Page 24 of Will You (Not) Marry Me

FINN

Eva’s show of support the night before had been unexpected to say the least. The smile she’d worn as he’d reluctantly shown her his sketchbook was genuine. Finn was sure of that, and warmth rippled down his limbs whenever he thought of it now. That smile being directed at his drawings. At him. He wanted to find more ways to bring that smile out of her.

Their conversation had devolved towards the end, with Eva running off back to her room. It hadalmostbecome another fight. But only almost. In favor of moving forward and not losing the ground he’d somehow managed to win with her, Finn decided to ignore her strange mixed messages from the night before. Her talk of him being an artist and a king. Her backtracking when he’d thrown the same idea back at her. Her fidgeting. Like she’d been caught out in something. Her split personality was crumbling before his eyes now that they were away from the palace and their families.

He couldn’t pin her down. Maybe it was some weird sort of social anxiety? Like the bullies and bad guys in children’s books who secretly turned out to be a hero or a princess all along. At any rate, he wasn’t any sort of psychologist and trying to unravel the mystery that was Eva Nilsson was giving him a headache.

So for now, he would just move forward and save himself the mental gymnastics.

He thought about it all as he made breakfast, needing a substantial amount of bacon and eggs to deal with his mostly sleepless night. Once the smell of it started to waft through the house, Eva was lured out, watching him as she leaned against the island in the middle of the kitchen area.

“I’m making extra if you want some?” he offered.

Eva smiled softly and nodded. “Yes, thanks. That would be nice.”

There was an uneasy truce between them now. There was no real going back to before, not now that he’d seen her photographs and she’d seen his drawings.

Kindness, all she needed was kindness.

He dished up their food and they sat down at the dining table, the silence not uncomfortable for once.

“You cook well,” Eva said a few bites into her breakfast.

Finn smiled at the unprompted compliment. “Thanks. It’s nice to be able to get the chance to do it.”

“And not have servants treating you like a baby,” she said, sounding like she knew exactly how he felt. It was nice to hear her annoyed at someone other than him.

“Yes,” he said, his smile widening. “Or even if they’re happy for you to come into the kitchen and do what you want—”

“Then your family thinks you’re insane for wanting to do something yourself?”

“Yes.” He laughed.

“That was the best thing about moving out,” Eva said, eating more bacon. “Being able to cook and clean and learn how to do all that stuff for myself. To know that I could take care of myself like a proper adult, you know?”

“That sounds nice,” said Finn. It was rare to find someone who understood, or someone who admitted to understanding at least.

“You’re welcome to clean up after me while we’re here if that makes you feel better,” Eva said. But this time it was an actual joke and not a mean-spirited barb at him.

Finn chuckled. “You’re so generous.”

“I know, right?”

He liked this version of Eva. She was sarcastic, yes, but funny and genuine all at the same time.

He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to stave off a headache. Eva eyed him suspiciously.

“Did you go to bed at all last night?” she asked.

“Eventually…”

“You work too hard,” she said simply. But it was true. He did.

“It’s not like I really have a choice, sadly,” Finn said, trying to sound cheerful about the situation.

There was a quiet moment between them before Eva spoke up again.

“I get off a little easier, being lower rank, you know? I’m not really in line for the throne. A lot of bad things would have to happen for me to end up in charge. I think that’s why my brother has always partied too hard, you know? It’s how he deals with the pressure of it all… It must be hard. Being crown prince, I mean.”

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