“So what’d you say?”
“That I just wasn’t feeling it. ”
Laura waved her hands, beckoning for more. “And then?”
“And then he said he was into it, and what could he do, and it went on pretty much like that…”
“So what are you going to do? Are you and Billy a thing now?”
Sorrow gave her a sharp look. “Billy doesn’t have ‘things. ’ He doesn’t seem like the type. I don’t know if he’s even interested. ”
“Duh. Of course he’s interested. ” Laura sat up, looking riled. “If I hadn’t lived with you for so many years, I’d have thought you were born yesterday. ”
“Why do you say that?”
“Why do you think he comes around here? For what, Sully’s cooking? To chat with Dad?”
A tiny match lit in Sorrow’s chest, a small flicker of hope. “I guess not. ”
“She guesses not. ” Laura shoved her shoulder. “Well? Do you want him to be interested?”
Sorrow felt the blood heat her cheeks.
Laura barked out a laugh. “Sorrrr-ow likes the sherrr-ifff. ”
“Shut up,” Sorrow said, shoving her sister back. “What about you, Miss Know-It-All?”
“What about me?”
“You’re quick with the love life advice,” Sorrow said. “Anyone you’ve got your eye on?”
Laura looked taken aback. “In this town? No way. ”
“Why do you say that? There are lots of great men in this town. ”
“Yeah, it is like walking into the land of low-hanging fruit…” Laura laughed. “But none of them are for me. ”
“Why not?”
Laura shrugged. “I don’t know. The guys around here are all so…townie. ”
The attitude was classic Laura, and as usual, it drove Sorrow nuts. She crossed her arms at her chest. “Just because a guy lives in the mountains, doesn’t mean he’s backwoods. ”
Laura bristled. “I didn’t say that. ”
“You implied it. You were born here, Laura. What, you spend a few years in San Francisco, and all of a sudden you’re better than the rest of us?”
“Not at all,” Laura said, and seemed actually to mean it.
Maybe her sister was being sincere. Maybe she was the one with the chip on her shoulder, reading too much into Laura’s off-the-cuff comments.
“Whatever. ” Sorrow waved it off. “It’s just men. I didn’t mean to jump down your throat. ”
Laura puffed up playfully. “An apology. Well, then. ” Her eyes narrowed to an evil glint. “It’s just men, my ass. Little sis, I think you need my help. ”
“Help,” Sorrow said flatly, but then she felt suddenly shy. She hated to admit it, but what Laura knew about men could probably fill an encyclopedia. “Okay, say I am interested in him. What do I do
next?”