Page 33 of The Romance Adventure

Next to Ryan’s name, I write, Funny, scattered, flirtatious. Surly stars,=2

Beneath that, I doodle a picture of a pirate standing at the helm of his ship, sails billowing. CJ seems underappreciated but mysterious. Like he has something to say, but knows no one will listen to him. Surly stars=1

He’s a big guy like the rest of them and seems as if he can hold his own, but it’s like he’s holding back. What, I’m not sure. Perhaps it’s a trained behavior from being in this family with three older brothers who suck up a lot of floor time under the spotlight.

Magnus’s amplified voice draws me out of my thoughts. “Any other bright ideas?”

“I have one. How about doughnuts and doughnuts?” Ryan asks.

Royal, head dipped, holds his forehead in his hand like he knows where his twin is going with this.

“We can give away free doughnuts to anyone watching you and your buddies burning rubber on that freshly paved road,” Ryan says.

“That’s not a spectator sport. It’s something my friends and I did last year.”

“You guys still get together?” Magnus asks.

“Winston, Billy, Holt, and I went skydiving and played flag football on a remote island off South Carolina yesterday. How was that yesterday?” Royal murmurs the last part.

“That’s what you were doing in Charleston?” I ask.

“Wait, you two really know each other?” Ryan points at each of us in term.

Royal mumbles something. I wish hiding under the desk were socially acceptable.

Ryan smirks like he sees something no one else does, then says, “It’s not a spectator sport unless it’s on a race track.”

“Why are we talking about this?” Magnus asks.

“I want to do something fun.” Ryan slouches in the chair like he’s bored and used to nonstop entertainment and stimulation.

I agree with him, mostly. I want to do something fun and this isn’t it. A nap seems more fun at the moment, even though I took one earlier.

“Chip’s letters and the assignment seem like it could be fun,” CJ says.

That would be true if it weren’t for the involvement of the recipient of five out of five surly stars.

The other three start talking at once, objecting to the idea that the contents of the will approximate fun as if CJ suggested swimming with alligators. Then again, I wouldn’t doubt Royal would enjoy that. He’d just glower at them and they’d scuttle off, tails between their legs.

“So, we’re actually doing this?” Royal laughs like it’s preposterous.

Like a rubber band, the tension of the last hour is pulled so tight that I can’t help but let out a matching peel of laughter.

Yes, I agreed to help, but I didn’t think any of them would actually follow through with the unusual instructions and cryptic content in the will. To me, it rang more like a novelty. Like they’d entertain the old man’s request but not fulfill it.

Magnus is stone-cold and serious.

Ryan’s half smile suggests he could be convinced if doughnuts are involved.

CJ leans forward like he’s hoping he’ll be included.

Royal’s jaw ticks as if he’s going to detonate and then wipe up the room with our remains.

The oldest brother gets to his feet and claps him on the shoulder. “Yeah, we’re doing this,” he says as if it were ever up for debate. “I’ll let you two handle things from here.”

“What about what he left you?” Royal asks.

“You two get started,” Magnus says.