EVAN

He figured Yena had fallen back asleep after their run, so Evan left her alone for a few hours.

She’d been having trouble sleeping, and he was glad the run helped wipe her out.

But she had to be starving, too. So he heated up some leftovers around noon and brought them upstairs.

He knocked softly on Yena’s bedroom door.

After a pause, she answered, “Come in,” in a small, sleepy voice.

She was all cuddled up in bed, looking as comfy as a person ever could.

“Brought you some lunch.”

Yena smiled. “You’re so sweet, thank you.”

“No problem. How you feeling?”

“I’m okay. How long was I out?” One of Yena’s hands emerged from the tight cocoon of blankets and she rubbed her eyes.

“Hmm.” Evan looked at his watch. “Bout four hours?”

“Oh wow.” Yena rolled onto her side and started getting into a seated position, keeping a blanket wrapped around her.

She put her hands out eagerly and Evan passed her the warm plate of food he was holding.

He produced a fork from his sweatshirt pocket and handed that over next.

Yena giggled and said, “Typical.” She blew on the fork and inspected it for pocket lint.

“So I’ll let you eat and get up and stuff, but what do you think about getting back outside soon? Still down for ice cream?”

Yena nodded. Her mouth was full of food.

“Okay great.” Evan smiled. “Half an hour?”

Yena swallowed and cleared her throat. “Perfect.”

An hour later they were finally on the road.

Evan couldn’t remember if Yena had always taken so long to get ready. He suspected it had something to do with that princess life she’d been living.

She did look gorgeous, though.

Her shiny, golden curls had gotten so long and thick. Evan couldn’t remember if she’d ever let it grow so long before in her life.

“You okay?” Yena asked.

“Hmm? Yeah.”

Evan finished merging onto the highway, then stole a glance at his passenger.

“You just got really quiet,” she said. “You feeling alright? Sure you’re up for the drive?”

Evan smiled and said, “I’m all good, Yena.”

Then without thinking, he reached his right hand over and patted her thigh.

And fuck, everything that she wore was so soft… he tried to pull his hand away but it lingered on her leg.

Evan and Yena both turned to look at each other at exactly the same second.

She had a coy smile turning the edges of her lips upwards… seemed like she was trying to resist it, but enjoying his touch.

Evan gave her leg a squeeze. Then just as he was about to pull his hand away, she slid her own hand over his. Her touch made his skin tingle.

But then he felt… her wedding ring.

That made it easy to pull his hand away. He put it back on the steering wheel and his eyes back onto the road.

Evan hadn’t noticed whether she’d been wearing that diamond ring all this time she’d been home. Maybe she had, and his brain just didn’t wanna notice it.

But to actually have that ring that the prince put on Yena’s finger on their wedding day, touching his skin. It was too much.

Yena turned some music on and adjusted the heat in the car, turning it up to full blast. She slipped her shoes off and reclined her chair.

“Comfy?” Evan asked, when it seemed like she was finally done.

“Very.” She smiled. “Best part of being passenger on a road trip, you get to just relax and enjoy the view.”

Yena drifted off once again as they were driving. Evan shook his head at her when he noticed she’d fallen asleep. She woke up on her own once they were slowing down, coming off the freeway and winding around the one-way streets of the little beach town.

“Oh, My Goddess,” she said sleepily. “I guess I’m making up for all the lost sleep over the past week.”

When they parked, Evan hopped out of the car quickly and went around to Yena’s side and opened the door for her.

“Well,” she said. “Aren’t you a gentleman? Since when do you open your sister’s doors for her?”

Evan felt himself blush.

“I dunno,” he said, looking away. “Maybe since I grew up and realized I could treat you the way you deserve.”

It was the truth, and Evan didn’t regret saying it, but it kinda surprised him to hear it come out of his mouth.

Maybe Yena’s new, brutal honesty thing was catching.

“Huh.” Yena stood looking at him thoughtfully.

Then her little devious smile came back…

She took a couple slow, confident steps over to Evan. Put her hands on his face. And stood on her tip toes.

Evan was frozen.

He could not go in for a kiss…

Or could he?

Is that what was happening?

Yena kissed him on the cheek, then quickly stepped away, turned on her heel, and started walking off toward the ice cream shop.

Evan was left frozen next to the car. Yena spun around once again and saw him still stuck in place, recovering from that moment.

She giggled and winked at him.

All he could do was shake his head.

She disappeared inside the shop. Evan locked up the car and followed her.

It was real clear by now that Yena was intentionally messing with him.

Mostly it seemed like she wanted to make Evan look like a fool. And maybe he deserved it.

He’d been playing games with his sister for years. His only excuse was that he was a dumb kid. He didn’t know what to do with the feelings she stirred up in him when the two of them were together…

Guess she’d found her opportunity for payback.

What else could Evan do now, except play along?

LUCY

“Lucy! What’s up?”

Yena’s voice was more cheerful than Lucy had heard it in a long time.

“Hey, Yena. Wow, you sound great! What’s goin’ on with you?”

“You know what, I just had the best day with my brother.”

“Evan? Wow, you guys have been spending lots of time together, huh?”

“Yeah, I guess so. I mean, most of what I’ve been doing since I got home is just hanging out with him. Working out with him, too.”

“Hmm. Okay, well that’s good that you’re having fun with him.”

Yena laughed.

To Lucy’s surprise, the laugh sounded a little bit… devious.

“Anyway,” Yena said, changing the subject. “What have you been up to lately? I miss you!”

Lucy wanted to ask Yena for her advice about Adan. That was the real reason she’d called.

Yes, Adan said Yena couldn’t know they were together… he was so weird about that… but Lucy really needed help figuring out how to end the affair, and she didn’t have anyone else to go to.

“I miss you too, Yena. And I haven’t been up to much.”

Lucy was starting to chicken out.

“Just been getting bored, I guess,” she said, hoping that would explain things if Yena was picking up on the sadness in Lucy’s voice. “So can we hang out soon?”

“Why don’t you come over here tomorrow morning? Tina makes a mean breakfast, and there’s always too much food. Seriously – come help us eat it all!”

“Sounds great. I’ll text you when I wake up.”

Yena paused, then asked, “Everything okay, Lucy? You sound kind of stressed out.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Lucy tried to think of a convincing lie.

She couldn’t tell Yena right now on the phone. She just couldn’t.

Maybe in person would be better.

Maybe in the morning.

“We’ll talk more tomorrow, okay, Yena? Can’t wait to see you.”

“Alright, no worries… I’ll see you in the morning, Lucy.”

But Yena did sound worried.

And maybe she had reason to be.