I set my wine down and push myself off the couch. The knock comes again. When I pull open the door, I blink. Ryan's sisters stand in the hallway wearing matching grins that could rival their brother's. Both of them are carrying takeout bags. I look down, clocking the name of my favorite Chinese restaurant onthe bags. “You can only come in if there's dumplings in one of those.”
Harper pushes past me. “Three orders. We're not fools.” A laugh escapes me and Cricket follows her inside. I shut the door and scratch the back of my neck.
“Ryan's not here, though.”
Cricket shrugs out of her puffy jacket. “We know.”
Harper hands me her coat. “Yeah. We're here for you.”
I stare at both of them.
For me?
They're dressed nothing like they were at dinner last night. No designer outfits. No perfect styling. Just messy buns, oversized hoodies, sweatpants, and sneakers. Comfort mode. Meanwhile I'm standing here in a cashmere sweater and slacks looking like…well, me.
I look up, and they're already unpacking containers in my kitchen.
“Come. Grab what you want,” Cricket commands.
“Mind if I open a bottle of wine?” Harper asks.
I'm still standing by the door. Still processing. Still confused. Cricket rounds the island and plants a hand on her hip. “Haven't you ever had a girls' night?”
“What?” I ask. “No.”
She points toward the living room. “Go sit. We'll bring the food out.” Then she grins. “You're about to have your first one.”
From the kitchen Harper calls, “It'll be fun. And we promise not to try braiding that delicious head of hair.”
I shake my head, laughing in wonderment.
Well. At least I know what I'm doing tonight.
The girls pile onto the couch like they own the place. Food containers cover the coffee table. Wine glasses appear. An order of dumplings gets shoved into my hands. Fucker abandons me entirely and curls up beside Harper.
I clear my throat. “Not that I'm ungrateful—or don't want your company—but why exactly did you want to spend your night here?”
Harper plucks a dumpling from her carton. “To get to know our new brother, silly.” Then she pops it into her mouth, smiling around it.
My heart immediately starts sprinting. “What? No.” I nearly choke on my own words. “I'm not. Ryan and I aren’t—”
They both stare at me for a long moment, chopsticks hanging in the air. Then Cricket leans over and flicks me directly in the forehead.
“Ow!” I rub the spot. “What was that for?”
She levels me with a stern look. “He's in love with you, you dingus.”
The air leaves my lungs. My throat starts closing up. Everything suddenly feels too warm.
“No,” I say weakly. “I know he wants more. To define things maybe, but I don't think—”
Cricket's eyebrows disappear into her hairline. I deflate instantly, like a child being scolded.
“He's in love with me,” I say quietly.
“Duhhhh,” Harper says. Then immediately starts giggling.
“Harper,” Cricket warns.
