Page 19 of Knockin' on Heaven’s Noir

“Really?”

“Yes, I’ve thought about it a lot.”

“Should I call him? Is he going to hate me?” I ask her, really afraid that he will.

“You big dummy, he’s in love with you. He’s been calling Alex for updates. Texting me. If we told him you were here he would be camped outside your door.”

“He has?” I didn’t know he was talking to my family. “Is he okay?”

“No, he’s not. He’s brokenhearted. I don’t say that to hurt you, I just want you to know that he didn’t just forget about you and move on. The girls have also been checking in, but you’ve been talking to them.”

“How’d you know that?” I’d asked them not to tell anyone, which I felt horrible about.

“I know how much you care about them and that you would never ghost them. They are at way too vulnerable an age for you to do that to them.” Maggie smiles. “You love them.”

“I do. I love Logan too.” I jump off my bed and start packing.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m going home.” I laugh. “You’re right. We are growing up and things change. We can’t live in the same house as our married sister with a baby. We can’t stay in the same place creatively that we were at fourteen. I can’t turn down the love of my life because I’m afraid.”

“Woohoo!” Maggie screams.

Rosie comes running into the room. “Is everyone okay?”

“Phoebe’s gonna get her man,” Maggie tells her.

“Finally,” Rosie sighs, sitting next to Maggie on the bed.

My two sisters sit and watch me pack up everything I need to get by until I can send for the rest of my stuff. They are both quiet until Maggie sits straight up and raises her hand like she’s in school.

“Yes, Maggie?” I call on her.

“I never did get a full answer to my question.”

“You’re question?” Rosie asks.

“Oh my God, Maggie!” I exclaim. “Do you actually want an answer to the sex question?”

“Absolutely.”

“Okay, you asked for it. There has been no penetrative sex, but there was oral copulation.”

Both of my sisters crack up.

Maggie asks, “Oral copulation?”

I nod.

“But no penetration?” Rosie asks just as Alex walks into the room.

“What the fuck?” he asks.

“We’re talking about Phoebe and Logan,” Maggie helpfully tells him and I throw a pillow at her head.

Everyone starts laughing and I tear up at the idea of not having this every day. I know that there will be new amazing things in life with Logan and the twins, but I’ve always had my sisters.

“You’re packing?” Alex asks hopefully.

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