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“Sorry, I’m just really pissed off,” Sasha said, realizing she might have said too much.
“Hey, if anyone knows about family members fucking up, it’s me and Natalie,” Em said. “My brother and her sister are the definition of dysfunctional.” That was an understatement.
Sasha turned to Em with an expression of relief, and they commiserated with Natalie about siblings who make bad decisions.
After a while, Sasha seemed to relax.
“So, what the hell is there to do around here for fun?” she asked.
“Do you like karaoke?” Em asked.
Sasha cringed. “Absolutely not.”
“Exactly. See? She gets it,” Esme said, pointing at Sasha.
“Esme hates karaoke, but it’s weird, because she has an incredible voice,” Paige said, giving Esme a soft smile.
“That’s not true, but thank you anyway, baby,” Esme said, kissing Paige.
“I am glad there are at least a few other queers in this town. That was a pleasant surprise,” Sasha said.
“Yeah, Castleton is pretty gay, and getting gayer,” Paige said. “I swear, I see more and more rainbow flags every day.”
That was true. I’d definitely noticed more since I came here a year ago.
Paige hadn’t told any of us if Sasha was queer, but that was as much confirmation as any. I liked her even more.
* * *
After we finished dinner, we cleaned up and then sat on Paige’s screened-in porch and had pie and drinks. I’d brought a blackberry pie as well as strawberry rhubarb from the bakery. Most people had a slice of each.
“Okay, I’m starting to change my opinion of Castleton,” Sasha said as she finished her first slice of pie.
“You should come to the bakery,” I said. “My Aunt Martha will adopt you and feed you.”
“Don’t forget the part about meddling in your life,” Paige said. “Remember how she got with Linley when she first started seeing Gray?”
“She’s moved on to me now,” I said, and then regretted it.
“Ohhh, who is she trying to fix you up with?” Paige said. I glanced at Natalie and Em, who were trying not to look at me.
Well, Martha already knew I had something going with Alivia, Natalie and Em knew. What was a few more people?
“Alivia,” I said.
“Shut up!” Paige said. “I knew it!”
“We all knew,” Esme said. “We saw you at the wedding.”
Oh, right.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” I asked.
Esme shrugged. “You seemed like you were figuring it out and I didn’t want to pry.”
“I wanted to pry,” Paige said, raising her hand. “Esme wouldn’t let me.”
“We already knew,” Natalie said.
