intrepidity

Chapter 42

Roman glanced down at her, calm as ever. "And what if I want to?"

She bit her lip, shrinking a little. "You think don't think it's silly?"

"I think my sister deserves sparkly things."

That made her go quiet. Really quiet. But a tiny, shy smile crept onto her face — the kind that bloomed slow, like she didn't know if she was allowed to feel it but couldn't help it anyway.

Roman didn't say anything else.

He didn't need to.

-

The chaos began the moment Roman and Aurora stepped through the front door of the Valenti estate.

"Are you kidding me?" Marcus's voice echoed from the stairs. "Someone's gonna break their neck!"

"It's not that deep," Antonio called back, lounging on the banister as if he hadn't left three dumbbells right in the middle of the staircase. "Be careful where you walk, princess."

"That's rich coming from the fucking hazard himself," Marcus growled, stomping back down.

In the kitchen, Elias was covered in flour and something suspiciously pink, humming softly as he decorated what looked like cupcakes — or maybe muffins. The jury was still out.

Alec popped his head out from behind the fridge. "Hey, you two," he greeted Roman and Rory warmly. "How was the trip? You get what you needed?"

Aurora gave a tiny nod, her arms wrapped protectively around the pink plastic princess makeup kit. Alec spotted it and smiled—until he noticed the glitter glue nestled in the bottom of the bag.

"Absolutely not," he said with a laugh, plucking it out like it was a grenade. "No glitter bombs in this house. I'm still finding sparkles from Valentine's Day when Atlas threw one at me."

Aurora ducked her head, shy but not upset. She hadn't even planned to use the glitter glue... not yet.

While the rest of the house rumbled with its usual brand of loving dysfunction, Aurora slipped quietly into the den. The pink kit was clutched to her chest like a treasure chest full of dreams.

Atlas and Antonio were on the couch, deep in a loud, dramatic argument over a video game. Atlas had kicked his feet up on Antonio's lap. Antonio was pretending he didn't care, even though his eye twitched every time Atlas's foot bumped his controller.

Aurora paused in the doorway, her fingers tightening slightly on the handles of her kit. The sounds of laughter and arguing were familiar now — not scary like they once had been, just loud. Still, she felt her throat tighten a little before she found her voice.

"Um..."

Both brothers looked over instantly.

Atlas was the first to speak. "What's up, baby?"

She shifted her weight, curling her toes into the rug. "I... I wanted to try the kit. It's okay if you say no but... can I... practice on you?"

Antonio blinked. "On me? No—"

"I'll do it," Atlas cut in before she even finished her sentence, already sitting up straighter. "You can glitter me all you want."

Aurora's eyes lit up with shy excitement. "Really?"

"Absolutely. I'm ready for my princess makeover," he said dramatically, flipping his hair back like he was on a runway.

Antonio scoffed. "You're all ridiculous."

"She hasn't even started yet, asshole," Atlas grinned.

Rory turned those big eyes toward Antonio. She didn't pout. Didn't beg. Just gave him the softest, most hopeful look imaginable.