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“Gregory?” Daff looked blank, and Lia stared at her impatiently.
“Gregory, I mentioned him before. Several times, in fact. The bank manager?”
“Oh, that guy. For some reason I thought his name was Grant.”
“Really? Do you ever listen when I talk?” It was exasperating how self-involved Daff could be at times.
“Well, you never sounded particularly enthusiastic when you spoke about him, I figured he wouldn’t last long. So there was no point in really paying attention, was there? And look, I was right. You’re not seeing him again. What was wrong with him? Did you fall asleep in the middle of dinner or something? Because that guy sounded boring.”
“He had third-date expectations,” Lia said primly.
“You went on three dates with that guy? He lasted longer than I expected. So he wanted to introduce his wiener to your hot pocket, did he?”
“Must you?” Lia asked. Daff could be so juvenile and vulgar sometimes.
“Did he want to holster his hot glue gun in your spasm chasm?” Daff continued solemnly and then snorted when Lia frowned at her.
“You’re such a child,” Lia chastised. “I’m never telling you anything again.”
“Okay, okay. I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist,” Daff said, choking back her laughter. “Tell me what happened.”
Lia pursed her lips and refused to comment, lifting a forkful of mashed potatoes to her mouth instead.
“Come on, Lia,” she said coaxingly. “Don’t be such a baby. I was just teasing. Tell me what Gilbert did.”
“For cripes’ sake! His name is Gregory.”
“Lia, we’ve discussed this before . . . you know I can’t take you seriously when you use words like cripes.”
“Just because you like to swear doesn’t mean I have to.” Lia knew she sounded like an old woman, but seriously, her sister went a bit overboard with the language at times. It was so unladylike.
“Tell me about Gregory.”
“Fine! He kissed me. And got a bit gropey.” And just like that, Daff went as serious as a heart attack. All laughter fled from her eyes, and her expression froze. She could be a bit scary when she got into protective-big-sister mode.
“Do I have to find him and chop off his balls? Or did he listen when you told him to back off?”
“Of course he did. Eventually,” Lia said carefully. Daff practically had smoke pouring from her nostrils, she was fuming so much.
“Eventually? What the fuck does that mean?”
“It wasn’t anything serious, he touched my boob and kind of rubbed himself against me. But then you called and I had an excuse to go.”
“You don’t need an excuse, Lia. All you have to do is tell him no. And if he doesn’t listen, knee him in the groin.”
“I won’t see him again.”
“Not just this Gregory asshole. Any guy, Lia.”
“I know, don’t worry,” Lia placated her, and Daff shook her head.
“It’s hard not to. You’re terrifyingly naïve at times, Lia. I worry about you.” Her words made Lia bristle. She wished her family would stop seeing her as this helpless, sweet little girl who couldn’t take care of herself.
“It’s not your place to worry about me, Daff,” she said, injecting enough frost in her voice to make her sister sit up and pay attention. “I’m not a child. And while I may have made a few stupid decisions in the past, I’ve learned from all of them. I never repeat my mistakes.” Well, aside from that Sam Brand thing. But luckily nobody knew about that, and it definitely wouldn’t happen again.
Daff didn’t say anything for the longest time, merely stared at her, before shaking her head and shrugging.
“When are you thinking of moving into Daisy’s place?” she asked. Another jarring subject change, and it took Lia a moment to adjust.
“I’m not sure. I haven’t really spoken to Daisy about it yet. I hope she doesn’t have a potential tenant in mind already.”
“I doubt that.”
“I’ll call her tonight. When are you moving out?”
“Soon as I can. Wouldn’t want Spence to change his mind.” She was only half joking.
“He wouldn’t.”
“Yeah, I know, but I’m paranoid sometimes. Besides, I really can’t wait for us to be under the same roof.”
Lia smiled; it was strange to see her oldest sister so hopelessly in love. Daff had always been tough and self-sufficient. She had become jaded in recent years, but since she and Spencer had fallen in love, the hard edges Daff had been starting to develop had softened.
“You will be soon enough,” Lia told her, and Daff grinned.
“I’ve turned into a total sap,” Daff said with a rueful shake of her head.
“Total.”
“Shut up.”
I need your help! Lia stared blankly at the message on her screen later that evening. Her parents were chatting amiably in front of the television and Lia had been contemplating heading up to her room for an early bedtime when the cryptic message from the unknown number came through.
The second message appeared on the screen a moment later. It’s Brand.
