Page 13 of A Fierce Princess

I whip around in total shock as my eyes lock on Chris’s. My mouth falls open, and I’m speechless.

“Cat got your tongue, little sister?” Chris asks as he smirks at me.

I turn around and notice Auggie isn’t the least bit surprised. I raise an eyebrow and turn back to Chris. He shrugs and grins at me.

“A few hours after you all left, I decided it would be fun to join you,” he says.

“And you didn’t want to share that with me because?” I ask.

“Because I knew you’d want to do something fun, and so I already set up a little island-hopping tour for us. I had it cleared by security already, and we are set to leave in three days after Auggie does his little horse and pony show,” Chris says triumphantly. I peek around him and notice Mia is sitting on the sofa with her phone. I look back up at Chris, and he at least has the audacity to blush a little. So, he really just wants a booty trip with Mia.

“Well, I found a charter a minute ago that looks perfect. So, cancel what you had set up,” I say. “I thought we could go tomorrow. Auggie only really needs to be there tomorrow morning. He can skip the media meet and greet or reschedule it,” I say.

Chris gives me a pointed look because of the whole “duty before self” philosophy that I’m supposed to live by.

“Oh, come on, Chris,” I plead. I pull out my phone and show him the website.

He laughs.

“What’s so funny?” I ask.

“We booked the same charter, just different days,” he says. “I had booked the whole week yesterday, but changed it thinking Auggie had more commitments.” Well, that explains why there was a last-minute opening in Logan’s schedule.

“So, let’s do the whole week then!” I say excitedly, trying to figure out a way to buy myself more time to convince Logan to leave the island.

Auggie and Chris exchanges glances, and then I hear Mia say, “All set.”

We all turn and stare at her. She grins. “You guys need a sibling adventure, and honestly, you could all use a break. Auggie can finish his duties, and I will have him chartered to the next island to meet up with us, and everyone else can leave tomorrow.”

“Well, then, looks like we’re packing up and heading out,” Auggie says with a giant grin.

“I’m going to go change,” Chris says as he heads back into the house. I sink down onto a chair and try to wrap my head around what just occurred.

Auggie laughs. “You look completely befuddled,” he says as he sips his drink.

“You knew?” I ask him.

He shrugs. “Maaaaybeee,” he says with a laugh.

I toss a pool noodle at him, and in all his maturity he fills it with water and sprays me. I stick out my tongue. It’s so typical. We’re all close, but Auggie and Chris are even more close. They still treat me like a little kid rather than an adult or an equal. Typically, I’m much better at spying on them but I’ve been a little preoccupied with my recent discovery.

My phone pings and I look down to see a text from Sonya.

Sonya: Date was AMAZING!

I smile. I need a little levity.

Me: Do tell.

Sonya: No tell. Video chat!

I don’t have time to respond because her video chat request comes through.

I pick up and am greeted by her disheveled hair.

“You slept with him!” I yell.

“Shhh!” she hushes as I see her moving out onto her balcony.

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