Maddie looks down, shaking her head and leaning down. Lucy blinks several times. Her little brow crinkles, and I hold my breath… Then she breaks into a big baby-laugh that shakes her whole body.
“Oh, she really likes you.” Haddy smiles, giving Maddie a squeeze. “Let’s put her in her bouncy seat, and you can sit in front of her. I bet that will make her laugh even more.”
“Okay!” Maddie looks up at her.
My cousin takes the baby and secures her in her blue chair. Maddie hops down in front of her, leaning forward and shaking her head again, and again, Lucy breaks into a full-body laugh, this time adding a loud squeal.
“She likes me!” Maddie looks up at us, and I’m in love.
“Play with her for a minute while I get something from the kitchen.” Haddy stands, walking around the couch.
“Look, Lucy! This is Zander the Zebra. He’s my best friend next to Ladybird… and Spanky, I guess.”
I’m still watching the little girls, when I notice a hissing sound. I look behind me, and my cousin’s eyes are wide. She tilts her head in the direction of the kitchen for me to follow, and I lean down to hug Maddie.
“I’ll be right back.”
She nods, completely absorbed in making Lucy laugh.
As soon as the kitchen door closes, Haddy grabs my arm, blue eyes sparkling. “What happened last night?”
“What do you mean?”
“After we left, did you and Owen…” She does a little wavy hand-motion. “Bow chicka wow-wow?”
“You are such a nerd.” I roll my eyes. “Nobody saysbow chicka wow-wowanymore.”
“Shut up! Did you do it?” Haddy grabs my arm again, playfully shaking it.
“We did…” I hesitate as her eyes get wider and wider. “Mushrooms.”
Haddy’s face and shoulders collapse. “Mushrooms? Is that some kind of sexual enhancer?”
“I don’t think so.” I pluck a fresh cranberry from a bowl on Haddy’s bar. “Last time I did mushrooms I barfed the whole time. Last night I chased an imaginary dog, who I thought was my spirit animal, all over the place. Maybe she was?”
I turn the cranberry in my fingers.
“I’m so confused.” Haddy reaches over and takes the berry from me. “Why in the world would you do mushrooms instead ofit?”
“It was an accident. Heather had this chocolate, and we didn’t know it had psychedelic mushrooms in it.”
“Gina! That’s freaking dangerous. What if you’d OD’d?”
“I agree.” I nod, looking up at her. “Instead, we just drifted around for four hours then fell asleep all over the house.”
“I’m very disappointed in you. The whole reason I took Maddie was so you two could finally get it on.” She walks over to the refrigerator pouting, and I press my lips together thinking of John and Kendall.
“What’s that face?” She looks over at me, then she runs back to grab my arm, pulling me around and staring straight into my eyes.
“You’re so weird.” I try to pull away, but she won’t let me.
“You’ve already done it! Ahh!” She jumps up and down, pulling me into a hug. “I’m so happy! You and Owen are perfect for each other. We’ve already been over all the reasons, and the tarot, and…”
“Things are moving in a positive direction.” I nod, thinking about last night and how he pulled me close, kissing me right in front of Maverick.
I think about this morning, him bringing me water and smiling at me in that way I felt from my stomach all the way to my toes.
“He’s nothing like Baxter.” Haddy returns to the fridge.
