Page 24 of Introvert

I frowned. "Don't be embarrassed."

"Easy to say, princess."

My lips pulled down farther, but I kept my voice soft as I said, "There's nothing to be embarrassed about."

He shot me a dubious look.

"Everyone's looking for you, you know."

"And you found me."

For some reason, my heart thudded inside my chest.

"I did," I said.

His eyes narrowed as he searched my face. "Any chance you could forget about my…"

"Panic attack?"

"Yeah, right." Felix looked away, crossing his arms. "Thoseare a myth."

"No, they're really not. A lot of people get them. It's nothing to be ashamed of, Felix." I tilted myhead, studying him as he avoided my gaze. "But I can forget if you want."

Felix's head snapped in my direction.

"Yeah?" he said.

I nodded.

"Thanks, princess," he said gruffly.

"No problem." I shook my head. "But you probably shouldn't call me that."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm about as far from a princess as you can get," I said with a laugh, thinking about all my issues. "And no one else does. My family calls meRor—which is a kind of ironic—and to everyone else, it's Aurora."

Felix cocked his chin. "Does it bother you?"

"No, but—"

"Then I'll stick with princess."

I shook my head. "Why?"

"Just how I see you."

His words made my heart pound faster.

Which was ridiculous.

That could mean anything. Maybe he saw me as stuck-up or high maintenance.Or beautiful,my mind whispered. But what were the chances of that?

A second later, Felix's brow furrowed. "Was that you I heard?Before?"

Realizing what he meant, my cheeks went red. "Uh yeah, I wasn't feeling well."

His gaze seemed to sharpen, suddenly more alert. "Are you sick?"

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