The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0403

“I heard he had dated another person after he was with me,” she said. “Back then, he had a little more freedom so I suppose anything is possible.”

That wasn’t a compliment, but then, her entire demeanor had seemed to shift now that we were alone. Her smile had an edge. Her voice was curter. This felt less like the cute actress persona she had at the ready for the rest of the world, and more like this might be her true self.

“I wouldn’t have believed it if Nicholas hadn’t confirmed himself to me these past few days,” Bridget said.

I felt a hint of pride. Nicholas didn’t talk about Bridget, but he did, it seemed, talk about me.

“We had a very happy relationship together while we were at the Academy,” I said. “He is the kindest man I’ve ever known and he treated me with such respect and passion…” All of it was true, but I may have been talking it up a bit more than necessary, out of my jealousy.

“You had no idea who he was. Is that right?” she asked.

“He was Nicholas.”

“But you didn’t know he was a prince.”

“No. He didn’t tell me that.”

She smiled a bit as she tilted her head. “A shame that he thought to keep so many secrets from you. When I knew him, he prided himself so much on his honesty.”

“He is still an honest, stalwart kind of man,” I said, a little annoyed at her implication otherwise.

“Maybe he is now, after your split. But you must admit that the man kept secrets from you. His lineage, for one. His closeness to me, for another.”

Unfortunately, she was right. I did have to admit that. Even though I hated to.

“He had his reasons,” she said.

“I’m sure.” Bridget tilted her head, her movie star smile slipped back into place. “I suppose I have nothing to worry about then.”

said that. Like she was crossing me off as a threat, just like she did everyone else. Maybe she truly did not know how Nicholas and

other in the gym just this morning. His scent

confident that she didn’t

+15 BÔNUS

much harder to fake all the sudden. Bridget didn’t seem to care one way

girls here don’t seem to like me. It can feel a bit… isolating. I’m sure you

I didn’t like the way she was saying it, suggesting so easily that I was obviously an

I did understand how isolating it could feel to believe none of the other girls liked

famous movie star with a huge following, but loneliness was a universal

but… potential love interests weren’t exactly the same thing

I can rely on you, Piper, to be my friend,” she said, and she seemed so da mned earnest. G od, she was a good actor. I wanted to believe

feel alone, not even someone

friend,

the room.

flirtation has filled up some kind of energy gauge

You are

the charm on thick. His vow not to let

didn’t once look at me. He didn’t acknowledge me at all. His entire focus was affixed to Bridget like

at all. What was it with these princes? Bridget

214

+15 BONUS

Julian offered his arm.

any girls ever

It looked painful, frankly, though it was still attractive

he said. Was he thinking that she did, when she went with

wondered if the cook Charlotte talked about would

wanted to help Julian, but it would be wrong to pry into

For now, at least.