Page 345 of The Romance Adventure

Everyone filters toward the door. I linger on the opposite end of the kitchen, seething. I figured after all this, finding the stones, discovering the pieces of the map, learning that Glandman and Aunt Lorena had a son, and a bunch of other stuff, we’d finally be on the same team.

Instead, it’s like we’re right back where we started, at odds. That’s not what Chip wanted.

Ryan asks Jolie, “So, you’re the chaos coraller?”

“Are you saying CJ is chaotic?” Her accent dances over the words, but the mirth is gone.

The others laugh nervously because she can be intimidating when she wants to be.

She winks. “More like the chaos coordinator.”

Royal’s eyebrows practically peel off his forehead.

“He did save me from falling to my death from a lighthouse,” Harley says, coming to my defense.

In a stage whisper, Ryan says. “The thing you need to know about my twin is that he’s a secret cinnamon roll. We all are.”

“Except don’t eat the cinnamon rolls Isla makes.” Lally bites her teeth together and shakes her head.

Isla playfully swats her. “Hey, I’m working on my recipe. Royal can act like he doesn’t care, but he does quite a lot. You’ll see.”

I’m not convinced of that, but I guess we both dug a hole and it’s starting to look a bit too deep to climb out of without help. Maybe the new additions to the McGregor clan will help with that.

As they filter outside, I say, “Thanks for stopping by. Don’t come back.”

The women laugh like I’m joking.

“Except Luke. He’s welcome anytime.”

As if he understood me, Luke shouts, “Dino!”

“See you soon, little buddy.” I give his fingers a little shake, which will someday turn into our very own secret handshake.

Just before I close the door and exhale a sigh of relief, I remember something. Rushing down the driveway, I call, “We’re going to find the Crimson Tide. Can we have the keys, please?”

Royal says, “I hate that idea.”

“What are we missing?” Isla’s gaze bats between all four of us.

“To look for the barque, I need the boat.”

“You have one.” Harley glances at Jolie and she taps the air. “Now I understand why you named it the Mon Jolie.”

“Not just any boat. The Big Boat,” I correct.

“That thing hasn’t been taken out in a long time,” Magnus says.

“It’s all yours. Anything that floats, right?” Ryan says, referring to the will.

“But I need the keys.” However, I could easily start it without them. If it starts, which isn’t something I’ll count on just yet. The Big Boat is a beast, but not necessarily reliable.

“Why should we give them to you? Chip left you the boat. He didn’t specify the keys.” Royal sneers.

“You only hate the thing because you got sick.”

“You almost killed us.”

“It was a group effort,” Ryan says.