Page 115 of Hit Me With Your Best Shot

“Uptight?” I echo, raising an eyebrow. “I came down here because neither of you were answering your phones. I thought something bad happened.”

“Something baddidhappen,” Austin says solemnly, gripping my shirt like she’s about to deliver earth-shattering news. “We ran out of crackers for our cheese tray.”

Nova bursts into another fit of giggles, almost spilling her wine as she leans back against the couch. “It was tragic.”

Nova pats the floor beside her, still grinning. “Come on, sit down. Have a drink. We’re solving all of life’s problems tonight.”

“Yes, come sit down.” Austin grabs my hand and pulls me toward the living room to join my sister.

I let out a mock sigh, sinking onto the floor between them. “Alright, but I’m warning you now—if you two are trying to drag me into whatever nonsense this is, I’m charging a babysitting fee.”

Austin hands me a glass of wine, her eyes twinkling. “Consider this your payment.”

She plops unceremoniously down beside me, leaning her head on my shoulder like she’s perfectly content with the world.

I can’t wait to hear the shit they’ve been talking about, taking a sip from the glass I’ve been given.

It’s good – surprisingly good – not too sweet, not too dry.

I take another sip from the glass I’ve been handed, then another, letting the wine settle as I lean back against the couch.

“So,” I say, glancing between the pair of them. “What were you yapping about while I was gone?” I pause, raising aneyebrow. “Better yet, could someone please explain how you even ended up here? Together?”

Nova grins, tipping her glass toward me. “Austin was giving me advice.”

I turn to Austin, my curiosity piqued. “What kind of advice?”

“About boys.” I laugh. “Mostly how horrible dating apps are.”

Nova nods emphatically.

“She was lecturing me about notsettling,” Nova replies, swirling her wine like she’s about to say something profound. “Deleting guys the second they display red flags instead of waiting to be disappointed.” She pauses dramatically, her eyes narrowing as if she’s just realized something. “Actually, she sounds freakishly like you.”

Austin snickers, nudging me with her elbow. “See? Great minds think alike.”

I laugh, leaning back against the couch. “It’s not exactly groundbreaking advice, Nova. Red flags are red for a reason.”

Taking another drink from my wine glass, I let my gaze drift between the two of them as they dissolve into another round of giggles. They’re both so caught up in their own little world of bad dating profiles and half-finished snacks that I almost feel like an outsider just watching them.

And honestly? It’s cute.

Nova never had a sister, and for that matter, neither has Austin. Watching them laugh and bond like this, it’s hard not to feel a little proud. I’d worried about how this dynamic would play out—my sister and my girlfriend spending time together without me as the buffer.

But seeing them now? They’re like two peas in a very chaotic, wine-fueled pod.

“You two are ridiculous,” I mutter, but there’s no bite to it.

“We’re delightful,” Nova corrects, raising her glass in mock cheers.

“Delightfully tipsy,” I counter, which only makes them giggle harder.

Austin leans her head against my shoulder, still laughing. “You love it.”

I do love it.

The thought sneaks up on me, unbidden but undeniably true. Watching them like this—completely at ease with each other, laughing like idiots, their glasses half-empty but their smiles full—it’s hard not to feel a little soft about it.

Then Nova catches my eye, her grin shifting into something sly, her brows lifting knowingly.

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