Page 72 of Royal Deception
The response comes back almost immediately.
Ana: I’m free. Let’s meet at the cafe in 20?
Perfect.
I rise from the bed and head to my suitcase. Instead of the pencil skirt and blouse I usually wear to the office, I pull out a white ruffled dress, a pink sweater, and nude Mary Janes. It feels freeing, moreme, and for the first time in ages, I feel good about myself.
The walk to the coffee shop feels like the longest part of my day, but when I finally step inside and see Ana sitting at a table, a sense of relief settles over me.
Ana stands up as I approach, and we hug before the two of us sit down. I can already tell that she knows something’s up. She’s too perceptive, and she doesn’t even need to ask.
I look at her, feeling a wave of guilt wash over me. “I’m sorry,” I start, my voice tight. “I should’ve listened to you. I thought I could handle it, but I couldn’t. I should’ve been smarter about everything. You were just looking out for me.”
Ana reaches across the table, placing her hand on mine. Her expression softens. “Clary, don’t. You’ve been through a lot. I’m sorry I wasn’t more supportive before. I just wanted you to see what I was seeing, but I should’ve been there for you more.”
I squeeze her hand, feeling the weight of her words sink in. “I shouldn’t have kept everything from you. I’ve been holding it all in, trying to keep up this façade, and it’s just made everything worse.” I let out a breath, not realizing how much I needed to get it off my chest. “I didn’t want to admit that I was in over my head.”
Ana leans back in her chair, letting out a small laugh. “We’re both idiots, huh?”
I can’t help but smile, the warmth of her presence making me feel a little lighter. “Maybe. But we’re figuring it out, right?”
She nods, her eyes soft with understanding. “Yeah, we are. And you’re going to be okay, Clary. We’ll make sure of it.”
Ana stirs her tea, her eyes flicking from the cup to me. “So, what’s been going on with you?”
I take a deep breath and glance at the table. "I broke things off with that guy,” I say quietly. “He wasn’t serious enough. I don’t think he ever really understood what we had, and I couldn’t keep pretending it was fine. It’s better this way.”
Ana looks at me with a mix of surprise and sympathy. “I’m sorry, Clary. But I get it. You deserve someone who actually sees you, who’s ready for the same things.”
I nod, but the words catch in my throat. “What about you? You’ve been quiet.”
She fidgets with the handle of her mug, hesitating. Finally, she looks up, her voice a little softer. “Things aren’t great with my boyfriend, either. He’s been missing dates, showing up late, and when we do talk, it’s like he’s not even present. I don’t even know if I’m a priority anymore.”
My heart sinks. I’ve seen Ana put so much into her relationship with him. “He’s not seeing what he has, Ana. If he can’t make time for you, he doesn’t deserve you. You deserve someone who will be there, no matter what.”
She looks down at her tea, her hands tightening around the mug. After a long pause, she finally says, “Maybe you’re right. We come from such different worlds. I guess I’ve been holding on to the idea of what we could be rather than what we actually are.”
I place a hand over hers, offering comfort. “If he can’t see you, then it’s time to move on. You’ll find someone who will.”
Ana exhales slowly, her smile a little sad. “Yeah. It might be for the best.”
I hug her, feeling her warmth and the sense of connection between us. “You’ll be okay. And so will I,” I whisper.
“Yeah,” she says, pulling away with a determined look in her eyes. “And I promise to make more time for you, okay?”
I smile and squeeze her hand as we part ways.
As I step out of the cafe, the cool breeze hits me, and for a moment, I let the fresh air clear my head. But before I can take another step, a familiar voice cuts through the calm.
“Well, well. If it isn’t little Miss Clarissa,” Kate says, her voice dripping with something I can’t quite place. I freeze, feeling a cold shiver run down my spine. When I turn to face her, that smug, shit-eating grin is plastered across her face, her eyes gleaming with something unpleasant.
“What do you want, Kate?” I ask, my voice flat, even though my stomach is twisting in knots.
She steps closer, cold, gray eyes flicking up and down my figure, clearly enjoying the discomfort she’s causing. “I know the truth, Clary. You lied. Your man Rory doesn’t know he’s the father of your baby, does he?”
I feel my pulse quicken, panic bubbling up in my chest. My mind races, but I don’t have an answer for her. She’s got me cornered.
“What the hell are you talking about?” I try to sound casual, but it comes out more like a desperate plea.
