Page 141 of Wicked Dreams (Fallen Royals 1)

A blur shoots past Riley and knocks into me.

Someone latches on to me, their arms around my waist. All the breath is expelled from my lungs. It takes me a few seconds to comprehend that the small person isn’t a stranger—it’s Hanna.

I laugh and wrap my arms around her, rocking back and forth. Screw the searing pain in my stomach. It’s Hanna. My expectation of seeing her again was lower than low.

Claire jogs up, panting. “Jesus, Hanna,” she admonishes. To me, she says, “She saw you and took off.”

Hanna takes a step back, and I brush back her hair. She’s only a few years younger than us, but I babied her more than Claire ever did. Probably because I hadn’t had a kid sister for more than a few months at a time.

“How are you?” I remember my manners suddenly and turn to Lenora. “This is my foster mom. Lenora, this is Claire and Hanna.”

Lenora’s nostrils flare—or maybe it’s my imagination. She smiles at Hanna and Claire, reaching out to shake their hands.

Claire stares at her outstretched hand and doesn’t move.

Embarrassment creeps up my neck in the form of a blush. I’ve been telling Lenora and Robert about my foster siblings, how much I missed them, and here Claire is, shoving that all out the window.

Hanna steps forward and takes Lenora’s hand, shaking it up and down enthusiastically. It makes up for the iciness of her sister.

“Can we steal Margo?” Claire asks. She glances at Riley, then away. “We were hoping to see her this weekend anyway.”

After Lenora bought me a dress, and Riley and I are spending time together? I automatically feel guilty for even thinking that I could break away and go with Claire and Hanna.

I start to turn her down. “Claire—”

“It’s okay.” Lenora shares a look with Riley.

Riley shrugs.

“You go spend some time with them. I’m going to put our stuff in the car, and we’ll meet you in the food court? In an hour?”

Guilt.

It’s all I feel.

I start to say no again, but Hanna grabs my hand.

“Come see this shirt Claire’s gonna buy me!” she says, hopping from one foot to the other. At my nod, she drags me down the hallway.

We end up in a kids’ clothing store, following Hanna around. She excitedly tears clothes off the racks to try on. I glance at Claire, who now smiles openly.

“We get an allowance,” she tells me. “And we’ve been saving up for a shopping spree.”

And my foster mom bought a five hundred dollar dress without flinching.

Now I’m the one trying not to flinch.

Claire follows Hanna toward the dressing room, making her come out after each shirt. They end up selecting three, all from the clearance rack, and a pair of jeans.

I try not to let it bother me.

Money, friends, love.

It’s all luck of the draw for us.

“Ice cream?” Hanna asks.

Claire frowns. “We can split a cone.”

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