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.”

me off as a threat, just like she did everyone else.

in the gym just this morning. His scent

confident that she didn’t think

+15 BÔNUS

all the sudden. Bridget didn’t seem to care one way or the other. She mind had shifted

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

like the way she was saying it, suggesting so easily that I was obviously an outcast here. I had plenty of friends now,

if I looked under my initial irritation. Yes, she was right. I did understand how isolating it could feel to believe none of the

was a universal experience. Money and fame didn’t matter if no one

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

to be my friend,” she said, and she seemed so da mned earnest. G od, she

anyone to feel alone, not even someone I viewed so thoroughly as

to be your friend, Bridget,” Julian says as

the room.

flirtation has

You

farther into the room, moving right up to her. He was laying the charm

acknowledge me at all. His entire focus

it with these princes? Bridget comes back and they both fall out

214

+15 BONUS

I escort you to lunch, Bridget?” Julian offered his arm.

Julian, you charmer,” she laughed again. “Do any girls ever tell you no?” She slid her arm through

painful, frankly, though it was still

thinking that she did,

cook Charlotte talked about would know? The one

shook my head. It wasn’t my business. I wanted to help Julian, but it would be wrong to pry into

For now, at least.