Page 104 of The Prince of Broken Crowns

He wavers. “Or old.”

“You’re pretty set on it being real,” I joke in an attempt to lighten the mood. “You hoping I’m a royal, pretty boy? That way, you don’t have to spend time with a girl from northside.”

He continues to inspect the pendant. “I like hanging out with you, Maddy, whether you’re from northside or a royal. It doesn’t matter to me. I just like you.”

I’m unsure if he knows how much his words affect me. They do, to the point where my legs feel shaky. I could say something snarky back, crack a joke, tease the hell out of him. It’d help me regain my bearings. But I can’t seem to find words—like any. So, I end up standing there silently until he’s done looking over the necklace.

“We’ll have to take it to a jewelry specialist to find out if it’s authentic.” He hands me back the necklace. “My mom can probably set us up with someone.”

I slip the necklace into my jacket pocket. “What’re you going to tell her it’s for?”

“The truth. She won’t judge or anything like that. That’s my father’s thing. Not hers.”

“Lily is having her help me get a job with this event planner she knows.”

“Stephanie?” he asks.

“They didn’t tell me her name.” I grab my phone and scan the light around my room, wondering if I want to take anything with me.

“It’s probably Stephanie. She’s nice.”

“That’s good. I’ve had a couple of nice bosses and a couple of power trippers, so I can have the shitty ones, but I’d rather not have to.” I glance at him. “Have you ever worked before?”

“My father makes Finn and I intern at his office during the summers.” He slips his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “We don’t get paid, but we have enough money that it doesn’t matter. Although, working for him sucks because it’s just a reminder of where my future is heading.”

“You’re taking over his business?”

“Yep. Right after I get married,” he bites out the words as he stares at the wall where a collage of photos are taped up. “Is that your mom?” He changes the subject as he shines the light on a photo of me and my aunt.

We’re standing in front of a waterfall after she took me for a hike. It was the one and only time I’ve gone hiking, and it was a nice day, full of no worries. But then we returned home, and she and my mother got into a fight about my mother leaving drugs all over the house.

“That’s my aunt Ellie actually.” I step up beside him. “She’s the one who gave me the necklace.”

“She looks a lot like you,” he says, glancing at me.

“People say that a lot, and I can see it.”

“She’s pretty.”

“Is that your way of saying I’m pretty?” I smirk.

“Well, I called you beautiful like three times tonight, so I think it’s pretty clear I find you attractive.” He looks away, his eyes wide, as if he didn’t mean to say that. “What about this photo? Is that an old boyfriend?”

When I note the photo he’s looking at, I snort a laugh. A few people are in it, lined up and smiling. One of them is me, and the other is Drew.

“No, that’s Drew. Back before his pre-dickhead days, we were kind of friends. This photo was taken during a decent summer, but right after it, Drew decided he needed to join the drug world.” I roll my eyes. “And he turned into an asshole. Obviously.”

He processes this then moves to another photo. “What about this guy?”

“That’s a guy I briefly worked with. He was cool, but he moved away after, like, three months.” I turn to face him. “Are you subtly trying to get my dating history? Because if that’s the case, I’ll make it easy for you.” I gesture at the wall. “I haven’t dated any of these guys in these photos or in the world.”

His lips part in surprise, and it makes me giggle.

“Why are you laughing at me?” he wonders with his brows furrowed.

“Because you look so shocked by that,” I reply. “I’m not sure why. You haven’t dated anyone before.”

“I know, but …” He’s struggling with this information. “I have a reason why I don’t.”

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