Page 112 of HER SISTER

I carefully looked around before answering Mya's straightforward question, noticing everyone was in the water except for Mili and Xiomara who were seated on the sectional one floor above us.

"Nothing..." I suddenly trailed off as I looked between them both, "Okay, maybe something," I added in a whisper.

A slow smile grew on Mya's lips, "Hopefully something means we'll get Anili back together," she jokingly nudged me.

I playfully rolled my eyes, "I don't know if that's the current route we're taking," I murmured, knowing that right now we were only playing games with each other.

Arielle tilted her head, "Oh no, what are you guys up to?" she questioned with a raised brow.

I pursed my lips, "I don't know... We're sort of playing a weird unsaid game right now," I said, lowering my tone as we all sat down on the built-in couch.

Mya raised a brow, "Okay now this all makes sense," she determined to herself.

"Yeah, because Mili's cozying up to that hispanic girl and you're all over the bartender... It was kind of confusing for a second," Arielle said as she pieced this together.

Mya shook her head, "Just make sure no one gets hurt—you guys are playing a very dangerous game," she pointed out, clearly worried about how far we'd take this.

And even I knew that we'd take it far, especially with how big both of our egos were.

But I also knew Mili—and I knew she wouldn't cross a line.

And neither would I.

"Yeah, of course, it'll be fine," I assured them both.

Mya hummed, "Good, now if you don't mind, could you tell the bartenders to bring some shots down to us?" she questioned.

And before I could respond, Mya added, "I figured you'd want to talk to a specific bartender anyway."

I couldn't help but laugh, "Okay now, not too much," I said as I stood from the soft couch.

Arielle laughed, "I don't know, you seem to be pretty eager to head up there," she said, joining in on Mya's joke.

Meanwhile, I could only flick them both off as I headed up the stairs—which earned laughs from them both.

Soon I was approaching the bar top where Desi and her coworker stood, purposefully ignoring the presence of Mili and Xiomara conversating behind me on the sectional.

"Hey, I think they wanted another round of shots down there," I politely told them.

The man nodded before Desi could, "I got it Des—you just finish up here," he told her, which earned a nod from the woman.

And as the man walked away with the stacked glasses and a bottle of tequila, Desi suddenly paused her motions of wiping the shiny bar top.

Her stare managed to drift behind me before meeting my stare, and it wasn't hard to see that she was contemplating something.

Especially when she said, "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

I tilted my head slightly, and it was obvious that I was confused.

"Yeah?" I said, easily turning the statement into a question.

Soon Desi was guiding us away from the bar and inside one of the main rooms away from the harsh sun and humid air.

"I know what's been going on," Desi suddenly said as we stood in the air-conditioned living area

I felt my brows shoot up, clearly feeling caught off guard.

"You do?" I questioned, and it was obvious that I wanted her to explain more before I said anything compromising.

Desi nodded a few times, "I've seen this act numerous times. You and your girlfriend or fling—or whatever she is, are purposefully flirting with other people to play around with each other," she said, easily explaining what's so obviously happening.

And it sounded kind of messed up in a way.

At least for the other people involved.

I blinked a few times, and before I could think it through, I was saying, "I'm so sorry."

Desi furrowed her brows, "Why are you saying sorry?" she questioned.

I sighed to myself, "Because clearly you don't want to be dragged into something like this and I just—"

"Who said that was the case?" Desi suddenly cut me short with an amused smile, "I was about to offer to help you win girl," she added.

And just like that my brows were raised again before a smile managed to spread across my lips.

"Really?" I whispered, clearly thinking I had misheard her.

Desi only nodded, "Yes, really—I already have a few things in mind to help you."

My smile grew, clearly feeling thankful for Desi's offer, "I'm so down, let's start planning," I said as I sat down on one of the couches.

Desi didn't hesitate to sit down next to me, "Okay so what do you guys have planned for tomorrow?" she questioned.

And just like that, we were planning different ways to push Mili without fully crossing a line.

Honestly, I felt like the Universe was definitely helping me one-up Mili especially with Desi openly on my side to help.

Now let's see who really wins.

—

That night we all seemed to be tucked into bed at an early hour.

Especially since we were going on an early morning hike the next day.

However, I couldn't seem to fall asleep—especially not with so many things roaming through my mind.

I was mostly on edge about tomorrow, hoping that everything went to plan.

Even still, I knew my morning self would hate me for staying up, but there didn't seem to be any other choice for me.

And as I sat on the counter with the glow of the overhead stove light on me, eating a tub of Gelato that was made here locally—

I felt at peace.

Everything was quiet, even my thoughts, and it truly felt like the night was never going to end.

But in the best way possible.

I glanced up slightly when I noticed a figure entering the kitchen, which managed to somewhat startle me.

Until I realized it was Arielle.

The redhead rubbed her tired eyes before she seemed to jump back slightly at my presence, "Jesus Ana, are you trying to scare me?" she said as she held a hand to her chest.

I laughed a few times as I swallowed the strawberry Gelato, "It wasn't purposeful," I said as another laugh fell from my lips.

Arielle only shook her head as she opened one of the kitchen cabinets, "Well you could've announced yourself," she pointed out as she grabbed a glass—

That managed to slip from her hands and shatter across the beautiful marble counters and floors.

My brows shot up at the loud sound she had seemed to make in a peacefully quiet house.

And as the seconds passed by, Arielle and I seemed to look between each other silently, clearly processing what just happened.

But after a few beats, we both managed to fall into an uncontrollable silent laughter—

Maybe it was how late it was or maybe I was sort of tired, given how I couldn't possibly stop laughing if I tried.

"I can't believe you right now," I laughed out in a whisper as I wiped away the stray tears that had fallen from my eyes.

Arielle only quietly laughed again, "Seriously, what are we supposed to do?" she asked between breathless laughs.

I shook my head as my soft laughter grew, "I-I think there might be a broom somewhere," I said as I tried to get my quiet laughter under control.

Arielle laughed again, "Somewhere Ana? What are we going to magically teleport it here?" she asked.

I let out another string of quiet laughs as I hopped down from the counter, but when I noticed the glass all over the floor I seemed to sway slightly—

Only to lose my balance and grab the nearest counter for support without stepping in the glass.

Yet the counter that I seemed to grab managed to be covered in glass as well.

Just like that, my laughter was ripped from me, especially when a sharp pain shot through my hand.

"Ana, oh my god," Arielle whispered as she helped guide me away from the counter, being careful to not step in the shreds of glass right in front of me.

I sucked in a sharp breath as I stared down at my hand—

It didn't look that bad, just one piece of glass managed to pierce my skin and remain stuck.

I definitely can't be the one to take that out.

"Maybe we should wake up Mya," Arielle determined as she stared at the piece of glass stuck in the palm of my hand.

I shook my head, "I really don't want to make this a big deal—"

"What's going on in here?"

Just like that, we were looking over to Damon—

And Mili.

Who both seemed to be pulled from their sleep.

I awkwardly pursed my lips as I looked over to Arielle—who seemed to look back at me as well.

Mili walked closer to us, "Is that glass?" she questioned as she examined the floors and counters.

I subtly hid my hand behind my back, "Ari accidentally dropped a glass," I whispered as I avoided both of their analyzing stares, shaking my head a few times at Arielle before she could manage to reveal that there was a piece of glass stuck in my hand.

Damon shook his head, "Sounds like you," he chuckled as he reached out for Arielle, "Where's the broom? I can clean this up," he offered as he helped his girlfriend over to him without stepping in the glass.

I felt Mili's dark eyes suddenly fall on me, "I think it's over in the hallway closet," she said, easily causing the pair to go off in search of a broom.

And as soon as I met Mili's burning stare, her dark eyes seemed to fall down my body

And it was obvious that she knew something was up, especially with her stare lingering on my arm that I was so obviously holding behind my back.

"Show me," Mili motioned her head to my hidden arm.

Damn, does she really know me that well?

I tilted my head, "Show you what?" I said, clearly trying to keep the embarrassing incident hidden.

Mili only met my stare again, "Show me," she repeated herself, glancing back down to my hidden arm before she said, "Please?"

A sudden sigh inevitably fell from my lips, hating that her softened tone alone managed to make something crack inside of me.

Mili blinked a few times almost as soon as her eyes landed on my hand that I revealed from behind my back—

And it was clear that she was questioning whether or not she was hallucinating the scene in front of her.

But upon coming to her own internal conclusion, Mili took a sudden step toward me, "First the sledding incident and now this?"

I awkwardly pursed my lips as Mili gently grabbed my hand to analyze it, "It was an accident," I whispered.

"That could've turned out to be much worse," Mili pointed out as her dark eyes drifted up to meet mine.

And I couldn't help but draw in a deep breath as I stared into her dark eyes, considering if I was possibly dreaming all of this.

I mean she looked entirely too good to have just woken up from her sleep.

"Hey, we got the broom—"

"Bet, I'm gonna help Ana really fast—she got a small piece of glass stuck in her hand," Mili cut Damon short, easily breaking our intense eye contact to turn around to the couple with brooms in their hands.

Arielle didn't hesitate to nod, "There should be a first aid kit in the half bath upstairs," she said, easily earning a nod from Mili.

And just like that, Mili gently grabbed my other wrist and led me upstairs.