Page 43 of Take My Crown

“Thank you,” I say.

“It’s just a movie,” Archer replies.

“It might be just a movie to you, but it’s been a breath of fresh air for me,” I tell him truthfully. “This is just what I needed. It’s funny. If you’d said to me even a week ago that I would go on a date with you and enjoy myself, I’d have laughed in your face. But now, all I’m wondering is…”

“What?”

“When can we do this again?”

Chapter Twenty-One

Ivy Archaic

“Tell me all about your date!” Milly is positively bouncing with excitement as she confronts me in the common room at school. “I want to know every little detail.”

“Hasn’t Archer already told you what happened?”

“No. Duh!” Milly rolls her eyes and shakes her head. “Archer doesn’t kiss and tell. He has never told me what happened between the two of you. But you will, won’t you? I mean, we are best friends and all.”

“There’s not an awful lot to tell,” I say.

“Don’t be like that,” Milly pouts. “I know something happened. I’ve never seen Archer so happy.”

“Yeah… well…” I smile shyly. “I kind of feel the same way.”

“Iknewit!” Milly claps her hands. “You two are perfect for each other.”

“What’s this?” Declan walks up next to us, interrupting our conversation. “You two seem really deep in conversation. Is there some juicy bit of gossip I should know about?”

“No,” I say, just as Milly burst out with, “Ivy and Archer are dating!”

“Dating, huh?” Declan raises an eyebrow. Is it my imagination or does he look slightly disappointed and angry?

“It’s not any of your business,” I snap.

“Au contraire,my musical partner,” Declan says. “We’re working together on a really important project. I need to know if there’s anything going on in your life which might impact on your ability to focus on your work.”

“I’m perfectly focused, thank you very much,” I reply. “And for the record, no, Archer and Iaren’tdating.”

“You’re not?” Milly’s face falls.

“Or maybe we are.” I shrug. “I don’t know. We haven’t had that conversation yet.”

“If I were you, I wouldn’t have that conversation at all,” Declan advises. “The Knights are bad news. Archer’s only using you.”

“Says you? That’s rich, Declan,” Milly snaps.

He ignores Milly, looking straight at me. “Do yourself a favour, Ivy. Stay away from the Knights. You’ll only get hurt.”

“Don’t listen to him,” says Milly. “Declan’s such an arsehole.”

“I know,” I say, thinking back to our kiss. Milly doesn’t know what happened between us, so I can’t tell her that Declan’s comments came from jealousy. But he is the one with the girlfriend. It isn’t my fault he cheated on her. I’m sure that if he thought he could get away with it, he would have taken things further with me.

Declan is the one who would hurt me if I let him, not Archer.

“So, do you still want to know what happened the other night?” I ask Milly, wanting to cheer her up.

“Obviously!”

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