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The conviction in his voice has the butterflies in my stomach lifting their wings. They’re ready to fly. But there’s one more issue to handle first. “What about Weston and my dad? You’re not worried you’ll disappoint them anymore? Break some kind of bullshit male bonding?”
He nods to my dad sitting in the front row with Mom. Dad gives us a thumbs up.
“We have your dad’s blessing.”
Everything clicks. How Mom insisted I wear this outfit. How my girlfriends pushed me to come this morning.
“You did all this for me?”
“I’d do anything for you. Even embarrass myself in front of the entire island.”
I grin. “I was joking when I called you my pirate man.”
“What?” He strikes a pose. “You don’t approve of my outfit?”
“Enough!” Weston shouts. “You must fight me for the right to court my sister.”
“Court?” I giggle. “Is that what the cool kids are calling it?”
Flynn presses a quick kiss to my mouth. “We’re doing all the courting.” I giggle as he escorts me to the side of the stage. “Stay safe, my little temptress.”
“Try not to kill my brother.”
“I make no promises. He winks. “Love you, Soph.”
“Love you, too, my pirate man.”
Chapter 36
I’ve been single for a while. It’s working out. I think I’m the one.
Chloe
My heart squeezes as I watch Sophia and Flynn declare their love for each other in front of the whole island. Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy for them. But I also realize this is the beginning of the end. All of my friends will fall in love and then where will I be? Alone. Again.
Just like when Mom would— Nope. I shake those thoughts out of my mind. I am not thinking about Mom today. Or any other day.
I stand. “Who wants some Mermaid Moonshine?”
My happiness is a complete act but my friends don’t notice. They never do.
“I’ll go with you,” Maya says and starts to stand.
“I’m good.”
I need a second to myself. A second to let my guard down. A second to not be the happy, crazy friend everyone counts on to lighten the mood.
The line for drinks is a mile long. Good. I can have more than a minute to myself.
“Chloe!”
I smile and wave at Natalia. My little next door neighbor is sweet and adorable. Too bad her dad is an asshat who thinks the world revolves around him.
“Oof,” I say when she barrels into me.
“This festival is the best. There were two pirates fighting.”
“Guess what?”
