Knox: Good. I like you there.
Ruby watches my face and sighs dramatically. "He so wants to climb up the side of the house like Romeo and steal you."
"He can't. The gutters wouldn't survive."
"You wouldn't survive," Frankie counters. "He'd get you halfway out the window, forget stealth, and rail you against the siding."
Candace chokes on a fry. "Frankie."
"What?" Frankie blinks innocently. "You think he doesn't? That man looks at Sloane like he wants to die on top of her. Respectfully."
My phone buzzes again, as if proving her point.
Knox: Text me if you need me. For any reason. Or for no reason. You say "come get me," I'm on the bike in under a minute.
I lock the screen, tucking the phone away before my heart starts doing stupid things.
Ruby claps once. "Okay, enough heterosexual longing. It's time for Twister and emotional damage."
Frankie sweeps the UNO cards into a pile and shoves them aside. "Saving these for later. You're all going to lose."
"Those are opposites," I say.
Ruby grins. "Not the way I play."
We clear a space, pushing blankets to the edges. Frankie unrolls the Twister mat like she's laying out a ritual circle. Candace watches, amused, hoodie sleeves flopping.
"You're actually serious," she says.
"Deadly," Ruby replies, tossing her hair. "Frankie and I are undefeated champions of Bitch Twister."
"Bitch Twister?" I echo.
Frankie lifts a brow. "You'll see."
Ruby grabs the spinner, then pauses. "Hold up. Candace, what's your flexibility situation? Be honest. Can you pretzel, or will you break like a brittle little Barbie?"
Candace makes a face. "I'm fine. Mostly healed. And extremely bendy, thank you."
Frankie snorts. "You did not need to add the 'extremely bendy' part."
Candace shrugs, deadpan. "Facts are facts."
Ruby hands her the spinner. "Great. You're judge. The power is yours. Use it for evil."
Candace's eyes light up with unholy glee. "Oh, I will."
Ruby, Frankie, and I move onto the mat. Candace cross-legged on the bed, spinner in hand.
"Right hand red."
We lean, arms crossing. The mat squeaks under our palms.
"Left foot green."
Ruby and Frankie move easily. I overcompensate and almost face-plant into Frankie's ass.
"Intimate," Frankie says mildly.