Page 64 of The Baby Dragon Cafe
“Seriously, you’ll be great,” Ginny affirmed. She sat back, disappointed at the lack of juicy gossip. “You’re such a big baby. I can’t believe that’s what made you stress-cook.”
“Honestly,” Emmy agreed, equally disappointed. “Oliver’s baby dragon just had his first flight a few months ago, and ifOlliecan handle it, you surely can.”
He appreciated the votes of confidence.
“Yeah, you’re right,” he said. “I’m just worried that if Sparky learns to fly, Father will try and force me into racing, since there’s no one else to defend the Sterling name.”
“Give me a few years, I’ll do it,” Ginny said breezily.
He gave her a dirty look. “Funny.”
He didn’t want her getting involved in all that dangerous business, and was sure his father felt the same way about his little girl. Genevieve glared at him, though Aiden didn’t knowwhat she had to be irritated about when she wasn’t being serious. He felt as if perhaps he was missing something, and distantly wished that Danny was here so they could both discuss their enigmatic little sister.
“Don’t worry about your father,” Emmeline said, changing the subject back to the original point of discussion. “Focus on Sparky.”
“True.” He paused, scratching the back of his neck. “There is another thing. Saphira is coming with me to Mount Echo.”
Emmeline and Genevieve sat up, alert. They exchanged an incredulous glance.
“What about Mireya?” Emmeline asked. “You know how old-school she is.”
“Yeah,” Genevieve agreed. “She’s not going to do the ritual if you’ve beenliving in sin.” Her voice went solemn.
Aiden squirmed at his little sister’s words. “Please do not say that.” Though he could not deny that his thoughts lately regarding Saphira had indeed been quite sinful.
He cleared his throat. “Well, that’s the thing … Saphira and I are going to pretend to be married.”
The girls went deadly silent.
“Whose idea was this?” Genevieve asked.
“Mine,” Aiden replied.
Genevieve exchanged a long glance with Emmeline. Aiden frowned. He hated when they did this, had an entire quiet conversation he was not privy to from the micro-changes in their facial expressions.
“And Saphira agreed?” Emmeline asked, as if needing confirmation.
“Yes.”
“I think that’s a … good plan,” Emmeline said, choosing her words carefully.
“I agree,” Genevieve said, equally careful with her tone.
They were both being purposefully nice, as if trying not to scare him off, and he didn’t like it.
“Be honest,” he sighed.
They both looked at each other and burst into laughter, giggling.
“You really like her!” Emmeline cried, grabbing his arm.
“This is an insane idea—you do realize that, right?” Genevieve said, grabbing his other arm. At the same time, they both shook him until his head rattled.
Ah,herewere the annoying sisters he knew and adored.
“It’s not even that crazy!” Aiden protested, though it definitely was. He wiggled his arms out of their grasp.
“It isbatshitinsane!” Emmeline said. “A fake marriage? Who even comes up with that?”
