The Luna Choosing Game

With a statement like there, I had no polite way of backing out. Not that I would. These kids needed me,

and Elva was already having fun with them, playing on the slides.

Nicholas and I would just have to put aside our differences long enough to help the kids. After that, we

could go back to not getting along as usual.

After confirming I would be staying, the caretaker offered to lead me and Mark inside.

“I’ll stay out here,” Mark said. “Keep an eye on the kids.”

I was grateful. If he watched Elva, I knew I wouldn’t have to worry.

Inside, I joined Nicholas in the kitchen. He was washing dishes, preparing for the day’s main event:

lunch. And what an extravagant lunch it would be, if the piles of containers were any indication.

“Did you bring all this from the palace?” I peeked under the aluminum foil on one of the containers. Inside was at least ten servings of garlic potatoes.

“One of the cooks is particularly fond of me,” Nicholas said. “She makes special servings when I ask.”

There’s a ton of

to a good cause. Plus, I make sure she’s well

No wonder she liked

set it aside on a wet stack. Grabbing a towel,

and began to dry.

dishes to me to

dating. How many times had

wasn’t all

Academy? We used to help out the kids at the orphanage like

it was the least I

times, he went

never stopped,” he said.

I could say the same, but after Elva, with her sickness, we

and I help out at an orphanage closer to home.

Nicholas grunted in acknowledgement.

probably didn’t want to reminisce, but it was hard not

best conversations like

and I caught it? I’ll never forget. I felt like a superhero with quick

a question, and you knew you were going to surprise me. You were

it.”

I didn’t remember that. “What was

dish to glance at me. His face was entirely passive, but his eyes