Page 30 of The Romance Adventure

“You’d know, you have plenty of those,” I mutter.

My youngest brother smirks. “Only friends and associates. But perhaps Aunt Lorena had a plan to get close to Glandman because he had something she wanted. Maybe she and Chip were playing a long game.”

“Well, they’re both gone now and I’m done playing games.” I’m practically yelling.

“I’m not a lawyer, but this document says that it’s legally binding,” Strawberry Shortcake says.

“I am a lawyer. Let me see it.” I grab it from her. This time, I’m careful not to let our hands brush. Can’t let time do anything slippery right now.

My brothers watch me as I scan the contents.

It’s all too clear. “We’d have to forfeit everything. Then I’d advise we bring Glandman to court, but I can’t see a world in which a judge would defer because everything is here in writing. The will says what it says.”

“What does it mean by the end?” Ryan asks.

“Why is CJ’s different?” Magnus says.

“Why does the message say, find her? Who is her?”

“More importantly, why isn’t Emmie involved?” I ask.

CJ answers as if the words were at the ready. “Because Chip didn’t include her in his games. It was just us boys.”

“But she’s not even in the will. Why would he exclude her entirely?”

“He always had good reasons for what he did.”

Ryan launches out of his chair. “Maybe the her Chip meant is Emmie.”

“We don’t need to find her. She lives nineteen blocks away from me. No mystery there.”

“May as well wait for a message in a bottle to wash up on shore.” Magnus sighs.

“Maybe the she is a ship,” CJ says.

“If so, a sunken ship.” Ryan gazes out the window toward the water.

Aggravation builds inside. I deal in numbers. Facts. Immutable things. I refuse to go along with this idiocy. “This can’t stand. I’ll look into state law. This is some kind of manipulation. Were you there when Chip filed this version of his will, Strawberry Shortcake?”

Three pairs of eyes snap in my direction. I’m usually restrained, controlled, and professional. I didn’t mean to let that slip out.

“What did you call her?” Magnus asks.

“Strawberry Shortcake,” CJ answers.

“But the way he said it sounded disdainful, irritable like when Indiana Jones calls Willie Sweetheart,” Ryan says with a laugh.

She gives a slight shake of her head like she’d rather not draw attention to the fact that we’ve had some close encounters.

The aggravation burns into anger. I want to point fingers, take names, and hold people accountable. I’m in Strawberry Shortcake’s face again. Inches away. So close I can see blue and silver gems in her eyes.

“Make. This. Right,” I hiss.

“Forget the hiccups. I want to burp in your face,” she whispers. “This has nothing to do with me. I’ve never met Chip. So, calm down and get yourself together.”

Straightening, I smooth my hand down my shirt. Rarely in my life do I not have myself together. I never come apart, yet Strawberry Shortcake has the dangerous ability to unbutton the tight control I have on everything.

The room falls silent. She may as well lead a flying squadron like Magnus. Strawberry Shortcake is a pint-sized ball of chaos, yet she puts me on my heels. No one has ever stood up to me like that.