Loren glares at me in confusion. “C?”
“Final answer.” I nod vehemently.
“You know this wasn’t a multiple-choice question, right? We’re gonna need more than that.” Loren smiles and stares expectantly.
I blink down at the paper, feeling my face heat and my eyes water.
“Hey, it’s okay if you don’t want to answer,” Lilley says, reaching over to pat my arm softly. “If you’re not having fun, honey, then we’re not having fun.”
The baby sighs in my arms, and I swallow hard again. “I just …”
“Daisy,” Tenley calls out across from me, and I glance up at her. “She’s right. You don’t have to talk about anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. But don’t you dare think any of us are going to judge you for your answers, either, especially if you don’t have one. Personally, I find that kind of thing pretty admirable for an unmarried woman.”
“You do?” I ask, my voice still wobbly.
She nods. “Absolutely. In fact, I regretted not saving that to share with JD. We both did. So we did the next best thing and made the decision to save our first time together for our wedding night.”
The tension in my stomach loosens just a bit. “You did?”
“Yep. And it was perfect.”
“So that’s why you only had a three-week long engagement,” Jada says, snickering.
“Exactly,” Loren pipes up, rolling her eyes. “And they skipped out on a wedding reception so they could leave the church and go straight home to play hide the sausage.”
“First of all, we both know JD and I weren’t the only couple running off to play that game,” Tenley begins, making Loren blush. “And secondly, don’t be so crude, Lo. We’re talking about a sacramental act, the unitive and procreative joining of our bodies and souls … which means we weren’t just hiding the sausage, we were baking cream pies,” she says, smirking.
Jada nearly chokes on her wine at that one, and I can’t help but smile.
“See? You can’t say anything more embarrassing than that,” Loren points out.
I lift one shoulder in a shrug. “Then the truth is that I don’t have any lovemaking experience to speak of … because I’ve been waiting to share it with my husband.”
My next husband, hopefully.
I look around at their surprised expressions.
“Well, I agree with Tenley. I think that’s pretty badass of you, Daisy,” Loren volunteers. “And I have a whole new respect for all that chastity and celibacy stuff, since Blake and I have decided to wait until our wedding night, too.” A collective hush falls over the room until everyone starts cackling. “Hey, I’m serious. You guys just said we weren’t going to judge one another!” she protests.
“Hmm, it’s a little late to make that claim, though, Mama,” Jada says, lifting her arms to gesture to Penny.
“I mean, we’re doing what Ten said. We’ve been waiting since the last time—the time we conceived the twins,” Loren clarifies. “And it hasn’t been easy, thank you very much.”
“Aw, I imagine that’s beenhardon both of you, especially Blake,” Tenley coos, barely getting it out without snorting.
“Or are you struggling because he’s used to you being soeasy?” Lilley adds.
“Both,” Loren admits with a pout, and the rest of us laugh again.
“All right, Daisy, why don’t you just pick another one?” Lilley tells me after we all settle down. “There should be plenty of other questions you’ll be able to answer.”
“Okay.” I nod and reach in for a second scrap of paper. “This one says, when a lady and a gentleman are found in a compromising position, the result may be a hasty marriage or a duel for her honor. Tell us about a time when you were caught …” I trail off, realizing I can’t answer this one, either. “Um, sorry.”
“How about I take that one?” Tenley offers cheerfully, and I force a grateful smile. “The thing about having a teenager in the house is that he knows too much.Pauvre bête,” she goes on, shaking her head. “A while back, JD and I were home alone, compromising the couch, when Ethan surprised us by coming back early. We thought we’d spared him, but the poor kid accidentally slipped on mycaleçonson the floor before he could make it out unscathed.”
Her story elicits another round of riotous laughter, and Lilley prompts me to pick again after they settle down.
“Okay, but I’m giving up if I get another spicy one,” I say, smiling. “Here it goes: Many claim love at first sight, but most of us know it’s in his kiss. Tell us about your last kiss and whether you knew it was true love.”
