Page 36 of How to Date a Prince

“What?” Now his frown deepens even more. “What the actual fuck, Auggie?”

Oh my God. Instant goose bumps appear when he says my name. I try to suck back a deep breath, but I’m spiraling too much for oxygen right now. I feel light-headed.

“That’s fucking ridiculous! Have you lost it?” Thomas’ gaze sears. “You have a girlfriend. We went for a walk. You’re totally, totally overreacting. I don’t even know you?—”

“Good. Don’t get to know me either.” My eyes flash, but my hands tremble. I shove them deep in my pockets.

Our gazes blaze, riveted on each other, unyielding. He clenches his jaw.

Then, there’s hurt in his eyes for a fleeting moment. Who knows what he sees in mine. Everything’s gone up like an out-of-control wildfire.

He opens his mouth to say something, but he stops short. Instead, he opens the back door and storms out, slamming it shut behind him.

I head back inside, my head reeling from the rush of our confrontation, the careening feelings about Thomas shifting to utter panic that the crew recorded us and our conversation on the walk.

Nobody can know I’m gay.

ChapterFourteen

Back in my rooms, I pace and pace the large suite, threatening to wear a hole in the antique crimson rug. There’s no way to sit still: it’s a disaster. And Thomas is a bloody influencer too. I’m officially done for. After an hour of thinking in circles, I dial Katie. I need the insights of someone who knows me well, all the bad along with the good.

“I’m sorry to ring so late. I didn’t think of the time,” I blurt. It’s after 10:00 p.m. “And I’m sorry to call to bother you, but I don’t know what to do.” There’s a note—or possibly two—of growing hysteria in my voice.

“What’s happened?” Katie demands.

I screw up my face. I take a long breath in. “It’s the show. I might’ve accidentally, not on purpose, err… outed myself to my archnemesis.”

I’m rewarded with dead silence. Which, frankly, isn’t very rewarding at all. I shake my head, gazing out the window. The stars are out in force now. All the lights are off in my room, the curtains still tied back. I’ve left the windows open for a breeze. Somewhere out there is Thomas, likely plotting the downfall of the kingdom with his family. Probably some kind of heist to spring the ravens from the Tower, because superstition is what truly rules.

“You did what?” Katie asks at last.

“You heard me.” I cough lightly, fidgeting. I shift my legs against the crinkle of the pale linen bedsheets. “I’m truly done for.”

“And, please tell me, since when do you have an archnemesis?”

“Since now. Since a while, really. Thomas Golden,” I say meaningfully, “is an abolitionist. You warned me, in fact.”

“You outed yourself to Thomas Golden?” Katie’s voice rises. “After everything that happened—at the club. And… after?” She sounds both horrified and fascinated. “Auggie?—”

“It’s a very serious problem.” I frown. “I’m in deep crisis. Whose side are you on here?”

“Yours, obviously.” She laughs, and that’s not reassuring either. “Now, does it go against your NDA to tell me about how you outed yourself to him? Or do I wait till the show airs to find out the gruesome details?”

“No!” I sit up fully in alarm. “It was an, err, extracurricular outing. Shit. That sounds even worse. We only went on a walk together. After filming supposedly wrapped for the day. After dinner.”

“You went on a post-dinner walk together by accident with your so-called archnemesis?” Katie prompts in a rising squeak. “What, you caught the sunset together? That sounds a lot like a date. Did you make out? Don’t tell me. Auggie, I’m not sure I’m the right person?—”

I blush. “No! It’s definitely not a date, not even close. Who said anything about watching a sunset together? And obviously, no making out. This isn’t school,” I add hurriedly, while part of me wonders if she has me under drone surveillance. “Besides, it’s not your business if we watched any celestial or lunar events together. It’s unfortunately part of the airtight NDA we’ve signed. My honor and fierce penalties ride on this.”

“Mmhm. I see.” Katie is quiet for a long moment, giving me ample opportunity to wear a hole through the cuff of my sleeve. “What, he caught you wanking on the walk? How did you out yourself?”

“Nice. I can keep my cock tucked away once in a while. No, it’s thanks to a poor joke I made. And, well, context is everything. And then I said I had a maybe-girlfriend?—”

“Which is obviously why you’re calling me. Quite flattering, by the way—” Katie rightfully sounds hurt. My guts twist.

“—and it turns out he doesn’t have a girlfriend at all. Not even a maybe-girlfriend. And Katie, I’m so sorry. I—I didn’t even correct him about you. And then we were filmed together. Me and Thomas.”

“Wait. What?” Katie’s frown is audible. “What about the influencer he was with? Well, I suppose I can figure that out from the way he looked at you at the club, mind you…” She stops. “What do you mean you were filmed together? Doing what exactly?”

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