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“Auntie, can we play Gestures?” Niko signs with a giant smile. “Talia’s never played.”
Talia gives me a suspicious look. Her arms are over her chest and she’s standing stiffly, like she’s above this request, like she would never ask for anything, but I can tell she really wants to be a part of the group.
I know the feeling of being the outsider and wanting so badly to be included. It’s easier to pretend to be tough than admit you want community and possibly get rejected.
Deej speaks to the kids and, from Niko’s look of triumph, she gave them the answer they wanted to hear.
Turning to me, my sister signs, “Everyone will be inside playing Gestures. They’ll be too busy to notice you two are gone.”
I crinkle my nose, not getting it.
“You should talk to him.”
“Who?” I sign. I’m playing dumb because now Idoget it, but I don’t want her to know that.
She gives me adon’t be an idiotlook before ushering the kids back inside.
I stay on the porch alone, trying to collect my thoughts. After a minute, I peer in through the window. Dare is standing with Sazuki. My brother-in-law is saying something to him, something that makes Dare very grave.
His eyes slide to the window. Me? Are they talking about me?
I turn away.
My heart is beating super fast and I don’t know what scares me more, figuring out how to fix the Ru-Carpsel mess or talking with Dare?
Oh.
Nope. It’s definitely Dare.
Because he’s opening the door and now he’s coming onto the porch.
And I’m about to die.
“Hey,” he signs.
“Hey.” I lick my lips nervously. “What did you and Ryo talk about?”
“The usual things a big brother would say about his little sister.”
“Like?”
“Hurt her and die.” As he signs, he makes the same cold expression that Ryo does. I call it the ‘resting Sazuki face’. It’s designed to instill fear in all warm-blooded creatures.
I scowl. “Who says you have the power to hurt me?”
“Who says I’d ever want to?”
I glance away.
Dare shuffles forward so he’s back in my line of vision.
“Want to take a walk?”
I should say no. There is no reason for me to go frolicking in the woods with Richard Sullivan. But I nod. Hopefully, Dare isn’t at the stage where he can walk and sign yet. As long as I keep him moving, we won’t actually have to communicate.
The bodyguards standing on the lawn barely spare us a glance. I lead the way since I’ve been hiking the trails behind Darrel and Sunny’s house before.
Damp earth fills my nostrils with the scent of life. Trees hang low over our heads, leaning close to our warmth. The path is lit up by golden lamps embedded in the ground and there are signs all over the woods that the kids painted.
