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She shrugs, nibbling at the un-iced edges of her Pop-Tart I wait for her to say more, but she just blinks at the ocean

“I want to tell you so But I’m nervous to,” she whispers

“Ask away” I sit up a little, propping my elbow on my knee as I lean closer to her

“You may not say that if you knew the question”

I turn ed “You can ask ive an honest answer”

I watch as she ss She looks down at her legs, stretched out in front of her Then she crosses theirl, my mother used to tell me stories”

I nod slowly

“They were of a princess—me And her dear friend…a prince Prince Declan Do you knohy?” she whispers

I shakemy pulse pick up

Her brown eyes hold mine “It’s because she loved your father”

I feel suspended mid-air, that sort of paused sensation that co I’ve ever heard my old man say in recent times about the island floods my mind

“You can’t go wrong there Especially where you are, son—with your tehed, “it won’t be a pill”

I’ the door that night, and Laurent leading me to the couch What he said, and how he handed me that Xanax after

“Declan?”

Her hand on my arm makes me blink I realize she’s leaned in close “Sorry”