“No!” I said quickly. “No. I toldhimthat.”
Violet put a hand dramatically to her chest. “Oof.”
“I meant professionally!” I sputtered. “Guiding! He’s good. He doesn’t need me to babysit him on the trail!”
“But you said it like you wanted distance,” Fifi concluded.
“Yes! No! Maybe. Barcode was causing havoc, and stress overtook.”
Both sisters exchanged a look, one full of pity, amusement, and the shared understanding that their middle sister was rapidly spiraling.
“Sweetheart,” Violet said gently, “are you uncomfortable because you want distance? Or because he asked for distance?”
“No one asked for distance!”
“Yet you’re twitchy as though someone did.”
“I’m not twitchy,” I snapped.
My left eye twitched.
Both sisters gasped.
“Oh my gosh,” Violet whispered reverently. “You like him.”
“I do not…”
“You freaking LIKE him,” Fifi said, delighted.
“No, I don’t!”
“Then why do you look like someone just told you your crush is transferring schools?”
“I don’t have a crush!”
“You absolutely have a crush.”
I shook my head vigorously. “No! No crush! I’m just— wasted. From the hike. Tired. Emotionally dehydrated.”
They both nodded sympathetically.
Violet ruined it by adding, “So… you slept with him?”
I choked so hard I made a noise like a dying goose.
“That’s a yes,” Fifi said.
“That’s a loud yes,” Violet said.
“I didn’t SAY yes!”
“You didn’t have to,” they said again in unison.
I covered my face with both hands and mumbled into my palms, “Please drop it.”
“We can’t,” Violet said. “We need details.”
“No, you don’t.”
