Erin’s eyes got big. “Yes. So much love. I didn’t mean it in abad way, I swear.”
Jack sent her an air kiss. “I know.”
Erin returned the gesture. “Before we dive into Quinnland, can Ijust say something?” She didn’t wait before continuing. “I’m not giving up myloathing of Mel anytime soon, but I’m willing to give her a couple of pointsfor her role in waking up your inner sex goddess.”
“Yeah.” Jack nodded. “That.”
She didn’t have hard feelings toward Mel at this point. Well, noreally hard feelings. And no matter how ill-advised sleeping with her had been,it had reminded her there was more to life than work and parenting and being aresponsible adult.
“You’re thinking about being a sex goddess, aren’t you?” Erinlifted her chin. “I can tell.”
She laughed and shook her head. “I’m not sure sex goddess is evergoing to be part of my identity, but I’ll embrace the spirit of it. Maybe I canbe like Stella and get my groove back.”
“Oh, I like that,” Julia said.
“A very reasonable compromise.” Erin lifted her glass. “To Amandagetting her groove back.”
Glasses clinked and a moment of quiet followed. Seconds tickedby. Julia had a wistful smile and Erin a satisfied smirk. She glanced at Jack,who regarded her with impatience. “Now can someone please fill me in on Quinn?”
Amanda laughed. She had a motley group of friends, but she lovedthem. “Well, she’s my architect.”
She spent the rest of dinner fielding questions about how muchtime they’d spent together, why she’d been keeping it to herself, and how manydates it would take before they slept together. After clearing the dishes, sheshowed off her new chairs and explained how they came to be in her garage. Bythe time she cut slices of chocolate tart, she couldn’t help but wonder ifQuinn’s ears were ringing. And although she wasn’t sure whether she really wantedto know the answer, she wondered if Quinn had spent half as much time thinkingand talking about her.
* * *
Quinn slept in, leaving her just enough time to do laundry and gofor a paddle before Sunday afternoon dinner at her sister’s. Well, paddle and ashower. Showing up in outdoor gear opened the door to her sisters teasing herabout being that sort of lesbian. When she rolled into Alana’s just after one,she was the last to arrive, but she looked more than presentable.
She let herself in without bothering to knock and headed straightfor the kitchen. Kiera and Alana sat at the table with cups of coffee.“Greetings, siblings. Happy Sunday.”
“The prodigal sister returns,” Kiera said.
Quinn rolled her eyes. “I saw you like three days ago.”
Kiera made a pouting face. “I figured you were avoiding me.”
“I don’t need to now that you aren’t trying to set me up at everyturn.”
Kiera sniffed and Alana snickered.
Quinn shrugged. “Where is everyone?”
“Gary and Xinxin are out back with Grace. Jacob and Adam are inthe basement.”
With their parents on vacation in Greece, that was the wholeclan.
“You look like you’re considering your options. Too good to hangwith your sisters these days?”
She laughed, knowing the jab didn’t have any malice. Honestly,one of her favorite things about her family was that it didn’t fall into thehusbands club and wives club so many extended families did. Sure, it had asmuch to do with the fact that two of the three of them were queer and one hadmarried someone from another country, but still. “Maybe I’m trying to figureout who will harass me the least.”
Kiera let out a sarcastic “ha, ha,” but Alana laughed for real.
“Hang with us. I promise I won’t let Kiera be mean.”
“I’m not mean.” Kiera’s tone was defiant.
She helped herself to a cup of coffee. “You’re not. Just nosy.And maybe bossy.”
Kiera scowled. “Am not.”
Quinn slung an arm around her shoulders before joining them atthe table. “Are too.”
“It’s a good thing I love you,” Kiera said.
“And I you.”
“Aw.” Alana tipped her head to the side. “I love it when you twohave a moment.”
She was teasing but also not. She’d spent a solid two decadesplaying the peacekeeper between Quinn and Kiera. Not that they foughtconstantly, but the combination of being only a year apart and having completelyopposite personalities had made for some serious bickering. They were mostlypast that now. Mostly.
Kiera made a show of batting her eyelashes. “Since we love eachother so much, do you want to be my plus-one at a Girl Scout fundraiserThursday? Xinxin has a work thing.”
“I can’t. I have a date.”
Kiera’s shoulders dropped and she made a face. “If you don’t wantto, just say so. You don’t need to lie.”
“Kiera.” Alana gave her a stern look.
“What? She gave me the lecture about fixing her up last week. Shedoesn’t get to play the no more dates card, then pretend she has one.”
“Maybe she’s not pretending,” Alana said.
Quinn folded her arms. “Yeah, maybe I’m not pretending.”
Kiera raised a brow, completely incredulous. Alana looked fromher to Quinn and wrinkled her nose. “Are you pretending?”
“I am not.” It came out a little smug, but it wasn’t like hersisters would take it personally.
“Well?” It was Kiera’s turn to fold her arms.
“Well what?” Playing dumb was one of Kiera’s top pet peeves andabsolutely the reason she did it.
“What are we talking about?” Adam and Jacob filed into thekitchen and made a beeline for the refrigerator.
“Aunt Quinn’s love life.”
Jacob made a face. “Y’all talk about that stuff?”
“Not when I can help it.” Quinn rolled her eyes. “What are youguys up to?”
“Not talking about our love lives, that’s for sure.” Adam pulledout two cheese sticks and handed one to his brother. “When’s dinner?”
Alana shook her head. “Half an hour.”
“Cool.” Adam plopped himself on one of the stools at the island.
Jacob devoured his cheese stick in two bites. After throwing thewrapper in the trash, he lifted his chin in Quinn’s direction. “So? Hot date?”
For some reason, having her nephews join the conversation madeher more comfortable rather than less. Maybe because their presence would keepthings PG. Which was ironic since they were probably the most sexually activeones in the room. “As a matter of fact, yes.”
“All right.”
