Page 163 of Glitched Play

“One tent. Two sleeping bags.”

Sutton frowns as if Witt has personally disappointed her. “Witt has the touch.” She scoffs.

“I’m not sure he ever had touch,” Noelle says. “Witt once asked a woman if she was flirting with him because he needed clarification before deciding how to respond.”

“What did she say?” I ask.

“That she wasn’t flirting anymore.”

Laughter bursts around the kitchen.

I try to join in, but heat is already creeping up my neck as memories of the trip replay in my head. Witt carefully choosing our campsite. Witt lying beside me beneath the stars. Witt telling me I’m the lines connecting everything together.

Witt saying he loves me as if the words are a fact he’s verified a thousand times.

Birdie leans across the island, her eyes narrowing. “That blush says the second sleeping bag didn’t matter.”

“We only used one.”

“Maybe he does have game.” Sutton says, shocked.

“Parker said Witt’s being tight-lipped about what happened. Just said he wanted to show you the stars,” Annika explains.

Noelle says, “We want the scoop.”

Four pairs of eyes lock on me.

I reach for my margarita. “I’m not discussing the details.”

Noelle slides the fresh pitcher onto the island. “That means there are details.”

“There are always details,” Birdie says.

“Let’s just say that Witt made me forget the stars I was there to see.”

His sisters’ mouths hang open for a few moments before they erupt. Bouncing their feet in repetition against the floor, tapping the table. Birdie even claps.

Birdie presses her lips together and then says, “No offense girls but Witt has always been my favorite, other than J.D. of course.”

Sutton chimes in. “Because you love saving wounded raccoons or anything wounded.”

“Because I needed saving one time and J.D. did that for me. Maci doesn’t know but he called me Birdie the night we… well hooked up and I ended up using it as my stage name and the rest is history. ”

“Does anyone use your real name?”

“Genevieve? God no. Do I look like a Genevieve?” she asks covered in glue, glitter and ribbon.

A tiny blur races through the kitchen wearing one pink rain boot, a princess crown, and a superhero cape.

“It’s a beautiful name though.”

“It is. It’s just not me. In school my friends called me Genie, but now I’m Birdie and I love it.”

Suddenly Noelle jumps up. “Don’t run with the scissors!” Noelle calls after Emma.

“They’re safety scissors!” Emma shouts back.

“That does not make me feel better.”