Page 45 of Broken Prince

“It’s okay, Jude. You have the right to have a friendship with Luca.”

“I know, but it’s okay if you want to. I’ll go get the books in my room.”

I waited a grand total of eight seconds after he went in before reaching for the pile of books on the back seat.

The letter was folded in half just in the cover of the first one.

Kiddo,

I’m glad you decided to keep on writing and I’m proud of you for sticking up for yourself. Being small is not an issue, it’s an advantage. Let people underestimate you, it will serve you, believe me.

I know you are questioning everything but sometimes there is just no way to explain. I can’t tell you why your parents did what they did. What made them that way or if they will ever feel guilty, but know something I am certain of. What they are is not what makes you. What they did doesn’t define you.

Look at your sister, so fierce, strong, and courageous. Your parents are not half the woman she is. Read this book and see that it is not where you come from that defines you but rather who you want to be.

I’d like to tell you that things get easier when you grow up, that you can spot the villain just by his black cape and the good guy with his sheriff star, but this is not life and I’m sorry kiddo. I truly am.

You can be a villain with good intentions and honor and you can be a good man who slips at the first hardship.

I traced the words with my thumb. ‘A villain with good intentions,’ that was what Luca was, I was sure of it. He had a good heart no matter how much he was trying to fight it. How was I supposed to resist him? Stop myself from pinning for him?

I looked up to see Jude and Amy approaching the car with a bag. I put the letter back in the book.

“Here are the books,” Jude chimed, extending me the bag.

I exchanged the books from one bag to the other. “Thank you. I- Oh! I forgot I baked a birthday cake and—” I looked up at Amy. “Maybe you can take it in and share it?” I looked down at Jude and winked. “It’s red velvet.”

Amy nodded eagerly. “We’ll never say no to cake.”

“Perfect.” I leaned down to kiss Jude’s head. “I’ll call you Saturday. Love you.”

“Love you too!”

I waited for them to go back in the building before going to collect the pizza.

By the time I reached the property, it was raining buckets, and I was worried about the bulbs that were delivered today.

I rested the pizza on the kitchen table and rushed outside just to see Luca, soaked to the bone, running inside the greenhouse with the bulbs.

I felt guilty. “No, it’s okay, leave it!” I shouted. “I’ll come and do it.”

Luca motioned me to stay behind as he finished.

I rushed into the laundry room and waited for him by the door with a big towel.

When Luca came back he was shivering. He grabbed the towel and tried to dry himself off.

“It won’t work like that. You better go change your clothes.”

He nodded. “Yes, I’ll be right back.”

“Thank you,” I said before he exited the kitchen.

He waved his hand dismissively. “It was nothing; it took me five minutes.”

I shook my head. “Yes, thanks for that but also for my brother. I know it’s you.” I walked toward him. “You don’t know what it means to me.”

He looked down at me, his eyes indescribable. “I’m glad I could help.”

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