Rivalry and roses

Where a

e house, though big, was never this quiet when Mina w

hand on her hip, the other rubbing her temple

you're stuck in a cu

espo

laundry room. Still nothing. Her voice sharpened, but it wasn

't make me call your

ice floated down fr

pstair

ic. Of

the stairs with the tired determination of som

at if the ladder breaks? What if you fall? You think I

g cross-legged on the floor, flipping through an

oking far too pleased with herself. "Did

Grandpa used to have a daughter who actually listened w

her chin in her hands.

rn face but failing as a smile tugged at her lips. "I should've

ns, eyes shining with that playful s

antly. "Unfortunately, yes. Now come on, troub

ha

u find the dust, y

er mother down the stairs, but the quiet sm

rs, Mina trailed just a step be

uld've just texted me instead of

d. "Oh, please. You ignore texts wh

, but I don't ignor

she stepped into the kitchen. "Bribes? I

one of the kitchen stools, pretending to sniff th

r mother pulled out a dish towel and flicked it at

arm where the towel had s

neak off and make me ask the whole house where you

aid, waving her hand. "The moment y

might just bake the

ook and both bu

d by her mother's room, she hea

ing laundry, quietl

d in and plopped onto the

other asked wi

rea

ng attic

init

d your

ven a

aughed. "Did

g quiet between them

y,

H

y sneak off a

ically, hands on her hip

n. "You'll come lookin

room and gently tugged

e yo

you to

ions, Mina finally escaped her "motherly probation" and flopped dramatical

etching out like she'd jus

what?" came a

She didn't even ne

p as he strolled up the path, hands stuffed

ed, cocking an eyebrow as he sat beside h

d, "just... temporarily assi

ou got caug

I'm an explorer. A pioneer. The

actically called the p

learly loving the c

made me dust every

r." Jeremiah leaned back on his elbows, his messy hair catching the fadin

e, I'll

and then you vanish li

accoon," Mina

atab

's grin

kinda like it when y

ked. "Wow

ying attention. My mom barely

omething in his tone, before he covered it up with a gr

tly. "Well, I like your company. Even if

is frie

it's

he sound ringing thr