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Allegra practically radiates joy. “Oh, my God. She’s smiling because of a man, Mom.”
“I am not smiling because of a man.”
“Sure,” Verali says, nodding solemnly. “And I broke up with Cairo because I’m emotionally mature and well-adjusted.”
“This family is exhausting.”
“And yet,” Mom says sweetly, setting down her teacup, “you love us.”
I open my mouth and then I close it.
Then I sigh.
Because, unfortunately, infuriatingly, and against every shred of my better judgment, she’s right.
I do love them.
Even when they’re a collective menace to my sanity.
The conversation promptly dissolves into everyone talking over everyone else. Verali is defending her questionable taste in men, Allegra is trying to show us another alpaca picture, Poe is asking entirely too many questions about my supposedly nonexistent smile disguised as research for her next romance book, and Willow has somehow circled back to the damn manatees.
I let their voices blur into a familiar, chaotic hum.
Because somewhere between Mom’s knowing smiles and my sisters’ relentless teasing, my thoughts have wandered straight into confusing territory.
To soft smiles and coffee-brown eyes.
To his kisses.
The ones my brain has apparently decided to replay on repeat.
I think I need a new brain with urgency.
I list in my thoughts when a knock sounds at the door. And suddenly every woman on the screen goes silent.
Every. Single. One.
“Who is that?” Mom asks casually.
Too casually might I add.
I narrow my eyes at the screen. “Nobody.”
Another knock.
Oh, for the love of—
Willow’s eyes widen.
Verali’s lips curl into a slow, wicked grin.
Allegra gasps, slapping a hand over her mouth as though she’s just witnessing the greatest plot twist in television history.
Poe looks like she might actually levitate from excitement.
And Mom?
Mom looks like Christmas has arrived early.
