“What?” I said in a higher pitch and Avery shook with laughter, but it was too late. Miri practically threw the thing at me, my hands came up, and I was holding it.
In my hands.
A gag rose up in my throat.
It was so cold and wet.
The underside of its shell felt like a wet balloon.
My stomach lurched. I hated this. This was hell.
Miri unlatched another tank and I looked down at Avery, barely containing herself. “You will pay for this,” I breathed.
She winked at me and my mouth gaped open. Winking was my move. Not hers. Mine. I didn’t like this.
“Here you go.” Miri held another turtle out, which Avery accepted from her.
Don held up his camera and snapped a picture. “Say cheese.”
“I think you’re supposed to say that before the picture,” I told him.
“Let’s do one where we’re kissing
