“She’s afraid it will be worse.” Elsie speaks up, and she is not wrong. “Your sister is so terrified of losing anything or anyone else, she’s put herself in a self-imposed purgatory.”

“Purgatory? That feels a little dramatic.” I mean, seriously? So I haven’t gone on a real date or a vacation or pretty much left my apartment for something other than work. Is that really purgatory?

“It feels accurate and you know it. And as much as you’re trying to deny it, you like Jasper. You’re freaking out because you’re afraid you’re not only going to remember how much you love lacing up your ugly hiking boots, but you’re gonna like doing it with Jasper even more.”

“You know, it’s very, very rude the way you attack me unprovoked all the time.” The audacity. I didn’t ask for that! “You were just supposed to tell me not to do it.”

“You better fucking do it.” She points her finger so close to my face that I flinch. “I’m not letting you back out of this. Read some fucking books, go outside, take some pictures, and flirt with the fine-ass man or else.”

My head snaps back and I feel my eyebrows try to kiss each other. “Or else?” I repeat her ridiculous threat. It should make me laugh, but with the look on her face, it makes my blood go cold a little bit. “Or else what?”

“You don’t want to know.” She stands up and crosses my small living room, grabbing my phone off the charger. “Here.” She throws me the phone. “Text Jasper now. Tell him the first place you’re taking him and what time he should expect you on Monday.”

“Monday?” My voice is so high, I don’t even recognize it. “That’s in two days! That’s too soon. I can’t plan a day trip for his book in two days. What about next weekend?”

“Monday,” she repeats, and Daisy giggles. “I have four kids who think they can play me all day, every day. I can smell the bullshit, Drew. You knew exactly where you’d take him and had an itinerary worked out in your head the second he suggested this and don’t try to convince me otherwise. Text him. Now.”

“I would listen to her, she seems pretty serious.” Daisy sides with Elsie and I try not to glare. So much for blood is thicker than water, I see.

“You’re both traitors and this is the last time I ask for your help.” I throw out the empty threat but they see right through me. Extremely pleased smiles light both of their beautiful, jerky faces.

Both women sidle in close to me, watching as I type out a text to Jasper.

Hey. This is Drew.

“He knows it’s you.” Daisy offers her constructive criticism. “Get to the good stuff.”