Chatper 359


    Chapter 0359


    Slowly, Julian moved his arm forward, cing his hand onto my shoulder instead.


    In my head, Imanded myself, Don’t go stiff. Don’t


    go


    stiff. Don’t


    go


    stiff.


    If I cared for Julian romantically, I would be pleased by this clear sign of ownership and affection. So I


    tried to y the part and smile. It felt uneasy on my lips.


    God, I was such a terrible liar. The cameras were likely capturing my awkwardness.


    I had to try harder. I really had to sell my feelings for Julian.


    I took a breath, giving myself a moment to think. If Nichs had done this instead of Julian, how would


    I have reacted?


    It wouldn’t be the same, but if I was ying pretend…


    I imagined Julian to be Nichs, and that it was Nichs’s arm around me.


    Then I smiled for real.


    Julian’s own smile slipped. He blinked, his eyes wide for a moment. He swallowed hard.


    On the other side of the table, Olivia was speaking softly, asking Nichs things such as, ” Perhaps we


    can try again at dinner?” Or, “Would you like to go for a walk when we are done here?”


    Nichs gave no reply to either of those questions.


    my breath Curious, I nted my gaze toward him. The ferocity of his re stole looked as if he wanted


    to take Julian’s head clear off his shoulders with his bare hands.


    away. He


    Julian, seeing Nichs’s expression as I did, just smirked wider.


    A second more, and Nichs’s gaze slid to me instead. It instantly softened. My heart turned to goo at


    the sight.


    1. to.


    es were so full of affection that I couldn’t look away even if I’d want


    I remembered, rather suddenly, that I wanted to.


    Or, at least, I was supposed to u


    Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    How was my n to dote all of i


    kept looking at me like that?


    1. to.


    my affection onto Julian supposed to work when Nichs


    I knew then that I needed to speak with him again. If he knew the danger he was causing simply by


    looking at me like that, then surely he would stop.


    For the good of the kingdom, and all that…


    1/2


    I waited until our double date was officially over. When both Julian and Olivia were pandering to


    different cameras, I slunk back into the shadows and asked Nichs, “Can we talk?”


    He didn’t say anything, just nodded, and led me toward the foyer. A series of closets lined one wall.


    There was chatter around, but no one in the direct vicinity. No one would see us talking here.


    “You have to stop,” I said.


    He stared at me. He didn’t say a word.


    Maybe he was waiting for me to rify myself.


    “You look at me like you love me,” I said. “And the cameras see it. Charlotte said the public has been


    able to tell. That some of them are rooting for me and you instead of me and Julian. So it has to stop,


    Nick. When we’re in front of the cameras, you have to, to…”


    I didn’t know how else to say it. He was still quiet, still staring.


    “Maybe just don’t look at me when they are near,


    I said.


    He licked his lips. Was he even listening to me?


    My frustration began to spike. “You know what? Forget it. Do what you want.”


    I started to turn, ready to walk away from him, from everything. If he couldn’t stop, then I’d just have to


    avoid him. I could talk to Julian about it. If we could get on the same page, then


    Nichs grabbed my wrist. With his other hand, he reached for one of the closets and opened it. He


    yanked me inside, then closed the door behind us. (2)


    Before I could even realize what was happening, his mouth was on mine.


    And I was lost.