August & Colin | WRU series | book 1
We take risks. We make mistakes. We lie. We love. We hurt. We lose total control.
I took a risk. I paid the price.
I made a mistake. I felt the guilt.
I lied. I lie.
I loved. I try not to.
I hurt. I still do.
...
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I stare at my sister, still confused as she pours milk into the bowl filled with cereal. "You bribed Dan into letting you crash in his room?"
As if last night wasn't confusing enough, I got to wake up to my sister showing a stranger, no doubt, the door. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts I hadn't noticed her until the door slammed shut and she grinned a 'good morning brotha'. When I commented I didn't remember her having a key, she just waved it away and settled herself at the kitchen island like this was her house. Then finally, when my dumbfounded expression didn't fade she revealed the truth about why it appeared she had never left my house because apparently she never actually did.
"We swapped, there's a difference." She clarifies, yet I raise an eyebrow because we both know that the 'swap' involved some kind of bribing, or as she would say 'convincing'.
"Why would he even agree?" I open the fridge scanning everything, hoping that seeing all the ingredients will miraculously increase my appetite.
"A magician never tells her secret." I don't even have to look to know there is a mischievous grin dancing on her face.
She's always been good at convincing people and she isn't scared to use it to her advantage. Some would say it's genius, yet my middle school self living in the same house as her would say it is fucking dangerous. If being the older one isn't already a disadvantage in trying to pull your parents to your side, her convincing skills were the death blow.
Convincing is one thing, bribing is her second-best quality because she has this magical power of knowing what people want. And her knowing what people want is amazing for Christmas presents, yet not so amazing when she wants something from you. And that's when it hits me.
"It was the feijoada, wasn't it." From the moment Daniel tried her version of the typical Brazilian dish four years ago, he was hooked and she knew it. Like I said, dangerous.
"Yep." She happily confirms and I can't help but shake my head whilst a chuckle fills the room between us. Unbelievable.
"Put him out of his misery and just give him the damn recipe."
With her mouth full of cereal and a huge frown covering her face, she answers, "Why?" As if the answer to that isn't convenient.
"Because we both know he's just going to keep accepting your bribes." To that she holds up one finger to stop me from, apparently, saying anything else incorrect.
"Swap. It was a swap, not a bribe." I nod agreeing but the expression on my face reveals the truth about how I really think about her correction.
"Keep telling yourself that."
She rolls her eyes. "Fine, but if I do, I want you to get me Theo's lasagna recipe." A laugh pops up at the sound of her attempt to negotiate and as much as I want to join in on her little negotiating game, I wouldn't be able to help her.
