Page 121 of Anyone But the Superstar

He doesn’t say it this time, but it doesn’t matter. I know I’m loved.

Practice does indeed make perfect.

We continue walking toward the front door, me leaning on his arm.

I’ve done a lot of thinking over the past few months.Goodthinking, not just the avoidance of thinking like I did before Felix. I started working on Trish’s manga, designed logos for Bell’s marketing company and even joined Mary in seeing a feelings doctor.

My life is full. I’m happy. I’m excited about what’s to come.

And yet…

I pause at the door, Felix waiting for me to ring the bell.

‘We can go if you’re not ready,’ he offers. ‘But we’re leaving the picture.’ He raises the gift bag. ‘It’s too good to not share.’

Pushing off him, I stand on my own and take a deep breath. Then I ring the bell.

It feels like a few seconds as well as an eternity before someone opens the door with an aggressive yank.

Blonde ponytail swishing from the force of the door, large brown eyes, the shape of which is eerily familiar, staring behind thick, black-framed glasses. Eyes that look me up and down as I do the same to her.

She’s wearing anI need my Spacet-shirt with a NASA logo in place of the A, fitted, denim blue jeans and worn, white Converse.

‘I’m Elizabeth.’ I throw out my hand, nearly punching her in the stomach. ‘You can call me Liz.’

She grabs hold of my hand with both of hers, pumping it hard. ‘I’m Jackie.’ She keeps pumping. ‘You can call me, uh—’ she stops pumping and laughs ‘—Jackie, I guess.’

Her nervousness settles my own, and I feel so, so good.

Even better when two men appear behind her.

‘Hello, Elizabeth.’ A man with Jackie’s kind eyes steps up beside my sister.

My eyes.

‘I’m Gerald.’

I manage a lame wave.

‘And I’m Flynn, Jackie’s husband.’

Flynn’s introduction seems to break the spell, and I swing both arms to the side, whacking Felix with one, the gift bag with the other. ‘This is Felix.’

As expected, Jackie’s mouth drops as she turns to the man she didn’t seem to realize was standing there. Unexpectedly, it isn’t his celebrity she comments on. ‘Holy Mercury, that is one ugly beard.’

At Felix’s fallen expression, barely visible from the scraggly of hair, I burst out laughing, as does everyone else.

And when the laughter ebbs and we’re ushered into the house, Felix by my side, I can’t help feeling like I found another place to call home.