Page 27 of Nicoli

“No, it’s not.”

“I have to go now, or I’ll be late.”

“I’ll wait here.”

My jaw clenches, and I pinch my eyes closed, hold my breath, then let out a sigh. “Mira, please. I’m on my last life with the stupid principal. I can’t be late for school again. Do you want me to get detention?”

Her lips are still pouted, her cheeks sucked in as she ignores me, staring up at the ceiling.

“If I get detention, I won’t be here for your birthday party Friday afternoon. Is that what you want?”

“No,” she snaps.

Ah-hah. That caught her attention.

“I don’t want you to get detention on my birthday,” she says and slips off my bed, prancing toward me with the hem of her pink and white polka dot dress touching just below her knees. “I’ll wait until you get back from school.”

“Wait for what?” I pull the door closed behind me and watch as she walks down the hall, her baby doll shoes tapping lightly across the lacquered floors.

“To remind you that I want a pony for my birthday.”

“You really don’t have to remind me.”

She abruptly stops and glances up at me over her shoulder. “So, you are buying me a pony?”

“No.”

“Then I’ll wait until you get back from school to remind you.”

I shake my head, glance at my wristwatch, and hurry on my way, quickly ruffling my fingers through her hair as I pass her.

“Li, stop that. You know I hate it when you do that.”

I snicker at the way she groans with annoyance. “See ya later, Hummingbird.”

“Hey, that’s my pony’s name.”

“You don’t have a pony.”

“Li,” she calls out after me. “Li, stop!”

A loud groan vibrates up my throat as I reluctantly turn to face her. “I know you can say my name, Mira.”

“But I like calling you Li.”

“Okay, whatever. I have to go.”

Her green eyes glimmer with mischief as she glances from me to the stair railing, and I already know what she’s saying without actually saying it.

The word “no” teeters at the edge of my lips because I’m so late and don’t have time for this right now. But saying no to Mira—especially when it involves breaking some rules—is something I don’t like to do. Never have. My dad says she has me wrapped around her little finger, and I can’t deny it because…well, it’s true.

“Fine,” I concede. “But you can’t tell anyone.”

Her sunshine smile reaches her eyes as she places a finger on her lips. “Shh.”

“Yeah, you better shh.” With a quick glance around, I hop onto the banister, steadying myself with my hands on the cold iron, and slide all the way down to the end of the stairs, leaping from the edge and landing on my feet.

“And that’s how it’s done.” I grin, bowing in her direction.

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