Page 37 of Royally Arranged

“But,” he added after a minute, “you don’t have to lie to me. There’s no way a girl like you hasn’t been carted around on the arm of someone who, while probably less amazing than me, was still worth counting.”

I couldn’t correct him without revealing my chaste past. So I didn’t, I just shrugged playfully and led us to a table in the food court. The center of the ceiling was all glass, allowing the sun to leak inside. The building was quiet today. We sat alone among a sea of round tables, munching fries and sharing my shake.

“You’re good at that,” he said, passing my shake back. “Sharing, I mean.”

“With four other siblings, you have to be.”

“Hah. I know that too well.” Putting his chin on a fist, he squinted at me. “Is it rude to ask how old you are?”

“Twenty-six,” I said, bending my straw back and forth.Same as you.

“Same as me,” he said, echoing my thoughts. “I know you’re not the oldest, are you the youngest?”

“That would be sweet little Darla.” Holding up a hand, I ticked down a finger each time I said a name. “It goes Larchmont, Darien, me, Richard, then her.”

He spun his empty fry container. “You’re a middler, like me.”

“Yes, I’m the middle child.” This normal conversation was incredibly refreshing. I sucked at my shake, draining most of the contents. Thorne reached out, silently asking for more. I grinned and slid it out of the way, taking another sip.

Slapping his palms onto the table, he stretched over it, partially climbing across. It was the kind of action I’d expect out of a kid. Not a grown man. The few people walking by us slowed down to stare; I was stunned enough that I didn’t fight him as he snatched the drink.

Dropping onto his chair, he bit the straw, winking at me. “My siblings didn’t share as well as you. I’ve pulled that move multiple times, it always works.” His cheeks hollowed as he emptied my shake. “Come on,” he said, hopping up, throwing our trash into the bin. “Let’s get on with my lesson in retail therapy 101.”

Over the next hour we shopped in a way I never had. He was right, I had money thanks to my family, but I wasn’t prone to spending it. That was Darla’s preferred hobby.

He kept encouraging me to try out the newest smartphones, or expensive shoes, or even purses. At one point he handed me off to an employee in a department store, instructing her to “take care” of me while he went off to handle something else. “I’ll be back,” he assured me, darting out the doors.

“He’s cute,” the clerk said, watching him go.

More than cute.Blinking, I faced the woman. “I don’t even know what you could help me with. I think we’ve bought more outfits than I could wear every day for the next month.”

She laughed, patting my back roughly. “Let’s start with what youneed. Any special celebrations coming up?”

I started to shake my head. Then I stopped. “Actually, thereissomething.”

- CHAPTER FIFTEEN -

HAWTHORNE

It took longer to get back to the department store than I’d expected.

Catching my breath, I peered from side to side for Nova. I didn’t see her, so I grabbed my phone and typed her a message.Where are you?

The little dots popped up—she was typing. I stared without blinking, so eager for her response. For any response from her at all.

The bubble vanished.

It didn’t come back.

Confused, I tapped my phone, writing something else. Was she mad I’d run off? I’d had a reason, one I thought would be good enough in the long term. But maybe I should have been quicker ... maybe I shouldn’t have made her wait, when I’d been the one to ask her on this trip, and ...

“Boo,” she said in my ear.

My muscles had years of reflexive instinct drilled into them. The second her breath tickled the hairs on my temple, I whirled around, snatching her wrists, gripping her like she was going to attack me. Nova’s eyes flew wide. So did her pink lips.

Instantly I released her, backing up. “Fuck. Sorry, you surprised me.”

“I know,” she said, squinting. “That was the idea.”

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