Of course Dare would focus on the Tucker part of the occasion.
Ginny:Yes, mom. Safer than a certainotherperson I know.
Dare:Stop it. We used condoms. Anyway, was it good?
Ginny:As always. Tell you more about that, later. Right now I’m a little more focused on the present from Mom.
This time the message took a little longer to arrive, and Ginny feared her sister was probably writing some huge missive. She glanced over and examined Tucker again.
He had put his phone away and was watching her.
May as well stick to the truth. “Yes, I told Dare you and I are in bed together. She knows about all the other times. I told you that, and you said it was okay.”
He shrugged. “Just getting everything straight so there’s no misunderstanding later.”
That didn’t sound like ahey, ho, everything’s kosher. “What does that mean?”
He leaned forward. “It means once you’re done talking with your sister, we’re having another conversation about the sexing business, capisce?”
Ping.
Ginny waved a hand in the air. “I’ll get back to you on that as well. I’ll have my people call your people.”
She got a lip twitch out of him. It was stupid how good that made her feel.
Dare truly had written a mini novel.
Dare:First, I’m glad you talked to Caleb. I’m glad it’s behind you.
I need to say—you are so freaking good at that telling the truth thing, and I’m glad. I would have stewed over it for three years and ended up hating everybody, including myself. But like you said, you’ve talked about it, it’s over, it’s done. I love you.
Dare:Next part. The present from your mom. I read that, and I swear a freaking load of butterflies took flight in my gut. That is the mostOh My Godthing I’ve heard in a long time.
How are you doing? Do you want me to come down and be there when you open it? Do you want to—I don’t even know what to offer. Tell me what you need, and I’m there for you.
I love you so much, and I’m equal parts excited and terrified for you right now.
Yup. Her sister understood completely.
Her own answer took a bit of time to compose.
Ginny:I love you too. Right now the present is sitting on the dresser top, looming ominously. Thank you so much for offering to be there when I open it, and I would totally take you up on the offer other than that’s not a good idea, because you’re the one with the babies, and you’re going to come to me? If I need you to hold my hand, I will admit it and haul my carcass up to you.
Ginny:But it’s already feeling a little less gut-numbing. I think I might open the envelope first and see how emotionally devastating Mom decided to be. It could be a card with a farting dog on it, and there’s not a lot of backlash from that. Know what I mean?
Dare:I could see your mom doing that.
Ginny:So can I.
Dare:My babies are calling, and my man is waving frantically. I’ve got to go. Call me if you need me.
Ginny:I will.
Dare:I love you, Truth.
Ginny:I love you, Dare.
Ginny stared at her phone for a minute, the familiar phrasing such a part of her past.