"Eli will be home in two weeks."

"I know."I squeal."I can't wait to see him.Man, I've missed him so much."

"He'll expect gifts."She says with a laugh.

"I know.I've been working on something special."

"Ohhh that sounds interesting."

"I wrote messages on paper and then made them into small origami stars."

"Awww the big sap will love that, Eve."

I push breath out of my mouth.

"I hope so."

"I'm ready for him to stay home.I'm ready to really start our lives together and be done with this going months apart."

"Did you talk to him about it?"

"We've talked about the future and retirement a few times but, I'm the holdup.I don't want to take his work away from him, but I can't do it anymore.I miss him every second of every day."

Well, there's an origami star message right there.

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