The ice cream was melting. Eshe could feel it softening inside the container into a soupy mess as the sedan pulled up into the palace's driveway.

Well, at least she'd kept to the code.

A woman waited on the front steps. Sweating in a suit. Her hair drawn back into a tight bun. Her long, severe face guarded as Eshe popped open the car door and slithered out. She'd tried to dress respectably for this occasion.

Her first time in Spain. And inside a palace.

"Hello, Ms. DeGuzman. I am Concepcion De La Fuente, and pleased to receive you on behalf of la Princessa."

Eshe curtsied. And immediately regretted the foolish instinct. Concepcion wasn't a royalty. Did people even curtsy anymore?

"Alonzo will see to you bags," Concepcion went on as if Eshe hadn't just embarrassed herself. "I will bring you to la Princessa."

"Must get exhausting," Eshe commented as she was led inside the muthafreaking palace yo! Her eyes lit up in wonder and awe at the grandeur, the magnificence and old-world charm. It felt ancient and new all at the same time.

"What is exhausting?"

Eshe blinked, drawn back to the moment. It took a second to remember she'd asked a question in the first place. "All this formality. 'La Princessa', when we both know she would prefer to be called just Shayne."

Concepcion kicked up her chin as they wound up a flight of stairs enrobed in carpet and brass rods anchoring it down. "Formalities are tradition, and tradition is important to respect. To maintain."

Eshe pressed her lips together, the lukewarm tub of Double fudge brownie explosion ice cream—Shayne's preferred Death by Chocolate—bounced against her thigh as they walked in equally tepid silence.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket and lifting it out, her blood shot with ice. A cold spike from head to toe.

How much longer are you going to play this little game of independence?

Charles

Eshe curled her fingers around her phone. Squeezed. God, she'd almost thrown it at the wall. Smashed it into a thousand pieces. If he was texting her now, it meant only one thing. He knew she'd dropped the neurology internship, and that she'd left home. He'd spoken to her mother. Her father. God, maybe even Lana, too.

She tried not to picture him sitting at her family's dinner table. Smiling and laughing as her parents brought him all up to speed on her latest little misadventure. Maybe he even knew she was in Spain. She'd called her mother on the way over, to put her mind at ease.

Her mom had sighed about Eshe being irresponsible. About coming home and making amends with her dad.

It's not too late. You can still go back to Dr. Cavanaugh and ask for your placement in the program. I'm sure she'd understand if you just apologized.

Well, Eshe didn't want to apologize. She didn't want to beg for something she'd never really wanted in the first place. And ask for forgiveness? Hah! She had a right to be happy. To pursue her passions and dreams—even if no one understood them aside from her Sisterhood. The Sisterhood was all she needed. To hell with everyone else.

A maniacal laugh escaped her in a dark bubble of panic and glee.

"Ms?"

Eshe jolted as Concepcion waved a hand before her face. When had they stopped walking? Eshe smoothed a hand over her belly where nerves winged and kicked like baby in the womb. "Sorry. Zoned out for a second."

Concepcion's lips thinned with uncertainty. "Through those doors. Shayne would like to see you alone." Eshe held fast until Concepcion started walking away, then pushed inside.

Shayne lay flopped face down in her bed. Snoring so loud it was a wonder she hadn't heard her through the doors.

Smiling, Eshe plunked the bag of ice cream on a polished glass coffee table and charged for the bed. She jumped, flew and landed in a starfish across Shayne. "Wake up!"

Shayne jolted. Shouted a curse and had Eshe pinned in three seconds flat. Shayne blinked down at her, clearing sleep from her eyes. When they focused, Eshe laughed and Shayne cursed again.

"Hostia puta, woman. I was having a wonderful nap."

"What would Asher think if he found his prize athlete still in bed after noon?"

Shayne rolled her eyes and slumped off Eshe, dragging a hand across her weary face. Green hair a bed rumpled mess. It was like a bush on top of her head. "Had a late night."

"Shocker."

Shayne scowled at her. "Not that kind of late night."

Eshe smirked. "If you say so." She crossed her legs, draped over Shayne. "I'm happy to see you."

A smile wiggled across Shayne's stubborn lips. "Me too."

"As is customary, I brought ice cream but unfortunately it died in the car."

"Chocolate?"

"Double chocolate fudge."

Shayne flopped back with a mournful wail. "Whyyyyyy?"

"I suggest a tasteful burial," Eshe tapped Shayne's leg, "then you can get dressed and I'll take you out for gelato while we tour the sights."

"I wish but I have a meeting with Rita at four."

"Rita?" Eshe couldn't contain her surprise. "The Rita?"

Shayne scrapped a hand across her head, raking her hair into something more stylishly tousled. "Yeah. That's the one."

Eshe whistled. "How's that going? Any old sparks igniting between you?"

"She's only been here less than twenty-four hours."

"And the reason behind your late night."

"I told you it wasn't like that."

Eshe rolled her eyes. "Not yet. But it could be. Didn't you tell me she made a pass at you last time in LA? It's been a couple months. I'm sure she's good and divorced by now."

"Doesn't matter," Shayne said under her breath, then flung her hands out. "I'm in a glass prison. Everyone's watching me. Waiting for me to screw this up. The people already have their doubts about me. Toss in a lesbian affair and they'll be frothing at the mouth for my dismissal." Steel glinted in her eyes. The look of a fighter not willing to go down in the final round. "I can't let the Duchess win."

"Shayne, come on! This is the girl you were crazy about—who is also crazy about you. Finally, back in your life. You can't let this opportunity pass you by."

"I promised my brother," Shayne answered. "I won't fail him."

Eshe closed her hand around Shayne's, squeezed. "You're right. I'm sorry. Chase Dreams, Not Drama."

Shayne smiled weakly. "She looks amazing though. God...it was like a sucker punch to the gut when she walked into the gym. I was so happy to see her."

"Still wearing boring suits?"

Shayne laughed. "She could pass for secret service. It's sexy as hell."

"Down girl." Eshe playfully waved an admonishing finger. "No sexy thoughts about Ms. Rita."

Shayne flopped back with another dramatic groan. "How am I going to survive the next two and a half months without getting laid?"

"What's the longest you've ever gone?"

Shayne rolled her eyes to Eshe as she propped herself up on her elbows. "The last two weeks."

"Shayne!" Eshe burst into laughter and flopped over, curling up next to her. "Lord, woman, you're in trouble."

Shayne looped an arm around Eshe's shoulder. Sighed. "Don't I know it."

**AN**

YAY! Eshe and Shayne are together. I know these two are going to have lots of fun together in Spain. Plus, if Charles decides to make a re-appearance into Eshe's life - who better to have in her corner than Shayne? I'm sure she'd happily lay him flat. 

Also - you might have noticed the motto has changed from CHASE DREAMS, NOT BOYS to CHASE DREAMS, NOT DRAMA. I realized as I was editing book one that the previous motto was very hetero-normative, and considering half the sisterhood is queer, it didn't make sense. So I opted for the new one to reflect that intersectional diversity better.   

Up next is PRIYA!!! 

I have a job interview this afternoon, so hopefully I can dive back into writing when I get home. But if I get a job things will slow down slightly to weekend only posts. I'll hopefully get to push out a couple more before I start to at least soften the wait for you guys.