Page 91 of The Romance Adventure

I sink into the kiss, knowing that together we can manage any storms and sail calm seas.

When we part, he says, “I told you we needed to talk. What I need you to hear is that I love you, too.”

We kiss again before I sense eyes on us.

A certain big sister and a little brother fill the doorway.

Bean says, “Ew.”

CJ says, “Gross.”

Royal and I part. My cheeks are warm, but that’s partly from the scratch of his scruff on my skin.

“As if you’ve never kissed anyone, including Jackie,” I mutter to my sister.

Bean gags. “Double ew. No way.”

“Except that one time,” I singsong.

“No. Stop.”

“CJ, when was the last time you even went on a date?” Royal asks.

“It’s been a while, but I don’t need to go on dates. I’m perfectly content with how things are, er, were,” he corrects.

If that was a strange thing to say, Royal doesn’t pick up on it. Bean and I exchange a look, though and I wonder about CJ’s love life. Maybe he has a special someone on a distant shore or keeps it a secret so his brothers don’t tease him.

“Are you ready for the truth?” CJ asks.

“If it has to do with our parents—” Royal stops himself and lets out a breath. “I’ll listen, but I’m not making any promises about believing what you have to say.”

This seems like a we should be seated kind of situation. Bean brings out cans of soda while we gather around the ship’s logbook.

“It’s easy to see things as you’d like them to be, Royal. You, Magnus, and Ryan think Dad was an art history professor and Mom was a librarian.”

He shrugs. “She loved books. What else could she have been?”

“How many libraries do you know that are open at night?” CJ asks.

Bean shakes her head. “Not any around here. Maybe college libraries in Miami.”

“Our mother was a local branch librarian. Maybe she shelved books at night, working the second shift so she could be home with us during the day. Family first,” Royal says.

“Family first for sure. But the truth is, Mom was a treasure diver.”

Royal laughs.

CJ doesn’t. “Dad let you think he was an art history professor. Not a big stretch, considering he was well informed on antiquities, but that’s because he’d obtain the real ones, make forgeries, and then⁠—”

“You’re telling me that our parents were criminals.” Royal raises an eyebrow with amused disbelief.

I try not to think about my near forgery.

CJ winces. “Criminal adjacent.”

“What are you saying, Chip Junior McGregor?” Royal’s voice has an edge to it.

“You wanted the truth. It’s that Emmanuella McGregor was a librarian out of college, but she got that degree so she could have access to books. Turns out most of what she sought was right here on this island. She was also one of the top five best deep-sea divers in the world. Night diving was her specialty. She was also a second-degree black belt in jiu jitsu and fluent in several languages.”