Chapter 200


    “Piper?” Julian was waiting for my question.


    “Okay.” I prepared myself with a deep inhale. Then I asked, “Why did you and Prince Nichs never


    seem to get along?”


    Julian’s smile didn’t as much as twitch, yet I still felt a tension seep into the room. Maybe it was my


    fault. I knew I was asking a loaded question, and with it hanging now in the air, I felt the true weight of


    it.


    I very nearly took it back. I asked too much, got too personal. I should take it back.


    Or he could just lie. I wanted him to, if that meant this terrible moment would end.


    He looked at me, and then he said, “Nichs stole my first love. Her name was Bridget.”


    My thoughts fizzled out. Nichs. stole.. Julian’s love? That seemed so impossible! Nichs dated


    some before me, I remembered him talking about it some. But he had always said his previous


    rtionships had never included anything serious.


    I didn’t think he would lie to me about that.


    Had it been different from Julian’s perspective? Or was he lying to me now?


    Tiffany s


    startedughing. “You can’t expect us to believe that! No one, not even Prince Nichs, would


    be able to steal a woman away from you.”


    “You are very sweet,” Julian, said, smiling at her. He ced his elbow on the table and then his chin in


    his hand. “And you’ve yed right into my trap. Tell me more about how wonderful I am.”


    Tiffany indulged him at once. “You have the most beautiful eyes. And your wit is unmatched.”


    Julian continued to encourage her. “Go on. Don’t stop.”


    Veronica nced at me. She didn’t say a word and her face looked no different than before, yet I felt


    e she was giving me a vibe. Someone I knew she was telling me that Julian hadn’t been lying.


    had no reason to think that, really, other than a growing pit in my stomach, but it was what | believed.


    down, his unusual answer remained on my mind. Veronica and Tiff any ench


    pador. But I stayed behind.


    You have questions,” he said without looking at me. “You might as well ask them.”


    I traced the edge of the table with my fingers. “Were you telling the truth?”


    “Of course I was.” He turned, facing me. “Blue is my favorite color.”


    I ”


    I sighed. “You know that’s not what I meant.”


    “Do I? Veronica thought it important enough to ask that question first.”


    “She also asked your star sign and which of your cars is your favorite.”


    “All valid questions.” Heughed as he walked closer.


    I gave him a withering look.


    Just like that, hisugh turned bitter. “Don’t ask me questions you don’t actually want the answers to,


    Piper.”


    1 want to know, Julian. You and Nichs have been rivals for so long. I had no idea back in school that


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    the two of you were brothers. Rivalries are typical between siblings, but nothing like this hatred you


    seem


    to harbor for each other.”


    “Some things just aren’t meant to be sunshine and sparkles,” he said.


    “I just want to understand.”


    “You’re kicking a homet’s nest.” He ran a hand through his hair. Yet even as he removed his fingers, it


    returned as it was, attractively messy.


    1 care about you both. I want to know you both better.”


    Then the person you want to talk to isn’t me.” Julian’s smile slipped, just for a moment. “You want to


    know why he did it, ask him. Because honestly, Piper, you think you know him, but how well do you


    actually know about his past before you came around?”