Page 65 of Her Royal Highness
Lowering the book, I scowl at her over the top. “Flora—”
“No,” she says, waving a hand. “Just thought I’d offer. Consider it forgotten.”
But I don’t miss the way her eyes slide back to me when she thinks I’m not looking.
CHAPTER31
“If this is some kind of delayed hazing ritual, you’re all fired from being my friends,” I say, cautiously feeling my way down the hall. Sakshi has both hands clamped around my eyes while Perry holds my hand.
“No hazing,” he promises, “although I’m kind of surprised we didn’t get that here, come to think of it.”
“This place does seem like a peak hazing locale,” Sakshi agrees, and I would roll my eyes if they weren’t covered.
They came up to my room a few minutes ago, promising a “surprise,” and I should’ve known better than to offer myself up to them. Whatever this is, I have a feeling Flora is involved. It’s been a week since our conversation about the plane ticket, and while she hasn’t brought it up again, I know Flora doesn’t give up that easy.
Maybe that’s why I went so willingly with Saks and Perry.
I have a basic sense of where we are. We went down to the first floor, and I can hear the wheeze from that one radiator near the art studio that’s always acting up, but other than that,I am firmly Without a Clue as to what we’re doing down here.
I am, however, really certain that if we get caught, we will never get out of detention.
“Whatever this is,” I warn, “it better be worth it.”
“It is,” Perry promises, and then my nose picks up the smell of... sweet potatoes?
Yes, sweet potatoes with that burned-sugar smell of marshmallow, and over all that, the savory scent of sage.
“Guys,” I start, but then Sakshi drops her hands, and I blink.
We’re in the art classroom, and there, spread out on the desk, is a miniature Thanksgiving feast. I spot a small roast bird that’s not a turkey, but smells great, and a couple of china dishes, one heaped with macaroni and cheese, the other holding the beloved sweet potatoes with marshmallows. There’s also a pie and an ancient silver candelabra illuminating the whole thing, but my eyes are drawn to one thing and one thing only.
The girl standing behind the desk, beaming at me.
“Surprise!” Flora trills, clapping her hands together. She’s wearing jeans and a sweater, her hair loose around her face, and she’s smiling at me, a real smile, and I am surprised.
Not by the miniature Thanksgiving she’s made for me, though.
No, what surprises me is the sudden, jolting, and undeniable realization that even though I didn’t want to, I’ve fallen for an actual princess.
Flora’s smile drops slightly, her hands lowering. “Are you not pleased?” she asks, looking down at the food. “Did I get it wrong?”
I have to swallow before I’m able to speak. “No,” I reassureher, stepping forward. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Perry and Sakshi exchange a glance.
“No, it’s perfect,” I go on. “I mean, three actual weeks before Thanksgiving, but still. This is... I’m speechless.”
That smile lights up her face again, and my heart thuds so painfully in my chest I’m surprised no one can hear it. My head is spinning and my throat is so dry that I happily gulp down the can of soda Flora hands me.
I immediately regret that decision when a sort of flat bubble-gum taste hits my tongue, and I pull back the can to frown at it.
“Yeurgh.”
“That’s Irn-Bru, Scotland’s national drink, missy,” Flora says, all faux-offended as she takes the can back from me, and when our fingers brush, I swear I feel sparks.
But I make myself give her a look and say, “Didn’t you also think the stag was Scotland’s national animal? And look where that got us.”
“Look where it got us indeed,” Flora counters. “We’re friends now. We wouldn’t have been without that stupid stag.”
She has a point, but all I can think is that that must be where all this started. It wasn’t the laundry or the dance in the orangery or looking at my rocks together—it was that night up there on the hill that led to this moment, me realizing I’m into her. I should’ve seen it then, the way things changed between us.
