Page 53 of Roaming Holiday

Mason stops her from lunging again. As he ushers her into the hallway, Maia points at me and says, “Don’t act like I won’t bite you.”

I crinkle my nose at her.

She held back. We’ve been in enough brawls for me to know her dirtiest moves; she could’ve landed a punch or another skin-splitting scratch. She may have been comfortable enough arguing with me, but she went easy physically.

Wesley sighs. “Why are you fighting her? She’s your sister.”

“Oh, please.” I level a judgmental stare at him. He has no idea what sisters are like. I hold up my bloody forearm. “This is nothing.”

He sighs and examines the wound. “Easy fix. Come on.”

Without waiting, he walks into my bathroom and takes out a first aid kit. Instead of asking why he knew where that was, I say, “I can do it myself.”

“I know.”

I rinse my arm in the sink and dry the wound. Wesley tries to use the antiseptic wipe on me, but I smack his hand away and do it myself.

“I don’t need a babysitter to clean a scratch.”

He grits his teeth and fishes out a Band-Aid, holding it up between his two fingers. I take it without looking at him.

“Your Highness,” Mason says as he urges my sister ahead. “Princess Maia has something to say to you.”

“No I don’t.”

Mason glares. It’s the most expressive I’ve seen him.

“I’m sorry I stole your shirt,” Maia drawls, “and that I said it looks cuter on me. Even if it does.”

I chuckle. My anger dissipated the moment Wesley pulled me off her. I mostly want to thank my sister for not walking on eggshells around me.

“I’m sorry I said you don’t have the boobs to fill it out. Even if you don’t.”

She pulls me into a hug. We break out into laughter when Mason says, “I’m so grateful I was an only child.”

26

NINA

Maia, Vanessa, and Jace probably can’t see that Wesley is more attentive than ever.

At the start of summer, his indifference was infuriating. He’s more present and talkative when it’s just the two of us, but he’s largely withdrawn. Now he’s more brazen—asking if I want french fries delivered to the boat, pointing out cute dogs we pass. I would love it if it wasn’t coming the day after my attack. I question the authenticity of it, and that alone leaves a pit weighing my stomach down.

Four bodyguards trail behind us as we head down the dock. Suddenly, Roman pops up on the upper deck of the boat, his arms spread wide. I shield the sun and my disappointment with my hand.

“Your Majesties have finally arrived!”

“Oh, Roman is joining,” Maia says, trying and failing to sound upbeat.

“I know he was a bit over-the-top when you first met him, but he will be on his best behavior,” Jace assures. “I promise he’s a lot of fun when you get to know him.”

A man around sixty years old steps off the boat. He opens his arms for a hug from Vanessa. “Vanessa! Jason! It’s good to see you again.”

“Captain Thomas!” she exclaims.

He pecks her on each cheek and I wince at the kissing sound. He’s around my height with skin wrinkled from years of sun exposure. Greasy hair snakes out from beneath his sailor’s hat.

“This is Nina and Maia. They’ll be joining us,” Jace explains and gestures to the two of us.

---