Page 39 of Wherever You Are

“You should practice,” Rose coaches.

“With…like a banana?” I look around the closet for something phallic.

“Just wing it,” Daisy suggests.

Rose cringes at those words.

Daisy mock gasps and says dramatically, “The disgust.”

Lily laughs.

My heart does a weird nosedive. I miss them. Being around them.Livingwith them. Even if they’ve all moved into separate houses, they live on the same street from one another.

And Rose raises a hand to both of her sisters before scooting closer to the screen. “Willow, I was a lot like you.”

“You were?” Fearless, fierce Rose Calloway, who makes men shrivel and quake. I know her better than when I first moved to Philly. She’s not just a face on a Forbes magazine or the star of the short-livedPrincesses of Phillyto me.She’s complicated and complex, and so I’m not too shocked.

“Nervous about giving a Grade F blow job, yes.” Rose loves to succeed.

“What made you feel better?”

Rose takes a breath as she says, “Connor. He was patient and made me feel…” She rolls her eyes. “Like we were practicing together and that I had nothing to prove but everything to gain. So you don’t need to practice alone beforehand. You can practicewithGarrison.”

Lily pops open a can of Fizz. “That’s good advice, Rose.”

“I know.”

We laugh.

Daisy nods. “See, even if it’s awkward, it’s awkward with someone who makes you feel comfortable, therefore the awkwardness is nullified, and all shall prevail.” She extends her arms theatrically.

“For…” I trail off, my thoughts dying as music grows ten octaves louder. Like my door has just opened…

I stiffen.

Oh no.

“What’s wrong?” Rose asks, straightening up.

“Willow?” Daisy and Lily say at the same time.

“I forgot to lock my door,” I whisper and strain my ears. Floorboards creak, accompanied by giggling. “I think someone’s in my room.”

“Kick those motherfuckers out,” Rose snaps, yellow-green eyes pierced like she’s two-seconds from crawling through my laptop screen and fighting them for me.

“What’s going on?”

Oh,shit.

That voice, that question—it’s coming fromtheirend. I watch their heads swerve at the sound of Loren Hale.

My brother.

And he’s not alone. He stands behind the couch with Ryke Meadows. Both of my brothers bend over to peer at the Skype session.

“Willow?” Ryke’s face darkens. “What the fuck is happening?”

Daisy explains everything quickly.Thank you. I use the time to listen to the intruders. The music dies down, and I’m guessing they shut my door.