Chapter 0474 When our lovemaking was done, Nichs held me in his arms under the covers of the bed. Despite the bliss running through my veins, now that the deed was done, I also felt a wave of... guilt.


    I didn’t know if Nichs and Bridget were together. Maybe they were, maybe they weren''t. But probably should have rified that before I jumped into bed with him like some kind of thirsty harlot.


    My moralpass seemed to fly out the window when it came to Nichs.


    ’d pretty much do anything to keep him in my life.


    “you''re quiet,” Nichs said. Hebed his fingerszily through my


    hair as Iid, half-draped, over his chest.


    “I was just thinking...” I began, but lost my nerve to say more.


    “About what?” Nichs prompted.


    I should have known he wouldn’t let this go so easily. “About you...” I said.


    A pause. Then I added, “And Bridget.” Nichs sighed.


    ?ghe warned me that the two of you are together,” I said. I wasn’t able to stop the words, now that the dam had been broken. “She said it would be for the best if I stayed away from you.” Nichs’s hand stilled. It had just passed through my hair and was now sitting on the edge of my shoulder.


    “She said that to you?” @? “Yes.” I lifted my head, to look himin _ § the eye. “Was she telling the truth?” “I haven’t made any decisions,” Nichs said.


    He held my gaze so I knew that was the truth, but I also could tell there was much more to the story than simply that. I waited patiently for him to continue. I wasn’t waiting long.


    “My parents are convinced Bridget is the best choice for my Luna,” Nichs said. “They are being very insistent.


    They even talking to Bridget about it, which is why she’s so confident.” He sighed again, and this time it came out harsher. I could sense his frustration.


    “So many people think they have a right to decide everything for me. It was bad enough when it was just my parents. But now to have Bridget in the mix? She is my friend. She always has been, but she is suddenly demanding more of me. She wants promises I''m not ready to make.” Not ready, he said. That didn’t mean he was outright refusing her or outright refusing any of it. He just needed more time to think about it.


    It wasn’t the dismissal of Bridget that I wanted, but... I always knew that Nichs would choose the crown before anyone or anything else, including me. That he would need to think carefully was no shock. And that he wouldn''t want to immediately dismiss Bridget when she was such a promising candidate wasn’t shocking


    either.


    It still stung, though. Somedays I half- wished Nichs would throw it all aside and choose me over everything else, but that was an entirely selfish notion. And Nichs was too good of a man to do that.


    So, for now, I clung onto what I could of him, and tried to enjoy him for as long as I could have him.


    Which led my thoughts to this trip.


    “Nichs,” I began.


    ?Hm?” That showed he was listening.


    “What if, since we are on vacation, we... pretended to be different people?” He considered the words a moment.


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    “What do you mean?” ‘Maybe what we both really need is a break. A break from worries and responsibilities. We''re on vacation. We don’t need to worry so much here. Why don’t we try being other people? People who aren’t a prince and amoner.” Heughed a little, and I knew I was winning him over.


    “Who would we be?” he asked.


    “Just two regr people on equal footing,” I said. “Without any cares.


    Two people who just want to drink boat drinks and watch the waves hit the sand.”