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Alaina was deliriously happy now. Yeah, she’d kissed a frog. An epic frog who had abandoned her when she was pregnant, but she’d found the right man after that. There was nothing that had made her ruined or kept her from happiness, and while Quinn didn’t think she could do the being-married-and-having-children thing, the point was, whatever happened with Levi, there would be happiness on the other side.

Sure, there was Fia. Who was bitter and wretched and had never gotten over Landry. Or whatever. But that didn’t mean it would be Quinn’s fate.

She and Levi had been honest with each other.

Who knew what Fia had expected from Landry?

“So yeah, I’m sleeping with him, since you are being so nosy,” she said. “But I don’t actually want to fall in love and get married. I don’t want to have kids. No offense, Alaina.”

“Why would I be offended that you don’t want my life? I don’t care.”

She really did love her younger sister.

“Good. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with it. I’m just saying...it’s not for me. At least, not yet.” Except she felt a tugging in her heart that made her feel like maybe that was a lie. Because she was softer now, changing. And she really hated the idea that somehow sex with Levi had changed her fundamentally. Because she had always rejected the idea that you weren’t a woman until a man made you one, because it was ridiculous. Because virginity was totally a social construct and...

It hadn’t really felt like one in bed with the two of them, when society wasn’t around.

But then, she had also always known that sex wasn’t a handshake. It wasn’t that she judged people for doing it casually—she didn’t—it was that for her she had always known it never could be wholly casual.

And how could it be with Levi? Her interactions with him had been thorny and difficult from the beginning. Complicated. So clearly anything naked with him was going to be complicated.

“It’s just a lot,” said Fia.

“I didn’t say it wasn’t a lot. It is a lot. He’s a lot. But he’s worth it. I like him. I mean, I really like him. As a human being, quite apart from the sex.”

“Is it electric?” Rory asked, sounding dreamy.

She felt shy, and her face got hot.

“It is...personal. Very personal.”

“That’s not fair,” said Rory.

“If you want details,” said Alaina, “I am happy to share. Because Gus is amazing.” She sniffed. “And I actually have something to compare him to. Because he isn’t the only man I’ve had sex with.”

“We get it,” said Quinn.

“Is Levi the only...?” Alaina asked.

“Maybe,” said Quinn. “But also not your business. And you should all know that he didn’t seduce me, I seduced him, and you can’t get mad at him, and also don’t go to his house with a gun, Fia.”

“Why would I do that?” Fia asked.

“I don’t know,” said Quinn. “You’re a loose cannon.”

Fia smiled. “I am a loose cannon—it’s true. And a badass.”

“Yes, yes,” Quinn said, rolling her eyes.

“But you’re happy,” said Fia. “Like you’re good. You don’t feel coerced and you don’t feel...”

“I said that. You don’t need to be a hen about it. I’m not going to get broken up over it. He has been very open and honest with me, and I’ve been very open and honest with him. It’s going to be fine.”

And she ignored the slightly ominous feeling that bloomed at the center of her breast as she said that. There was no reason for it to be ominous. There was nothing ominous about it.

“We get started stocking the store today,” said Fia.

“You should come to Levi’s. And see the road. Drive on it.”