And then I actually read his answer, and instantly burst into laughter.
Curious, Gaius peered over my shoulder. “I don’t get it,” he whispered.
I wiped a tear from my eye, still grinning like an idiot at what Rorik wrote.
I read it out for the audience: “Listening to ‘Let It Snow’ together until Aurum passes out.”
Reading it made me laugh again. Nobody else in the audience got it, but Rorik’s eyes sparkled. It was an inside joke just for the two of us.
“This one,” I told Gaius, handing him the paper. “Let’s do it.”
Aurum meltedinto his chair like a snowball on a hot day. “Why in the name of Holy Drake do I have to be here for this?” he whined.
The three of us were seated in front of a huge projector on the beach. The evening sky provided a perfect backdrop for watching a movie. I vibrated with excitement. Somehow, we’d never thought of setting up an outdoor watch party before. The movie hadn’t even started and I was already hooked on this fun new concept.
Meanwhile, my complaining twin attempted to fuse with the seat cushion.
“Because Rorik decreed it so,” I answered.
Rorik shuffled his feet in the sand. “Sorry, Aurum. When I wrote that answer, I didn’t actually think they’d drag you into it…”
Aurum crossed his arms petulantly. “Jade is evil. He takes every possible opportunity to torture us.”
“Really?” Rorik said. “I think he’s quite generous and kind.”
“Generous and kind, my ass,” Aurum mumbled, sinking deeper into his chair. “I bet he loves forcing me to watch this movie again.”
I glared at him. “Quit complaining. Rorik won the challenge, and he chose this movie.”
“Doyoulike this movie?” Aurum shot back.
“I like every movie.”
“Bullshit.”
Rorik whirled around, shocked as he faced Aurum. “Wait. You don’t likeIce Princess?”
He sounded so genuinely sad that Aurum was at a loss for words. My obnoxious, talkative twin, rendered silent by my mate’s genuine question. I stifled a fit of laughter.
“I-I mean,” Aurum stammered, “it’s not that I hate it. I’ve just seen it so many times.”
“I’ve only seen it once,” Rorik said ruefully. “It’s the only movie I’ve seen all the way through.” He sounded a bit embarrassed as he murmured, “And I really liked it…”
Aurum blanched. He resembled a parent who’d accidentally let it slip that Santa wasn’t real.
“No, that’s great!” he blurted. “It’s awesome that you like it, Rorik. You know what? We should watch it more. All the time.” He paused. “Okay, maybe not that often. But if you like it, that’s what matters,” he finished with a smile, patting Rorik’s shoulder.
Rorik seemed relieved. “Thanks, Aurum.”
My heart frolicked. It brought me great joy to watch my mate getting along with my twin. I hoped they grew closer as they spent more time together, too.
The projector flung a huge image onto the screen. I gasped, sitting upright and clutching Rorik’s hand tightly.
“It’s starting!” I cried.
Aurum snorted. “You sound as excited as Kiara and Desiree. By the way, can we get some popcorn or drinks around here? Thanks,” he added as a staff member darted in to hand him a giant bowl of popcorn. Apparently, it was the only thing getting him through this ordeal.
I ignored Aurum’s tantrum and leaned closer to Rorik. Both our eyes were glued to the giant screen. It didn’t matter to me that I’d seen this movie multiple times, or hell, that I’d watched it last night. I was ecstatic to watchanythingwith Rorik, especially a movie he loved; and watching it on a huge projector on the beach was fun.
