“No, it’s fine.” I scramble to get up and slip on one of the castle pieces—it looks like a drawbridge—and land on my ass again.
Dad stands over me, shaking his head furiously as he glares from me to Vivian. “One day.” His voice gets louder. “You couldn’t go one day?—”
Carolynda puts a hand on his back, and that stops his words. She’s holding a turret in one hand—is that what it’s called?—as tears run down her face. The kids stare at us. Mostly me. I’m the one sitting among the castle ruins.
I reluctantly take Vivian’s offered hand and get to my feet. I glance behind me and grimace. I’m not sure the castle can be saved.
“Go to your rooms,” Dad orders, pointing toward the stairs.
Vivian sets his jaw. “We’re not children.”
Dad doesn’t even say anything. He doesn’t have to. He folds his arms across his chest.
“Come on, bro.” I grab Vivian’s arm and pull him away from the mess before he can make things worse. Kids and parents stare at us as we pass by them. When we get to the staircase, Vivian yanks his arm away. “Way to fuck everything up.”
“Me?” God, I want to wipe that arrogant look right off his face, but that will get us into more trouble. “Fuck off, Vivian.” Then I storm up the stairs to my room and slam the door behind me.
