And just like that, it’s all behind us. I know Elsie will never bring it up again. She won’t hold it against me, no more apologies needed. We talked, we figured it out, and now it’s over.

“Glad you like it. I wanted it to feel fancy even though we’ll just be on my couch.”

My pour was a little too heavy. The crimson wine flirts dangerously close to the edge of the glass with every step I take. I place the glasses on the coffee table and three loud knocks on my door disguise my sigh of relief for my unscathed rug.

“It’s your favorite sister!” Daisy singsongs from the hallway. “And I have vodka!”

Unlike Elsie, Daisy wasn’t fazed by my phone being off after the dinner. She’s living her best, single, financially secure life, where she can eat out every night without bothering to check her bank account. I don’t think she even noticed that I hadn’t returned her calls. She sounded confused when I called to apologize last night.

“It’s open,” I call over my shoulder, and that’s all the prompting she needs before the door swings open and Daisy makes her grand entrance.

Her long legs make quick work of my small entryway. She kicks off her heels, which take her from tall to taller, and tosses her long blond hair over her shoulder. Her red-painted lips and winged eyeliner are giving me serious Taylor Swift vibes. I know I invited them, but standing between my gorgeous best friend and fabulous sister, I feel woefully underdressed in my plain tank top and tattered jeans.

“Oooh! Wine!” Daisy puts her bottle of vodka on the counter before grabbing a wineglass, filling it up, and joining us on my couch. “Soooo . . . what’s new?”

Each time I’m around Daisy, I regret the years we spent apart. She fits so naturally in my life, it’s been great having her around.

“Yeah.” Elsie reaches for her wineglass and taps it against Daisy’s before taking a small sip. “This is the second time you’ve called for reinforcements. Something big must be happening if you’ve planned an official sit-down with wine and snacks.”

“I’m not sure big is the right word.” I’ve been trying to decide how to fill them in on the new arrangement between me and Jasper since I texted him back last night. But now, with Elsie’s and Daisy’s full attention on me, I don’t know what to say. “So as I’ve told you both, the date was a bloody disaster.”

“A bloody disaster?” Elsie repeats after me, amusement thick in her voice. “What the fuck?”

“I’ve been watching a lot of Love Island UK, okay? Now, focus,” I scold her. She raises her hands in surrender but doesn’t even attempt to stop laughing. “I didn’t think I would hear from Jasper again, but I did.”

Elsie’s laughter dies on her lips as both she and Daisy lean in closer.

“He called you?” Daisy asks. “What did he say?”