Page 89 of The Baby Dragon Cafe
Of course, that was the easiest and simplest solution. “Easier said than done.”
“Come on, I know you can do it,” she said, bolstering him. “You don’t give yourself enough credit.”
“Really?” He wasn’t quite sure if he believed her.
“Yes! You are so competent and strong. You’ve handled so much, you can absolutely handle an honest conversation with your parents. I know you can.”
Huh. It was hard not to believe her; she could have told him the sky was raining donuts and he would have gone out with a basket to catch them for her.
So maybe she was right—maybe hecoulddo this.
“Okay,” he said. “I will try.”
*
The next day, after Aiden had finished up work, he went to his parents’ estate. He was entering as Genevieve was leaving for class, and she had to jump up to grab Sparky out of the air to give him a kiss. Similar to toddlers who had just learned how to walk, the little dragon no longer enjoyed being held; he just wanted to fly.
“Wish me luck,” Aiden said to his sister.
“For what?” she asked.
“Have to talk to Mum and Dad.”
She made a face. “Good luck.” She saluted him dramatically. “You’ll need it.”
He rolled his eyes and smiled, glad to have her in his life. “Hey, come over for dinner sometime,” he said. “We haven’t hung out in a while.”
She gave him a funny look.
“What?”
“Nothing. You’re just different lately, that’s all.”
“Different how?”
“I don’t know. You just seem more … open. Happy.”
“I am happy,” he replied, thinking about Saphira, the way it felt to kiss her. He must have gotten a stupid expression on his face because Ginny laughed.
“And that’s my cue to go.” She headed in the direction of the stables, taking Sparky with her to drop him off with the caretakers. She gave Aiden one last comment over her shoulder: “I’d sober up before talking to Mum and Dad!”
Aiden straightened his shoulders, entering the house. Nerves needled through him, but he thought of Saphira’s confidence in him, and it gave him strength.
He went to meet his parents in the library, where his motherwas going over menus for family dinner this week, and his father was at his desk, doing what looked to be Dragon Council work.
When Aiden entered, they both looked up, setting down what they were doing to give him their undivided attention.
“How are you, darling?” Cecilia asked.
“I do hope everything is alright,” Edmund said, looking slightly concerned.
“Well … Yes, I …” He broke off, trying to collect his thoughts.
“What’s going on, dear?” Cecilia asked. He felt nauseous, but he had practiced the lines with Saphira, and he just needed to go for it.
“I know racing is important to the both of you, that it is important to the Sterlings,” Aiden said. “I also know that—after Danny—you’d like for me to uphold the family name in the races. I am here to say that dragon racing is something I will not engage in, not now and not ever. Nor is it something I will allow Sparky to be involved with.” He swallowed. “And that is my final decision.”
His heart was hammering to be put through such a confrontation, but he had to be firm, especially when it came to Sparky’s safety. He loved the little guy.
