Would it truly mess up our deal if I give in to him? Would anybody even know? Would anybody even care? Holy shit, Zelda Scott Wilder! Of course they would! It would ruin everything!
Stepping back, I turn to the door and cover for my running from him in the most juvenile way possible: “Last one to the top’s a rotten egg!”
What I don’t count on is Cal being as competitive as I am. He’s past me in a flash, and even catches my shoulder, pushing me backwards, almost making me fall.
“Cheater!” I squeal through my laughter as I try to keep up.
“Eat my dust!” He takes the wide stairs two at a time, while I’m still scampering like a duck.
“Damn these damn stupid steps!” I cry.
When I finally reach the top, he’s leaning against a massive pillar with a giant bronze sea horse on top looking at his nails. “Hmm… what is that smell? Could it be you, Miss Rotten Egg?”
“You cheated!” I push hard against his chest. “You shoved me backwards!”
“I always win.”
He catches my hands, and when our eyes meet we’re right back where we were in the basement. MacCallam Lockwood Tate is going to ruin my life.
“Come on,” I say, pulling away and heading in the direction I last saw Ava. “Dangers of the Sea” is what I think it said. It should be “Dangers of the Palace.” Reggie didn’t say anything about sexy younger brothers.
When we make it to the black-lit exhibit of jellyfish, sea anemones, and all other kinds of stinging fish, Ava gives me a look, and the worry in her eyes hits me like a sledgehammer. I am seriously screwing up everything.
She’s probably been wondering where the hell I’ve been, and I just abandoned her to figure it out. As I approach, she hurries to me and catches my hand, holding me back as the guys walk on ahead of us.
“We should go back to the hotel.” She sounds stressed, and I feel even worse. “It’s after three, and we’re supposed to have dinner with them at seven.”
Nodding, I give her hand a reassuring squeeze, mentally noting how much it reassures me as well.
“Hey, guys?” I call out before I realize… Is it okay to address a crown prince as guy? Must be because they’re all smiles strolling back to us. “We should probably head back if we’re meeting for dinner. It’s gotten late.”
“Of course, I’m sorry.” Rowan says, his eyes drifting to Ava. “I hope we didn’t tire you too much for dinner?”
“I don’t think so,” I answer. “Just need time to freshen up.”
His eyes remain on my sister, but she doesn’t speak. She doesn’t even make eye contact with him or Cal. It’s because she’s mad at me. I feel so guilty.
Although we walked to the museum, Rowan insists we take his car back. Less than ten minutes later we’re in our luxury suite in the Fairmont. I walk straight through the sitting room and fall on my stomach on the sea-green sofa.
“Holy smokes, I’m dead!”
Ava perches on the edge of a chair facing me, and I watch as she pulls a delicate gold chain from her pocket. Dangling in evenly spaced increments are a tiny starfish, a seahorse, a sand dollar, a pirate’s wheel.
“Let me see it!” I hop up and go to where she’s sitting, examining the pretty bracelet. “Where did you get it?”
“Off the wrist of a tour guide,” she says, turning it over in her hands. “I wanted something to remember this day.”
“So it’s a little something for you this time? How selfish!” I give her a wink and sit back on my knees beside her.
“You’re right. I was very selfish.” Her voice is quiet, almost sad.
“You’d also be off-balance. You still have to find someone special to give that herringbone bracelet.”
Her pink lips press together, and she blinks down to the carpet. “I think I’ll skip the dinner tonight.”
“Skip dinner! Are you sick?” I press my palm against her forehead. “No fever.”
She shakes her head. “I got a little dizzy at the aquarium. I think I just need to sleep.”