Then she bursts out laughing.
Ouch.
“What’s so funny about that?” I growl, frustration nipping at my stomach.
She stops laughing, but turns to me with a big shit-eating grin. “Because you don’t really love Amara. Not romantically. As a sister, yes.”
“You don’t know anything.”
She shrugs. “You’re telling me, you could do the things you did with Tally, with Amara? Think about it, I think your answer might surprise you.”
The question strikes me out of my budding anger.
What in the ever loving fuck?
Why would she want me to think of things like that? She’s Amara’s girlfriend, what is this?
Mabel nudges me, giving me a nod as if to say ‘go on’. Letting out a sigh that comes out more like a growl, I try to pictureintimatethings with Amara. Every time Amara’s face morphs into Tally’s. I picture Amara standing there waiting for me, and as I go to touch her, her form shrinks, until it’s Tally’s dainty body in front of me.
Over and over, I try. And over and over, I’m left with Tally in my mind's eye, instead of Amara.
The only thing I can picture that doesn’t make Amara change, is a platonic hug.
Fuck.
“Struggling to picture it?” Mabel speaks low, like she’s afraid to spook me as if I’m a frightened horse.
Again, I nod. The first tear breaks through its barrier and races down my cheek. A lump forms in my throat. Vision turning murky with panic.
An arm slings over my shoulders and squeezes but it feels wrong.
It's the wrong person comforting me.
It should be Tally.
“I fucked up.” I choke out.
The bell tolls out and the mist starts to part around DeadChest Island. During our chat, we’ve gotten close enough to the island that we now need to get ready to dock.
Mabel gives me another squeeze before dropping her arm. “Now, you get the chance to make it up to her. You might want to start preparing your apology speech.”
Then, she’s up as others start to flood the deck and blurs into the mass of bodies.
She’s right.
I have one heck of an apology to make.
Chapter Thirty-One
TALLY
My heart is hammering in my chest.
The slamming of the rain pounds against my flesh, as the wind nips through the air, chilling my bones.
Within five minutes, I can guarantee the rain would have stopped, but I couldn’t wait inside any longer, not once I clocked the ship cresting the horizon.
It’s always a marvel to watch ships dock, how they’re able to move directions so smoothly. Tonight doesn’t hold the same marvel, not when my stomach is laced with worry, a lead weight dragging me down.
