Page 25 of 7 Minutes in Sea Haven

Talented. I got her off—

“You know you are.” She peeks up at me. “That’s why you said it, right? Sis?”

“It’s what our parents expect.”

“You don’t strike me as the type to do what anyone expects.”

I jerk my chin at her. “I leave the striking to you.”

“I only struck you once. And you deserved it.”

“Twice.”

With a heavy sigh and an exaggerated eye roll, she puts a hand out.

Straightening, I gaze down at the painted nails, slender fingers, and delicate, yet limp, wrist. She looks like a haughty princess waiting for her knuckles to be kissed, not a deceptive cheerleader looking to be let off the hook for attempted murder.

I shouldn’t help her up. She hit me, belittled me, threatened me, and yes the fuck she did try pushing my ass down the stairs. I could’ve broken my neck.

But when am I gonna have the chance to hold a princess’s hand again, especially one so beautiful?

Gently taking her hand between my fingers and thumb, I help her to her feet. I misjudge something about the transition, either my own strength or Kota’s weight, because her body winds up knocking into mine and I have to wrap my other arm around her back to steady us both.

Kota’s a hell of a lot shorter than me, so even with her on the step above mine, I still tower over her.

“You good?” I rasp, gazing down at her.

“I think you should know…”

Her free hand creeps up my chest, taking hold of my shirt’s neckline.

Automatically, I lower my head toward hers, my lips parting in anticipation.

“If you throw me down the stairs, I’m taking you with me.”

With Kota’s knuckles pressing into my throat, I halt my descent.

“If I wanted to throw you down these stairs, Sis, you’d already be at the bottom, mouth full of ceramic.”