“Ha!” Liam exclaims. “I knew it. What quirks are we talking about? Does she collect toenail clippings? Talk to plants? What?”
“Nothing like that,” I protest, heat rising to my cheeks. “She just...has a specific way of eating. She uses a different fork for each color of food on her plate.”
The table erupts in laughter. Liam stares at me. “Are you serious? That’s not a quirk. That’s a disorder.”
“It’s endearing,” I argue. “She’s very...organized.”
“Organized? She sounds like she needs a spreadsheet just to get through dinner,” Lucas chimes in, wiping his eyes.
I huff, crossing my arms. “Fine. What about Jasmine? She’s the CEO of that tech startupForbescalled ‘visionary.’”
Liam’s expression softens. “Okay, that sounds more promising. What’s her deal?”
“She’s brilliant, driven, and she’s changing the world with her innovations,” I say, warming to the topic. “Plus, she’s gorgeous. Like, model gorgeous.”
Liam leans back. “Alright, I’m listening. What’s the catch this time?”
I bite my lip. “Well...she might be a bit intense about her work.”
“Define ‘a bit intense,’” Liam presses.
“She...may have brought prototypes to her sister’s wedding and pitched investors during the reception,” I admit.
Liam throws his hands up. “I already work eighty-hour weeks. I don’t need a partner who makes me look like a slacker in comparison.”
“You’re impossible,” I groan, slumping in my chair.
“No, I’m realistic,” Liam counters. “Your friends are crazy, Sis. Face it.”
“They’re not crazy, they’re unique.” I protest. “If you weren’t so picky, you’d see that. You’ve never even had a girlfriend because no one is good enough for you.”
“Picky?” Liam scoffs. “I have standards. Is it so wrong to want someonenormal?”
“Normal is boring,” Sloane interjects. “Look at Logan. He’s about as far from normal as you can get, and I love him for it.”
Logan grunts, the corner of his mouth twitching.
“Okay, okay,” I say, straightening. “I’ve got one more. Sarah. She’s an Olympic swimmer. Gold medalist, humanitarian, and she’s got a smile that could light up Times Square.”
Liam hesitates, intrigue flickering across his face. “That actually sounds pretty great. What’s her quirk? Does she think water is a government conspiracy?”
I laugh, and even I hear the nervous edge to it. “No, nothing like that. She’s normal. Except...she might wear her gold medals to bed.”
The table falls silent before erupting into laughter. Liam drops his head into his hands, his shoulders shaking.
“I give up,” he groans, voice muffled. “I’d rather die alone, surrounded by my collection of boring, quirk-free ties. At least ties can't break your heart, right?”
The last part slips out before he can catch it. His head snaps up, eyes widening for a fraction of a second before the smile slides back into place.
I reach across the table, patting his arm. “We can find you a nice, normal robot to date. I hear they’re punctual.”
Liam peeks up at me, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips. “You’re incorrigible, you know that?”
I beam at him. “That’s why you love me. Now, about Sarah...”
“No!” the entire table choruses, dissolving into laughter once more.
Logan clears his throat and the mood shifts. “Liam, maybe the problem isn't Cora's friends. Your standards are impossible because you want them to be.”
