Chapter 119


    “He’s saving your bacon, Piper. Elva’s too. By publicly decrying this theory, he’s giving you a shield.


    The King can’t touch Elva now without public uproar,”


    Oh. I looked back at Nichs in awe. I had suggested the public statement before, but for him to


    continue that idea, to protect us… My chest filled with warmth all of the sudden.


    “Do you have any idea who the true father is?” the producer asked.


    “I know only that he is the worst kind of coward. A man who refused to stay to support his child or his


    mother. Why name him and give him the publicity? Let him live in the shadows with his weakness.”


    Nichs spoke with a passion he rarely showed, especially on camera.


    Julian whistled. “He’s really nailing this interview. I never knew he had it in him.”


    “When he returns, you should tell him so,” I said.


    Heughed. “And let it go to his head? The guy has a big enough ego, Piper. Be serious.”


    Someday, I wondered if the obvious rift between the two men would ever heal. I also wondered what


    had caused it to start with. They’d always seemed to hate each other, even when we had all been in


    school.


    “Don’t look at me like that,” Julian said. “Sometimes people just don’t get along. There doesn’t have to


    be a rhyme or reason or some great backstory.”


    I supposed that was true, though it still made me feel very sad for them.


    Turning into me, he grabbed both my wrists and shook them back and forth, making my arms waggle.


    “Cheer up. We should be celebrating. And we will, as soon as…” He nced at the television, but the


    interview was over.


    “Julian?”


    “Give him a minute.”


    I looked around. We were alone in the room. “Who?”


    The door opened, and Nichs walked in. Julian tugged, pulling me forward by wrists into his waiting.


    Arms.


    I’m so happy for you, Piper!” Julian said loudly, likely for Nichs’s benefit.


    Nichs stopped just inside the door. Then he stepped further in and threw his surtcoat down onto the


    couch.


    “What the devil are you doing in here?”


    I gasped and tried to break free from Julian, but he squeezed me too tightly for me to wriggle away


    “Julian. Let her go.” Nichs’s voice was very forceful.


    Julian sighed dramatically, but released his hold. I stumbled, suddenly without his constraint. In a sh


    Nichs was behind me, righting me with his strong hands on my shoulders.


    “Are you alright?” he asked me.


    “I’m fine,” I said.


    “Don’t mind us,” Julian said. “We were just excited to see your interview


    He straightened. “You saw that?” He was looking at me but Julian answered.


    “Yes, we both saw you fumble your way through another public speech,” Julian said. Nichs clenched


    his jaw


    I looked between them, a bit amazed. That was not what Julian had said earlier.


    Julian winked at me.


    I red at him.


    “I liked it,” I said to Nichs.


    “You did?” Nichs asked me.


    “We watched it together,” Julian said. “Her and I.”


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    He was antagonizing again, but Nichs and I were far too busy looking at each other to listen to him.


    “The way you


    y you talked about the man who left me… He’s not even real, but I felt your hatred. If it had been true, it


    would have made me happy to know that you felt that way.”


    1 do feel that way. Or. that’s the way I felt, before I knew the truth.”


    “Nichs, I…”


    Julian cleared his throat. “I guess I’ll see myself out.” He gave a bow with a flourish, then skipped


    toward the door. “Don’t have too much fun, now.”


    At his teasing. Nichs and I separated a bit. I crossed the room. He stayed near the television. When


    Nichs spoke again, his voice was tight. “So you and Julian were in here… alone…”