Page 152 of Really Truly Yours

Hot, fragrant water bubbles and swirls around my feet. I’ve ended up in the middle chair between Avery and Annalise. It’s awkward, them conversing over me.

Sydnee, it would be far less awkward if you’d join in the conversation.

To be fair, I can tell they’re trying to draw me out. In fact, I do believe they seated me dead center so they could hit me up for information in a two-pronged attack.

Annalise’s sigh contains a touch of drama. “I need this so bad. We walked sooo much in Europe. I’m too young to have these kinds of callouses.”

I nod along as if this is part of my regular footcare regimen. Avery, who is only being allowed to soak her feet and then have her toenails painted, snickers. Apparently receiving a foot massage too close to a due date is a no-no. In fact, she remarked yesterday that she was also almost too late in the pregnancy to fly, squeaking in under the wire on that one.

Annalise sips the bubbly water she selected when the guy that greeted us asked. “Marco says I’m scratching him in bed at night.”

“We don’t need to know that, Lise.”

“What?” Annalise makes a face, then catches Avery’s drift. She shrugs. “I didn’t mean that.” She glances up and to the side as if to see who’s listening. “Well, okay, maybe then, too.”

Avery chokes on her bottled water. “Lise! You’re going to scare Sydnee off!”

I can’t help but laugh.

Lasering her twinkling eyes on me, Annalise steeples her hands together. “Now. Let’s talk about Gray. Are things serious with you two?”

“Oh, Lise…” Avery shakes her head. I think she would have elbowed her sister-in-law if she were close enough, and I do believe this moment is the real reason I was selected for the seat of honor.

“Um, well, things are…”

What are they? New? Amazing? Confusing?

Scary.

“They’re…moving along.”

She giggles, something I’m discovering she does often.

My laughs might come more frequently if I’d had her life.

Sydnee, that’s a lousy, victim, martyr mentality. There are billions of people worse off than you. And things have taken an upward turn you can hardly complain about.

“Oh, that’s fantastic! I’m loving getting to know him, too.”

That’s right. Gray is essentially her brother, yet they’ve only known each other a year.

Avery touches her elbow to mine. “He really is a great guy, Sydnee. I want you to know that.”

Before I can respond, Annalise flips her hand at the wrist. “Yeah, don’t let all that scandal stuff from last year bother you. That Kelly woman is a real piece of work.” She shakes her blonde waves. “Such a liar.”

Avery tilts around me, reproving her sister-in-law with a stare. “Annalise, have some mercy on poor Sydnee. I don’t think she knows us well enough for these conversations.”

Annalise flits her gaze to me, then claps her hand over her mouth. “Oopsie. Sorry. I’m kind of the loudmouth of the family.”

Avery snorts. “And that’s why you and Marco deserve each other.”

“Hey, now. I have to keep up with him!”

Avery smirks. “And you do so admirably.”

Annalise huffs. “I’m going to tell my brother on you, Aves.”

“Yeah, which one?”

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