The Luna Choosing Game

Did I know about Nicholas’s past? I thought I did.

A tiny voice whispered in my head, Maybe not as well as you think.

No, I couldn’t let Julian sow doubt inside of me. No matter what he thought, there had to be a logical explanation for whatever happened. Nicholas wasn’t the type to just steal people’s girlfriends.

Perhaps Nicholas dated someone Julian liked, and Julian was just jealous. I wouldn’t suggest that to

him, however,

Even now, pain shone in his eyes, even with the smile that returned to his lips. He’d clearly been hurt by

whatever happened, no matter how much he tried to hide it.

Because of this, I didn’t want to ask him any more questions, or even bring it up at all. Maybe he was

right. Maybe all I was doing was kicking the hornet’s nest. Sometimes the past was meant to stay in the

past.

It hurt that the brothers couldn’t move beyond it, but who was I to try to brute force that into happening?

on Julian’s shoulder. He glanced

your heartache,” I

at my hand. His smile wavered again. “Do you mean that?”

said. “I care about

pulled me into a hug. His arms wrapped around M

my neck and shoulder.

and his head lowered

on me were gentle, placed respectfully on the small of

I always thought he flirted and teased with me just for entertainment. Maybe that was part of it, sure. Yet when he acted like this, I felt like maybe he

if just a

Ireached my own arms up and wrapped them around his neck

chest to

“Alright.”

each other in the quiet of the parlor and didn’t say

been since Julian received a good and honest hug, one that didn’t have to mean anything or lead to anything. One he could share with someone who truly just wanted him

himself.

flaws, certainly, but we all did. He’d only ever done his

I not be grateful? How could I not like him for the person

was interrupted by someone loudly clearing

Nicholas in the entryway. My heart