liquefied. She tasted the mixture, added a couple more tablespoons of sugar and ran it again.
She poured the sweetened berry puree into a pitcher, then slowly added a bottle of champagne. After carefully stirring everything together, she got out three champagne flutes just as the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” Cassidy said, reaching for her crutches.
Daisy shook her head. “Stay put.”
“Bitch.”
“Ingrate.”
Daisy let in Sage. “Your sister’s in a mood,” she warned. “She has crutches and thinks she’s all that.”
“Kids today,” Sage said with a smile. “What can we do?”
“Lock her in her room?”
“I can hear you,” Cassidy called from the family room.
Sage joined her on the sofa while Daisy poured them drinks. She carried them over, along with the takeout menu.
Sage took a sip. “Delicious.”
“Berry Bellinis,” Daisy told her. “Easy and yummy.”
“Thanks for inviting me over.” Sage kicked off her flats and tucked her feet under her. “It was a long day. I was looking forward to relaxing, but my mother informed me I had to make myself scarce. Her new boyfriend is coming over.”
Daisy didn’t understand. “You can’t meet him?”
Cassidy leaned against Sage and sighed. “She’s too old.”
Sage grimaced. “I suspect Joanne is trying to pass for about fifteen years younger than she is. I get in the way of that.”
“Buy why lie? He’s going to find out eventually.”
Cassidy looked pitying. “Sweetie, it’s not about keeping him. That’s unlikely. It’s about getting as much as she can, as quickly as she can.”
“It’s sad,” Daisy said.
“Very.” Sage took another sip. “She can’t play this game much longer. She’s nearly sixty.” She grabbed the menu. “Can we order? I’m starved. I didn’t get a lunch break today.”
“But that’s illegal,” Daisy told her. “You’re supposed to have a thirty-minute break for every—”
Sage held up her hand to stop her. “I know the rules. Life doesn’t always work that way. Now let’s talk food.”
“Something spicy,” Cassidy said, shifting away from Sage and propping up her leg. “Like me.”
Sage grinned at Daisy. “You were right. She’s in a mood.”
“Told you so.” Daisy grabbed her drink. “Mu Shu pork and spring rolls or dumplings.”
“I’m going to be so puffy in the morning,” Sage muttered. “Thank goodness the store’s closed.”
They ordered enough for at least eight people. While they waited for the delivery, Daisy topped up everyone’s glass.
Cassidy drained about half hers in a single gulp, then waved her glass. “I’m off pain meds so I can drink again.”
“And make up for lost time,” Daisy said dryly.
“I’m ignoring that. So first kiss.”
“What?” Sage asked, confused. “You want us to kiss you?”
“No, silly. I want to know about your first kiss. Who was it? How was it? And I’m talking a real kiss, like with tongue. Not some silly game thing. I’ll start. I was fourteen and the guy was David Green. He’s was quiet and smart, but cute. I pretended to have trouble with my math homework and asked him to help me. On our third tutoring session, he kissed me. Really kissed me.” She sighed. “Young David had been practicing because he sure knew what he was doing.”
Daisy grinned. “Did you two ever date?”
“No, he moved away. I wonder where he is now. Maybe I should stalk him online.”
“Or not,” Daisy told her. “My first kiss was also a guy from school,” she said. “I was fifteen. We were at a party and we went for a walk. It was nice.”
“Jimmy Barlow,” Sage said. “You dated him like three months.”
“How can you remember that?”
“I just do.”
“Yes, we dated. Young love.” Daisy reached for her Bellini. “Your turn, Sage.”
“I’m not playing this game,” she said with a shake of her head. “Let’s talk about something else.”
“What is wrong with you?” Cassidy demanded. “We’re just being silly. Why does it matter who you kissed when you were a kid?”
Daisy realized the problem. “Because it’s Jordan.”
Sage shot her a look. “I doubt you want me to go there.”
“You had to have kissed other guys before Jordan,” Cassidy said.
“Not in a way that meant anything.” Sage shifted on the sofa. “We aren’t talking about this.”
“It’s okay,” Daisy told her, a little surprised to find she was telling the truth. “I know you two were serious. You were engaged. He would have been your first everything.”
Sage stared at her. “How can that be okay? I don’t think it is, so how can you? We’re just starting to get along. This is working.” She motioned to the three of them. “I don’t want to screw everything up because I used to sleep