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were younger. When I graduated, it was the first time I had seen her in years. It was a graduation gift. So, A, tell me…When you’re not wreaking havoc on everything in sight, what do you do for fun?”
    I sit up and bring my knees to my chest. I shrug. “Read. Hang out with my cousins. I guess those two things don’t sound like that much fun, but they are for me. I don’t get to do anything else.”
    “You’re lying.”
    I narrow my eyes at him. “Excuse me?”
    He laughs, running his fingers through his dark hair. He looks up at me from the sand.
    “You’re lying, A. You find more joy in rebelling and venturing off to new places. You should have seen your face in Paradise the night your mom caught you. That is where you find fun.”
    I nudge his side with my toes. He laughs.
    “I guess you’re right, Isaac.”
    Rebelling equals fun. Reading equals peace. Cousins equal quality time with family, not exactly fun unless they are willing to get into trouble with me.
    “What about you, flirty pants? What do you do for fun?”
    He sits up. “Flirty pants?”
    I nod. “Yup. So, what’s fun to you?”
    “Pretty much everything. I don’t live a sheltered life like you. I like hanging out with my friends, going to parties.” He shrugs. “Life is fun.”
    “I sort of hate you right now.”
    I’m envious of his life. He was free to do whatever he pleased. Everyone here knew who he was, and he knew everyone. He has friends. Real ones that I’m sure his family didn’t pick for him.
    “I know I’m sheltered, but I didn’t realize how sheltered I truly am until I found out that Terre doesn’t even know I exist.”
    “How exactly do you hide a princess?”
    I shrug.
    We walk around the beach a little longer, not saying anything. Both lost in our own thoughts. I wonder what the future holds for me and my parents. It’s scary to let my mind conjure up all of the possible scenarios.
    “My dad still loves your mom.”
    “Where the fuck did that statement come from?”
    “Fuck? Princess has a potty mouth.”
    “Get over it. So, seriously, why did you just say that?”
    “I was just thinking about it and thought you should know.”
    “Well, I don’t want to know.”
    “I asked my dad if he thought they’d ever get back together, and he said no. He said too much time had passed. He said he promised himself to let her go.”
    “You don’t know how to shut up, do you?” I stop walking and place my hands on my hips.
    “No, not really.” He laughs. “Just because he loves your mom doesn’t mean he’d act on it.”
    “That’d be wise. Besides, it would be awkward being your sister.” I shudder at the thought.
    “Why?”
    I smile. “You know why.”
    He leans against a tree. “But I want to hear you say it.”
    It wouldn’t take a genius to figure out what is transpiring between us. From the moment we first saw each other in Paradise, there was an attraction.
    “It doesn’t matter how I feel, Isaac. Right now isn’t the time to get involved with me. I know you said you didn’t care, but I do.”
    “You can’t persuade me to not get involved with you by trying to instill fear in me. It won’t work, because it’s much scarier imagining not seeing where this could go between us.”
    “But I can say no. I can distance myself from you.” But I don’t want to. I need someone like him right now. I need a friend who can be here for me.
    “You could, but do you want to?”
    I stare at him for a few seconds before responding. “No,” I say quietly as I pick at my nails.
    “Then that settles it.”
    “Settles what?”
    “Our relationship status.”
    “And what would that be?”
    “Insanely complicated, borderline nonexistent, and hopefully a possibility.”
    I shrug. “Being hopeful for anything seems like a waste of time right now, Isaac.”
    “To you, maybe.”
    I look at him, unsure of what to say. Isaac isn’t the type to give up. If he wants something, he goes after it. Even if I argue