Ginny: What am I supposed to do? I’m stuck here!
Sadie Girl: I miss y’all so much right now.
Sadie Girl: Gin, I say just take my mama’s advice and kiss him square on the mouth.
Ginny: I’m not gonna do that.
Georgia Snow: [GIF- You can do it!]
Carolina Honey: Yes! Do it!
Caroline Honey: [GIF- Shaq Shimmy]
Kota Major: No.
Kota Major: Silencing now. ‘Night.
Griff: You got this, Virginia. But I will break his fingers if necessary.
Lake: What he said.
Lake: No one can resist a Remillard girl.
Ginny darkened her screen and slammed her phone down on the table top, counting out three calming breaths.
“They bailed,” Ryan said, sliding his own phone into his pocket, looking resigned.
“Yup.”
“Your sisters are…”
Ginny closed her eyes. “I know.” She couldn’t imagine what they had said to Ryan in their group chat. God-willing,Little Womenwas not mentioned. “But they’reyourfriends, buddy. I was born to them. You chose them.”
“I had little to do with the choice, I can assure you.”
Ginny smiled to herself and mumbled, “Ya can’t resist a Remillard.”
“Exactly.” He flushed, obviously realizing what he’d agreed to, and took off his ball cap, leaving his hair in a flattened mop on his head until he ran his hand through it.
“I, uh…” Ryan grimaced at the girl on stage screeching out a haunting version of a country classic. “I have never heard that particular note in this song before.”
Ginny threw her hands over her mouth, surprised he could joke in the midst of the scheme they’d just been shoved into. “It was impressive. Bless her heart.”
“I’m pretty sure I just heard the bathroom mirrors break.” Ryan bit his lower lip in a flirtatious smile. Ginny wanted to bottle it up and save it for use on a rainy day.
Wondering if you’ll ever see sunlight again? Just drink up this glorious half smile. It’s delicious and will light up your darkened spirit like multi-colored LED Christmas lights in a tiny room. Satisfaction guaranteed.
“We don’t have to stay, Ry. I know its—”
“Unexpected?”
“I was gonna say awkward, but yes,” Ginny agreed.
“It doesn’t have to be,” he said, leaning his forearms on the table, then deciding against it, sat back, rod-straight, against the booth. Ginny raised an eyebrow as if to say,This isn’t awkward?
He signaled the waitress and asked for two menus, though with how often they frequented the place, Ginny had the menu all but memorized.
When the waitress returned quickly, putting a menu in front of each of them, Ryan turned his attention to Ginny. “This doesn’t have to be weird. We’ve eaten together before. At this restaurant. Many times. We love tater tots.”
