I suck in a breath when I see the notifications popping up on my phone.
“Ay!” I scramble out of Vee’s arms, interrupting the movie we were watching so I can reply, giddy with excitement.
Riley: Sage! You’re here! Hi, I missed you
Okay. So maybe that was a touch over the top. I glance at Neveah to see her smirking. I huff and roll my eyes, then flop back onto the couch byher side.
“What? It’s true,” I grumble.
“I know, love,” she says, scratching her nails along my scalp and then pulling me back into her arms. I relax into her, holding my phone so we can both see it.
“You should say something, too,” I murmur, angling my head so I can see her expression. She contemplates it, then squeezes my arm.
“You’re right,” she says, leaning to the side to snag her phone from the end table.
Neveah: Welcome, Sage. I can’t wait to meet you in person, but thank you for agreeing to chat with us until we can make that happen.
I snort when I see her message.
“You’re so formal,” I tease.
She tugs on my hair, a pretend warning to watch my mouth.
Sage: Hi. Thank you for inviting me and I am sorry for taking so long to get back to you. I did not have my phone for a couple days.
Neveah tenses behind me, and I look up at her in question, only for her to visibly force herself to relax.
“What is it?”
“Hopefully nothing, I just don’t like the sound of her not having her phone accessible if she needs it.”
Yeah, that tracks. Neveah is big on independence and safety and whatnot.
Brooks: We’re happy you’re here to chat with us, Petal. Should we do some get to know each other questions?
Riley: Hell yeah. I’ll start. What’s everyone’s go-to sing-along song?
Neveah sighs, but she’s already typing. I know what her answer will be, but I’m curious what Brooks and Sage will say.
Neveah: All the Stars by Kendrick and SZA
Riley: Okay, that’s your public answer. Now tell them your real answer.
Vee snorts and I grin up at her.
Neveah: Fine. Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill…
Brooks: Haha. Hmm, I’m not normally a sing-along guy. But I do like anything by The Beatles
Sage: I am sorry. I do not listen to much music so I do not know the answer to this question. What is yours Riley
I tilt my head when I read her message.
“I wonder why she talks like that.”
“Like what?” Neveah asks.
“Formal, like you kinda, but not? She doesn’t use any conjunctions or whatever. ‘I am’ and ‘do not’ — why doesn’t she say I’m and don’t?”
