Page 83 of Written in the Stars
Elle knew how Margot felt. At least half her matches on dating apps, before she met Darcy, were couples looking for threesomes, thinking because she was bi she’d be into it. Dating, regardless of the type of relationship you were looking for, was hard.
“You keep your standards high.” Elle nodded resolutely. “They make vibrators for a reason.”
Margot’s tongue poked into her cheek. “When in doubt, rub one out?” Margot sighed and slouched against the counter. “You think it would be awful if I hopped on OTP?”
Elle grimaced. While notexpresslyagainst the terms and conditions of use, OTP wasn’t the app for hookups. It didn’t stop people from using it for flings, but the purpose of the app was to help people find theirone true pairing, not their one true one-night stand.
“Don’t let Brendon know.”
“God no.” Margot laughed. “He’ll give me thatI’m disappointed in youpuppy-dog frown and I’ll hate myself for at least an hour.”
“At least.” Maybe it was because she was tired from staying up half the night doing delightfully dirty things to Darcy on her living room floor, but for the first time, Elle noticed an arrangement of pink stargazer lilies—her favorite flower. She always stopped tooohandahover them at the market, but paying thirty dollars for something that would die in a week—sooner probably thanks to her black thumb—felt egregious. “Where’d those come from?”
Margot shrugged, trying so hard to come across nonchalant that she seemed the opposite. “Check the card.”
She plucked the fancy embossed card from the plastic pick sticking up between the lilies’ velvet soft petals. “Did you read it?”
“Mm-hmm.” Margot reached for her coffee. “Go on.”
The way Margot was acting made her hesitate. Who was it from? She’d just been with Darcy half an hour ago; unless she had a florist on speed dial—which hey, knowing Darcy—it seemed improbable the lilies were from her. But who? Only one way to find out. Elle flipped the card open.
Elle,
Jane and I have both texted and you haven’t responded, but you’re still posting on insta so we feelpretty confident you haven’t died. Jane just told me that was a shitty joke and I shouldn’t have started with that but I’m writing in pen and I spent six bucks on this card so
Jane and I hope you’re doing well. That meme about Mercury retrograde was funny as fuck and Jane just got mad at me for writing fuck but I thought you’d appreciate
The card started over, this time in Jane’s looping handwriting.
Hey Elle,
Daniel and I wanted to send you these flowers as a belated congratulations on your deal with OTP! We’re so happy for you, little sister.
Daniel’s slanted, choppy scrawl picked up.
Little sister? Could this sound more Stepford?
A smudge of ink marked the transition.
We’re sorry for what happened on Thanksgiving, but more than that, we’re sorry for not realizing how you felt sooner. You’re our sister and we should have realized you were hurting.
You’ve never not been good enough, Elle. We’re bothamazed by how fearlessly you pursue your passions and how you don’t let anyone’s opinion stop you from doing what feels right. You’re an inspiration and I’m so happy that Ryland and the twins will have you to look up to when it comes to always following their dreams and their hearts.
Daniel had once again stolen the pen.
Solid sentiment, corny execution, Jane.
Elle could imagine Jane standing there, hands on her hips, the perfect imitation of their mom save for the twitch at the corners of her mouth.
The next bit was cramped, Jane running out of room to write.
Daniel and I owe you dinner to celebrate, just the three of us, unless you want to bring Darcy. Who we really like by the way.
Daniel put in his two cents.
Definitely. Just between us, we like her better than Marcus, but don’t tell Lydia we said that. Hand to God, if he mentioned his Lamborghini one more time, I was going to flip my shit at the table. His car gets eleven miles per gallon. Weird flex, but whatever.
Jane’s exasperation shone through in the way her words were a little bolder, as if she’d pressed the pen into the card hard.
