Page 42 of The King's Fake Bride

People gravitate toward Amy like they have to be in her orbit. She welcomes them like they’ve always been there.

And then, when she looks at me, I tuck the bottle of water into my back pocket and join her.

Maybe she has a thing or two to teach me, too.

Amy dangles her heels from one finger, laughing as we walk home, the sun rising behind the cliffs. “You should’ve seen your face when you saw me up on that table.”

“I’m sure it would’ve been picture-worthy.” I grin down at her, stopping to take off my shoes. “Here, wear these. It’s a long walk back to the castle.”

She smiles and puts on the shoes before falling into step with me. “I’m sorry that we took off from security. I know you must’ve been scared when you got the call.”

“I was worried that something was going to happen to you.”

“Nothing did.” Amy nudges me with her hip, sending me to one side. “I am sorry, though. I know you worry.”

“Why did the two of you do it?” I ask, my tone gentle.

Her head tilts back slightly as she looks at the streaks of pink and orange creeping across the sky. “I don’t know who I am. I don’t think I’ve ever known. It just feels like I have to keep moving forward. Like I can never stop and take a moment to figure myself out.”

“You’re more than welcome to take the time now.”

“I’m not, though.”

Guilt burrows in my chest. I was the one who dragged her into this life. I put her in front of the public and told them I was going to marry her. In all of this, I was the one who set the terms and dangled what she wanted most in the world in front of her.

And right now, I hate myself for it.

“Do you ever think that we should call the marriage off?” I ask, my voice wavering a little at the thought. “I know that this can’t be what you wanted for yourself, and I know that it’s not what I wanted either.”

“You’ve asked me before if I think we should call this whole thing off, and I still don’t think we should.” She glances at me from the corner of her eye before kicking a small rock in the road to the side.

“Why not? Are you happy?”

“Yeah, I am.”

“Why?”

Even though I know that pressing her could backfire on me, I like her too much to keep up this charade if it’s too much for her.

I don’t want us to end up resenting each other.

Just because I know I have to stay away from her and keep my feelings out of it doesn’t mean I want to lose her as a friend.

Amy shrugs. “This is the most freedom I’ve ever had in my life. I don’t have to worry about making rent on an apartment I hate. There’s not a single night I spend dreading going to work the next day. I have a chance at getting everything I’ve ever wanted. And to be honest, even when you’re avoiding me, I still think you need someone as much as I do.”

“I’m not avoiding you on purpose,” I say quickly, though the lie is bitter on my tongue.

Amy scoffs, amusement shining in her eyes as her gaze connects with mine. “Yes, you are, and that’s fine. For now. I know that this is the loss of your freedom. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked you to be celibate through our marriage.”

“If that’s what you asked of me, we’re doing a horrible job at that.”

“It’s just sex.” Her cheeks turn a deep shade of pink. “There doesn’t have to be any more meaning beyond it than that. We’re two adults who enjoy each other’s company, and we can continue to do so for the duration of the marriage.”

“You sound like you’re reading the words directly from a contract.” My tone is teasing as I reach out and tug on a loose strand of her hair, curly from her dancing in the warm club.

“I’m not. I’ve just never done the whole friends-with-benefits thing before. I’ve never had time. It’s more long-term, sad relationships that fizzle out over the course of a year at most.”

“I don’t think you can call those long-term, then.”

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