The Luna Choosing Game

Bridget watched me expectantly, waiting for an answer. An answer I was far too stunned to give.

Which brother did I love? Was there any way to answer that wouldn't implicate me? Veronica knew that my relationship with Julian was just for show, while my feelings leaned toward Nicholas. But neither Jessica nor Bridget did.

I supposed I should have lied and said julian, but with his feelings for Bridget in the mix, I wasn’t sure if that was the answer he would have wanted me to give her. And then there was Nicholas’s feelings to consider.

I was trapped. There was no way out of the question without revealing myself

or hurting someone else My hesitation only seemed to make Bridget more suspicious. Her brow lowered. Her frown deepened. Yet, just as she opened her mouth, presumably to speak, she was interrupted.

“Bridget, stop,” Nicholas said, voice firm and strong. “You've had too much to drink.” Softly, Jessica whispered, “I don’t like this game very much.” “It’s a simple question, Nicholas,” Bridget said.

“One you wouldn't have asked if you didn’t have so much wine,” Nicholas said. “You need to sleep this off. You'll be mortified in the morning, when you realize what you did here tonight.” Bridget crossed her arms, but since she

was still holding her glass of wine, she spilt some of it down along her side She immediately jumped. “Shit.” “You should go get some sleep,” Nicholas pressed.

Bridget dropped her drink down to the ground. “I don’t need sleep!” She was belligerent as she pushed herself up to her shaky legs. “I just need a little walk to help wake up, that’s all!” She turned from us and began walking in the opposite direction Julian had gone.

Nicholas sighed as he rubbed his forehead. He glanced at me. I looked back at him.

Veronica, perhaps noticing something between Nicholas and I, turned to Jessica and pulled her into a conversation.

“The game isn’t always like this,” Veronica said. “One time when I was...” She went on.

“Piper...” Nicholas said with a sigh. I stopped listening to Veronica to focus on him. “I have something to ask you.” He was building to something important. My insides were twisted up.

He wasn’t going to ask me more about Bridget’s question, was he? Surely he already knew the answer? Did I need to explain my feelings to him once more? “Can you check on Julian?” Nicholas asked, and my thoughts came to a screeching halt. Nicholas sighed again.

fists. When he was sure Jessica wasn’t listening to him,

Julian and I had tension between us, and perhaps in another life where I hadn’t been with

was right here, sitting

might actually talk to.” I watched him a moment longer, seeing the tension in his body, the tightness of his straightened shoulders, the way every muscle was clenched. It took everything he had to 2sk me to do this. He must truly care for his brother, despite their

hand gently and subtly brush up the length of his arm. His eyes closed and he leaned into the touch. I hoped the motion was as reassuring as I

turned and followed the way julian had gone, down the length

by a rocky outcrop. He had fished some shells from the damp beach and

the starlight to brighten the view, it was difficult to see

crest of a wave. Even Julian

visible in hazy

plopped into the water. The sound was

came nearer. I didn’t want

at all, just kept throwing the shells.

it. She always managed to dim his bright light. I wished he could see how unhealthy she was

watched as

into the darkness, I said, “Do you want to talk about it?” “What's there to talk about?” Julian demanded. “The lie was me. She never loved me. She never will love me. I've always known that. It’s nothing new.” He laughed a little, self-deprecatingly,

said, because it was obvious, and avoiding saying it aloud was

was quiet for a while. Between the crashes of the waves on the sand, I heard him utter a tiny, “Yeah.” Then, he side-eyed

gaze, but I could

“Piper,” he said.

look at him. “Hm?” “Why couldn’t it have

his hands, cupped my face, and kissed