Chapter 0458


    “I’m sorry…” I began.


    She shook her head minutely, wordlessly telling me that my reasons didn’t bother her. “ This is your


    chance to vent before I return to my studies.”


    I wouldn’t let this opportunity pass me by. “I assume you have heard the rumors about Julian and


    me…”


    “That you had sex in the woods, yes.”


    Her bluntness made me blush.


    I cleared my throat. “Yes, well… They aren’t true.” Then, I told her the rest. That, after running into


    Bridget in Nichs’s room, I needed an escape and Julian had offered one. I told her exactly what


    happened, some light flirting and some fun but no sex.


    Veronica listened quietly. When I had finished, she said, “Have you considered dating Julian for real?”


    The suggestion surprised me, since by nature of thepetition, Veronica was ultimately here to win


    Julian’s hand.


    I stared at her for a beat. “I thought you’d be relieved to know the rumors weren’t true.”


    Veronica hummed again. “I will admit that I have affection for Julian that could turn romantic if nurtured


    that way, but… if I must lose thispetition to someone, I wouldn’t; mind as much if it was you,


    Piper.”


    The admission warmed me. Veronica was a true friend.


    With this encouragement, I reflected inward and more thoroughly evaluated my feelings for Julian.


    “There is… temptation,” I said.


    Julian was handsome and funny, his smile was infectious, and he always kept me on my toes. Things


    were exciting with Julian, but he was also a bit wild and unpredictable. Sometimes hanging out with him


    felt like trying to hold onto a shooting star.


    “But.” I ced a hand to my chest. “My heart is with Nichs, and Julian’s heart with Bridget. We’ve


    both admitted that we’re heartbroken, and not sure how to move forward. I don’t even know if it’s


    possible.”


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    +15 BONUS


    Veronica finished her apple quietly, and then ced the knife to the side. She took some time, as if


    carefully considering her words, and then looked back to me.


    “Sometimes broken hearts need each other to heal,” she said.


    I tried to imagine it: holding Julian’s hand, cuddling beside him, kissing him…


    The thoughts weren’t… terrible. But each one left a certain hollowness in my chest.


    As much as I liked Julian, I would rather be holding Nichs’s hand, or cuddling Nichs, or kissing


    Nichs.


    While I appreciated Veronica’s words, I wasn’t so convinced by them.


    Later, after leaving Veronica in search of Elva and her nanny, I peeked out into the gardens and saw


    Nichs there.


    He still looked angry, his hands clenched into fists. The hard set of his jaw seemed permanently fixed.


    His mouth was curved down into a frown. 1


    A bit of pain stabbed


    My heart. I hated seeing him this way.


    Maybe I should speak to him. Bridget said to stay away, and I knew I should. But if any of this anger


    was because of me


    or because of the misunderstanding of what happened


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    between Julian and mest night, then I really should clear the air.


    I’d let him want to keep his distance from me, if that was what he wished. But I wouldn’t have it be


    because of a lie.


    Resolved, I stepped forward.


    Yet, at that same moment, Bridget stepped to his side from the other side of the brush. She ced her


    hand on his shoulder, and I had suddenly seen enough and turned away.


    It wasn’t my ce tofort Nichs anymore.


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