BIGGER BUBBLES

*Chapter 19: Christmas Light*

*Friday, 9:03am*

Adrian was 3 minutes early.

He stood on Lily’s porch with two coffees and Milo’s leash in his hand. No text. No excuse. Just early.

She opened the door. Sweats again. But she was smiling. A small one.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hey,” she said back. “You’re on time.”

“I know.”

They didn’t talk about last night on the porch. They walked.

Milo between them, leash loose. Cold air. The neighborhood had started putting up lights

Coffee on the counter. Turkey sandwiches in the fridge. The same dishes from last night still in the sink.

Adrian rolled up his sleeves. “Truce?”

Lily handed him a dish towel. “Truce.”

They did dishes in silence. Not the bad kind. The careful kind.

He washed. She dried.

When he handed her the last mug, their fingers brushed. Neither of them pulled away.

“I hated last night,” Adrian said.

“Me too,” Lily said. “I hated going to bed mad.”

“I almost texted you at 1am.”

“I know. I saw the typing bubble.”

She looked down. “I deleted it. Didn’t want to fight tired.”

“That’s new,” he said.

“That’s us,” she said.

*2:15pm - The Attic*

“Why do we have Christmas lights in November?” Adrian asked, dragging the bin down.

“Because after last night I need something that isn’t heavy,” Lily said. “Can we just... do normal stuff?”

So they did.

Strands of warm white lights. Tangles. Adrian on a chair. Lily handing him clips.

Milo supervised from his bed.

“You remember when we used to do this at 2am?” Adrian said, untangling a knot.

“Yeah,” Lily said. “With the door locked. Music low.”

“This is better,” he said. “Even with the mess.”

He got down from the chair. Stood in front of her.

“I’m sorry about the text. About making you feel like I disappeared.”

“I’m sorry about shutting down. About making it about 2 years ago instead of yesterday.”

She didn’t cry. She just nodded.

“Can I hug you?” he asked.

“Yeah,” she said. “Please.”

It wasn’t a movie hug. It was foreheads together. Hands on backs. Breathing.

“We didn’t run,” he whispered.

“We came back to the floor,” she whispered.

They finished the lights. Not all of them. Just the porch and one window.

It was dusk. The lights looked stupid and perfect.

They sat on the step. Coffee gone cold. Milo asleep between them.

“My sister asked if we’re okay,” Lily said.

“What did you say?”

“I said we fought. And we didn’t leave. And we’re figuring it out.”

Adrian bumped her shoulder with his. “That’s the truth.”

His phone buzzed.

*Dad: You coming Sunday? We’re doing chili.*

He showed Lily.

“Yeah,” he said, typing back. “We’re coming. Both of us.”

He hit send before he could overthink it.

Lily exhaled. “Bigger bubble.”

“Bigger bubble,” he agreed. “For all of us.”