Me:Yes
Clint:Connor’s on a date.
Tiney:After you ate already?!
Me:I only came because you asked, remember? Didn’t want to be rude.
Lie. I knew she would end up inviting me inside if I offered to drop her off at her in-laws’ place. I needed a way to see Ceci and my unsuspecting sister was the best option.
Tiney:Oh yeah! Thanks for dropping in! Martina loves you! I hope Ceci is alright though.
Clay:What the hell are you two talking about?
Tiney:Con helped me pick up a few large appliances I ordered special for my new recipes. Afterward, he stopped in with me for the Fernandez dinner.
Clay:Riveting Tiney, really. But anyway…
Clay:Why won’t you just tell us about her man? Is she fugly or something?
Me:No.
Clint:No she’s not ugly or no you won’t tell us about her?
Me:No she doesn’t exist. Will you guys leave it alone?
Clay:Sure.
Clint:Sure.
Tiney:Suuuure!
Clay:Well if I WASN'T giving Connor dating advice, I definitely wouldn’t tell him to ditch that flannel he loves and wear something new for a change.
Clint:If I wasn’t giving Connor advice, I wouldn’t tell him to speak instead of staring. His “not date” can’t read his mind.
Tiney:I wouldn’t tell him that smiling isn’t illegal. Since he seems to think it is.
Me:Is it too late to emancipate myself from this family?
“What are you smiling at over there?” My head lifted and my eyes met Ceci’s. She was leaning over the back of the couch, peering down the hall at me. Easing my way back into the living room, I realized I was feeling a little better than when we first got home. If it was because of the shower or my siblings, I didn’t know. Either way, I could once again look at Ceci and not feel so suffocated by a “what if” I couldn’t even place.
Me:Gotta go. See you guys soon.
Clint:Tomorrow morning.
Me:Got it.
Clint:Have fun on your date.
Clay:Pics or it didn’t happen!
Tiney:Be a gentleman!
Me:Goodbye.
Clicking away from the chat, I silenced it before I was flooded with even more teasing messages. But one more message fought its way through, lighting up my screen as I entered the living room to find Ceci also showered and in my clothes.Flannel.
The rogue message was from Tiney, and it wasn’t part of the group chat.
