Page 76 of Broken Princess

Hello rock, meet hard place. “What I mean is, you should go.”

The change from calm to ice happens fast. “So now that your entourage, is coming, you don’t need me to hang out with. Is that it?”

“You’ve got it all wrong.”

“Do I? Because you’re the one who showed up at my door, saying you’re stuck in town doing your princely duties and bored out of your goddamn mind. You begged me to leave my sister, get dressed and come hang out with you. But now that the people you actuallyliketo spend time with in public are on their way here, I’m dismissed.”

“I’m not dismissing you, I’m protecting you.”

“From learning the truth again? Logan, I wake up every day thinkingthisis the day I’ll find out what you’re really up to. Like the girl said. What are you really doing with me?” She steps aways shaking her head. “And yes, that was a rhetorical question, because I already know the answer. You’re scratching an itch, and so am I.”

“That’s not what the hell I’m doing.”

“No? Then, is there a reason you don’t want your friends to see us together?”

Yes, but not one I can give that won’t end up with her thinking the worse about me. “I told you, I’m trying to protect you.”

“I can protect myself. Look I’ll demonstrate by walking away from you and this disastrous evening.”

Twenty-Nine

Logan

I’ve just finished my last midterm, and all I want to do is snatch Jordanna out of class and take us some place where we can be alone, and talk. My birthday is this weekend and for the first time since I was sixteen, I wish I could just skip the whole damn thing. My head’s just not into partying with my friends and family the way we usually do, especially since Simon won’t be here this year to join in. But it’s tradition, and I can’t stick my middle finger up at tradition.

I’ve conjured her up somehow, because here she is in the middle of the quad, having a snowball fight with her friends. I lean against a tree, watching her laugh and duck and dodge and throw. My lips pull into a grin. I love seeing her like this.Happy. But I hate that it comes at the expense of her hanging out with her grad school friends. I should be throwing snowballs and chasing her around the quad, tackling her in the snow. And afterwards, we should be disappearing together to my dorm for warm cider, hot showers and even hotter sex.

I pull my phone out of my pocket, hitting the third number on speed dial. “I need some advice.”

I spent thirty minutes on the phone with Simon, and he said exactly what I thought he’d say. That I feel guilty because I’m still not being completely honest with Jordannaandmyself. It’s not like this time I’m deceiving her. I just don’t know how she’ll react if she knows everything, and that has my stomach tied up in knots. Things are already so unstable between us. This could push her away.

My phone chimes as I’m fixing a drink.

I know it’s your birthday this weekend and I’m still pissed at you for ditching me at the club, and no, I didn’t get you a gift. But I’m not a total ogre. How about dinner and if you grovel enough, I might let you have me for desert. Meet me tomorrow at eight?

She wants to take me out for my birthday. The excitement I feel reading the text is short lived because I can’t go.

What are you saying? Unwrapping you is a gift. Tomorrow’s no good. How about Sunday?

You’re passing on a chance for sex?

No, I have plans that I can’t get out of.

Plans, huh? Is she prettier than me?

Is she jealous?

Nobody’s prettier than you except my little sister.

And yet I don’t think you’re ditching me for her.

There’s this thing we all do for my birthday. We start the night before and are still partying when midnight rolls around and there’s no way I can get out of it.

I might be persuaded to show up if you ask nicely.

You’d be uncomfortable sitting around with us, but I’m glad you’re finally admitting you want to spend time with me. I’ll call you tomorrow.

Ok then, Happy Birthday.

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