Page 45 of The Royal Flame
I need to tell her about mine and Finn’s plan.
I kick the door shut. “Tell me you’re okay first.”
“I’m fine. Sorry I shut my phone off. I just… I don’t know, freaked out. I’m sure you’ve already heard, but I punched Eli in the face.”
“No, you didn’t.”
‘Um, yeah, I did. We were in the hallway and he was being a jerk. I was upset and punched him in the face.”
“No, you didn’t,” I repeat. “I erased that from every happening.”
“What? How?”
“I talked to the principal about it and then had Noah erase the video footage. The principal is looking into it right now, but all she’ll see on the footage is Eli falling. And if anyone asks, you were with me and my father most of the day.”
The line grows quiet, except for the sound of her soft breathing.
“Why would you do that for me?” she asks. “After you broke up with me.”
I lean against the front door and close my eyes. “I know this will make me sound awful, but I need to be honest. I don’t want to break up with you, but I’m also not okay with putting your life at risk so I can selfishly be with you. I want to be with you… So damn badly.” I close my eyes, focusing on the breaths I’m taking. “But I can’t be with you like that until I know you’re safe. Finn and I have came up with a plan to shut my father up, but it might take a while, and I’ll understand if you don’t want to wait around for me. Or if you don’t want to be with me anymore because of how messed up I’ve been toward you.”
“You haven’t been messed up to me,” she whispers softly.
“I have. I broke up with you. Hurt you. And I’m in an arranged marriage.” I pinch the brim of my nose. It hurts to say all of this, but it’s the truth. “You deserve better than me.”
The quietness that follows is maddening.
Did she hang up on me?
No, I can still hear her breathing.
“I think maybe you should let me decide that.” The sound of her sweet voice makes my body warm all over.
“You’re right. I’m sorry for trying to make decisions for you. If anyone should know how much that sucks, it’s me.” I almost ask her what she wants, but am too afraid.
“Look,” she says through a heavy sigh. “I get why you broke up with me and why you’re worried about dating me. But you said you and Finn came up with a plan, so why don’t you workon that and for now, we can be friends. Because I really need a friend right now.”
It’s not what I want, but it’s for the best at the moment.
“Where are you anyway??” I ask, opening my eyes and pushing away from the door.
“I’m at the bus station in north side,” she divulges. “Waiting for a bus that’ll take me back to The Royal City.”
I grind to a halt. “You’re by yourself in north side? Does your bodyguard know you’re there?”
“No.” A drop of guilt seeps into her tone. “But I’m headed back now. I have to take a few buses, so I’ll be a bit. But I promise I’m safe. I have my taser and everything?—”
“You’re at the bus stop in north side right now, right?” I grab my car keys and wallet off the end table. “How long until your bus leaves?”
“About an hour,” she says. “I swear I’m safe, though. I’m sitting in the waiting area and people are around.”
I start for the door. “I’ll be there in a half an hour.”
“River, you don’t have to come get me?—”
“Yeah, I do. Call it a selfish move, but I won’t be able to relax until I know you’re okay.”
She exhales loudly through the phone. “Whatever, Gothic Prince, if that’s what you need to do, then fine.”
