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"Yes, how did last night go?" Evie's lips twitched with obvious amusement at her sister's discomfort. "I called Ro after you texted us and she filled me in a little. Our escape plan failed, but it sounds like Operation Bad Asses Mating was a bit of a success?""
"Operation what?" Teagan asked over the sounds of Ro's choking laughter.
"When you and Luca first started talking, I may have made a couple jokes about observing the mating calls of two bad asses," Ro confessed, dodging the piece of garlic bread that flew across the table at her head. "It's not my fault it stuck."
"Honestly?" Teagan frowned.
"Uh oh," Evie said, pushing her lasagna around on her plate. Teagan wondered if any would make it into the girl's mouth.
"Why do I feel like I'm not going to like this conversation? Is everything okay?" Ro turned toward Teagan, concerned.
"I'm not exactly sure how this can work out between us is all."
"What does that mean?" Evie asked.
"It means that he doesn't want me to be the strong woman I am. He wants a mindless, subservient floor mat."
"You know that isn't true," Ro said, defending her longtime friend.
"No? Then why did he quickly shoot down our offer to help?" Teagan shot back.
"He explained that; we'd be a distraction," Ro offered.
"Yeah, implying he would have to rescue us because we aren't capable of taking care of ourselves," Teagan spat.
"That's not what he said!" Ro sounded flabbergasted.
"It's what I heard."
"Then you need to clean your ears out, because that wasn't at all what I heard. I heard a man concerned about not being able to do his best work because he would be distracted."
"And God forbid I show up anyway. I'd end up face down over his knee for daring to disobey him."
"That's what you agreed to. You knew what kind of man he was before you agreed to any of this." Ro threw her hands in the air.
"Okay, you two, stop for a second," Evie interjected. "What is really going on, Tea?"
"I don't know if I can put it into words. I'm just not sure Luca is what I want or, more specifically, if the relationship dynamic he wants is what I want."
"What do you want, then? It sounds like maybe there are some growing pains getting used to the dynamic?" Ro asked.
"I just want to be happy, I guess," Teagan said.
"No one can make you happy or unhappy, Tea. That is entirely up to you. You choose how you're going to react to a situation." Ro put her arm around Teagan's shoulders and squeezed gently before dropping them back into her lap. "You are the only one standing between you and the happy life you deserve. Choose happiness, Tea. Allow yourself to be happy," Ro said.
"Mother Ro. Listen to how wise you sound," Evie said sarcastically.
"Jean rubbed off on me a bit, so sue me. Do you have any better advice?" Ro challenged.
"You can't shove a size nine foot into a size six shoe without there being some pain," Evie quipped, taking a sip of her wine.
"You and your clothing analogies," Ro said, smiling.
"I'm not Cinderella's stepsister, trying to shove my foot into someone else's shoes to win a man. The analogy doesn't work." Teagan tried not to roll her eyes.
"No, you aren't," Evie agreed. You already have the man, and he wants you exactly as you are, Teagan. But if the way things are now isn't a good fit, you need to talk to him and exchange the wrong size shoe for the right one, so you can be comfortable. The shoe may still pinch in places at times, but eventually, you'll break it in and it'll be a perfect fit."
"I'm used to being an accomplished, independent woman. I've never needed a man. I've never needed help from anyone. I don't like Luca's implication that I need help."
