Page 4 of Royal Shark
She laughs a little. “Yeah. My parents were so tired of trying to keep her safe and clean.”
“And then she got sunburn on her butt.” I laugh. “That should’ve taught her a lesson, but she just wouldn’t stop.” I glance over to see Sara looking more relaxed, so I keep it up with the Chloe stories. There’s plenty of them, and it is pretty funny looking back. At the time, the three of us older kids just thought Chloe was a pain, distracting from the real plans for the day.
A short while later, we arrive at the clinic and Sara is rushed inside, where her mother is waiting. I’m not allowed in the back room with her, so I follow Thomas to the car, hoping she’s okay.
~ ~ ~
It’s the last day before Sara leaves Villroy. We’ve spent the last three weeks playing poker, either under the cabana on the beach or, on bad weather days, at the palace in the salon, which is my favorite room because it’s the most relaxed with a leather sofa. Sara could’ve went back to swimming after her stitches were out, but she didn’t want to go in the water. I think she’s afraid of it now. All she wants to do is play poker. We bet with Monopoly money, but the stakes feel real. We’re both competitive and both love to win. Sometimes Silvia plays with us or one of my brothers, but mostly it’s just me and Sara. We’ve been playing with my dragon cards, and I plan to give them to her as a gift to take home with her. She always admires them, and they don’t have anything like it where she’s from. I’ve been waiting for the perfect moment.
Silvia pokes her head in the cabana. “Chloe wants to ride bikes again. You coming?”
“We’re in the middle of a game,” Sara says, studying her cards.
“You’re supposed to bemybest friend,” Silvia says tightly.
I look up, and Silvia glares at me. “Sil, she’s both of our friends. What’s the big deal? She doesn’t want to go bike riding.”
“Sara,” Silvia says through her teeth, “may I speak to you outside?”
Sara stands, tucking her cards against her body so I can’t see them, and joins Silvia outside the cabana. I can still hear them. The cabana is canvas not actual walls.
“I thought you were my best friend,” Silvia says.
“Iamyour best friend,” Sara says. “I just don’t want to ride bikes. My ankle is still healing.”
“Your ankle is fine,” Silvia snaps. “You rode earlier. Why don’t you just admit you like Adrian?”
Interesting. I suspected as much. Ever since I helped Sara through her ankle injury, she’s been looking at me like I’m her hero. I did save her in a way, helping her keep a level head and safely get out of the water. Maybe she’s ready for a boyfriend. I’m definitely ready for a girlfriend. Only problem is I won’t see her for a whole year after this.
“I do not,” Sara protests hotly.
“Yes, you do. Ever hear sisters before misters?”
“No.”
“That means you don’t drop your friends because you like a boy.”
“I don’tlikehim!”
“Then why do you spend all of your time with him?”
“We always invite you to play with us.”
Silvia snorts. “I don’t like poker. It’s boring.”
“It’s not. You can win big. It’s so fun!”
“Win play money? Big deal.”
Silence. A very long silence. Just when I think they’ve walked away, my sister pipes up.
“Fine,” Silvia says. “Enjoy your stupid game with your boyfriend.”
“I will!” Sara calls. “And he’s not my boyfriend!”
She appears in the cabana, her cheeks flushed pink, and takes her seat. “I don’t know what her problem is.”
“It’s a twin thing. She wants girls to spend more time with her than her boy twin, but sometimes the boy twin is kind of a hero.” I grin, and she laughs.
