She drew in a deep breath and continued painting Peter’s nails absentmindedly. “I could never be a pirate,” Maggie murmured. “Good or not. It sounds like a downright terrible life, doesn’t it?”
Peter watched her quietly, the corner of his lip curling upwards.
“Crime, plundering, swashbuckling, hardly ever seeing land.” Maggie had her eyes focused on Peter’s hand as she spoke, her words falling into a murmur as her attention waned. Silence spread across the room, and she lifted her head, only to find all the Lost Boys transfixed on her. “What?”
Their lips curled into knowing smirks before they glanced around at each other, paying particular attention to Peter and his rusty red cheeks.
Maggie frowned and released her hold over the King of Neverland. “Why’re you all looking at me like that?”
Twitch shrugged as he sat up. “A pirate’s life seems like fun, doesn’t it?” He watched the fire as if a different version of his life was playing within the smoldering flames. “Never having a home to come back to, no obligations. Coursing the seas and looting whatever you find. Uncovering treasure and surviving the greatest adventure known to man. Not bad at all.”
“Do you know what I’d do if I was a pirate?” Dash asked, leaning forward as if they were revealing hushed secrets. “I’d have the largest booty in all of Neverland!”
Laughter ensued across the room. Dash waved their laughs off, his face burning a bright pink until it subsided.
“You know what I mean!” he sheepishly added.
“Sure,” Twitch teased. “And ifIwas a pirate, I’d have the strongest crew across the island. We’d outshine Hook before he even had the chance to throw his anchor!”
Scamp was far too occupied with Sunny to put in his two cents, running his hands along the cat’s exposed belly. Purrs vibrated through the air as Sunny’s paws flexed and unflexed in enjoyment.
Twitch nudged his elbow into Dusty’s side. “What about you, kid? What’d you do if you were a pirate?”
Dusty’s fiery red hair was as bright as the smoldering flame as he thought it over. He remained silent for a moment or two, only the creaking and crackling of firewood filling the air. When he lifted his head, he was already smiling, with an amused twinkle appearing in his baby blue eyes. “I’d build my own pirate ship,” he said. “One that outshines theJolly Rogeritself.”
“Really?” Twitch sighed. “Just that?”
Maggie reached for Dusty before he could retract himself. “I’m sure you’d craft a wonderful ship, Dusty.”
The Lost Boy’s cheeks hummed a pinkish color before he looked away, arms circling his torso in a solitary embrace.
“What about you, Magpie?” Dash asked.
Maggie pressed her lips together as she thought it over. “I suppose if I was a pirate,” she murmured, “I’d be…the greatest swashbuckling Captain the entireworld’sever seen!” She thrusted the brush to the polish forward like a blade, mimicking swordplay as the polish dribbled onto the floor.
“Well, what about me?” Peter whined. “No one’s asked me whatIwould do as a pirate!”
Dash waved a hand dismissively at his King. “No bother!”
“No bother?” he repeated.
“Well, sure!” Dash leaned back against the pillows nonchalantly. “You can’t be a pirate with a girlfriend like Maggie. No pirates for her, remember?” The corner of his lip curled mischievously. “And let’s be honest: you wouldn’t want to be dating a girl who can sword fight better than you, would you?”
Before Maggie could even think of anything to say, Peter’s eyes were already on her.
“No need to worry over that, Magpie,” Peter cooed. “I’ll gladly give up the pirate-life for you.”
The boys continued listing all the things they could do as pirates, leaving Maggie far behind in their dust. Her eyes were clinging to the side of Peter’s face, his nails only halfway finished. The word “girlfriend” had been tossed around suddenly, and Peter hadn’t denied it. Maybe he was only being nice, not wanting to embarrass her in front of the rest of the Lost Boys. Maybe he could see the way it made her eyes light up, and he couldn't possibly do anything to make them go away.
But…
What was the chance that she wasactuallyhis girlfriend?
Her eyes flitted about the room. Not one of the Lost Boys looked weirded out or confused by the idea. It was as if they knew about it before she even did, already far within the relationship. But when was the last time she had a relationship like that? Maggie could hardly pinpoint a specific time. Sure, she wagered her heart more than she should have, handing it to men who’d rather see it on the bottom of the sea floor than within their grasps. They’d leave more often than they’d stay, treating her horribly and masking it as love. By the time they left her life, Maggie couldn’t remember what the good times even felt like.
With Peter, it was as easy as breathing. Is that what a good relationship was supposed to be like? As if she walked on air, as if she was weightless, as if there were only his hands holding her up. Maggie chewed on her lip, so far in her thoughts that she hadn’t realized the eyes of the Lost Boys shifted back to her.
“Say, Magpie,” Scamp said in a small voice. “What’s going on with the moon coral? Do you still have ingredients left to find?”
