Page 67 of Counting the Days
“Whatever, he called me and said, ‘I met someone I can’t stop thinking about—’ ”
“We were like, ‘Who is this woman who put such a spell on our baby brother?’ ”
“I love your dress—”
“It would lookterribleon me—”
“I wish our parents could meet you—”
“Oh, they would love you—”
“But Dan doesn’t invite them toanything—”
“Hehatesthem—”
“Mostly our dad—”
“I’m sure he’s told you—”
“We thought he was gonna stay singleforeverjust to spite him—”
“Our dad’s an acquired taste, but you’ll be fine—”
“If Dan ever lets him meet you—”
“Oh yeah, our dad’llloveyou, don’t worry—”
“Well, we’re not sureloveis an emotion he’s capable of—”
“But he’ll be perfectly nice to you—”
“Oh, yeah, perfectly nice.”
Rhea had never been on the receiving end of such a barrage. She had yet to speak, and wondered if she ever would again. Out of the corner of her eye, another sight made reality fold in on itself: Wild Eyes and Uh-Huh Same drinking beer on Danny’s couch.
“Greta?” Rhea said.
Wild Eyes’s real name had permanently wedged into her brain and flew out of her mouth at the perfect moment.
Wild Eyes looked up and grinned. Rhea looked back at Danny’s sisters.
“Oh, yeah, you go say hi—”
“Don’t let us keep you—”
“We’ll talk your ear off—”
“It wassonice to meet you—”
“Can’t waitto chat more later—”
“She’s so pretty—”
“So pretty—”
The three sisters retreated and kept talking as they moved through the house as a unit, a garrulous Cerberus. As Rhea approached Wild Eyes and Uh-Huh Same, she also recognized the unknown man Danny had spent much of the retreat talking to.
Apparently, Danny was the kind of person who stayed in touch with people he met at retreats. Meanwhile, Rhea was the kind of person who hid behind a food truck when she saw someone she knew at the farmer’s market. Rhea had left Big Surknowingshe would never see any of those people again. Danny had gotten all their contact information and invited them to his Fourth of July party.
