Page 59 of Royal Shark
“Strangely, I remembered the floor. I mostly remember playing on the beach.”
I follow her out and down the hall toward the bedrooms. I poke my head into the bathroom on the way. They’ve updated it with a new sink, countertop, and tile. Everything white. “I think this used to be beige,” I say.
I take one look in the open door of the bedroom that used to be my parents’ and turn away, not because it reminds me of them. Because it has a king-sized bed with rumpled light blue sheets. The same light blue sheet that was recently wrapped around my sister.
She pushes open the door to where she and I used to sleep. The old furniture is gone, the old rug, and it’s been painted from its cheery yellow to an off white. Now it’s a music room with a keyboard, acoustic guitar, fiddle, and a small bookcase with sheet music. On top of the bookcase is a harmonica.
“Your guard is a musician,” I say, surprised. I thought he’d be hurling telephone poles for fun. Something barbaric like that.
Chloe nods. “He’s multifaceted. He said he’d play something for me after dinner. Would you like to stay for dinner?”
“That’s okay. I’ll leave you to your date.”
She snorts. “This isn’t a date. It’s just a one-night stand.”
I press my lips together. “Did he tell you that?”
“No, I told him that. I’m leaving tomorrow, and he belongs here. It works out perfectly for everyone.”
“Will you stay in touch?”
She lifts one shoulder. “I don’t see the point.”
Have I failed her in this too? My lack of ties to other people has set a bad example, and now she’s afraid to connect in a meaningful way. I don’t want her to be like me. I want her to have everything I didn’t have—college, parties, friends, relationships.
I put my hand on her arm. “It might seem scary, but sometimes it’s worth taking a chance on someone. You know, letting them into your heart.”
She gives me a soft smile. “Are you trying to tell me you want to stay here with Adrian?”
I drop my hand from her arm, my heart working double time. “I was talking about you.”
“I’m fine. I told you I’m working toward something. Harvard Medical School is my dream, and you taught me to work hard for my dreams.”
“Not to the exclusion of having a life.”
“This is my life. There’s nothing else I want or need right now. I’ll look for a relationship when I have the time and energy to devote to one. Okay? You can relax about me. Now it’s my turn to look out for you. If you have feelings for Adrian, which I think you do, you have my blessing to stay here on Villroy and see where it goes. I’ll visit you on school breaks.” She smiles. “It’s not such a hardship for me to visit you at a palace on a beautiful island. It’s timeyoulet someone intoyourheart.”
I stare at her, unable to speak over the lump in my throat. Everything I wanted for her she wants for me too. And maybe it’s time I let myself have that.
She gives my arm a reassuring squeeze. “I want you to be happy.”
Gah! I wipe my eyes, laughing at the same time as a lightness comes over me. “Are you sure? You’re really okay?”
“I’m more than okay. I’m happy with my life just as it is.”
I sniffle. “Adrian did offer me a job here.”
“Then take it.”
I hug her and more tears leak out of my eyes. When I pull back, she’s still dry-eyed. She really is fine with it. “I love you, Chloe.”
She beams, her face lighting up. “I love you too.”
We head back to the living room.
“Bye, Michael,” I call. “Thank you for letting us see the cottage.”
“No problem at all,” he says with a hint of amusement. Ah, yes, it worked out for him nicely. La-la-la, not thinking about it.
