Page 66 of The Mirror and the Curse

“I took a tumble. Nothing broken, but I’m wearing jeans to hide a few bruises.” She pointed to a purple mark on her upper arm. “Only one shows, but it’s a beauty.”

His thick brows drew together, and the worry in those big dark eyes of his warmed her heart. “You might have been killed, Eddi. Someone should have checked your saddle band more thoroughly before you took that flight. I don’t . . . I don’t think I could bear it if anything happened to you.”

Feeling unworthy, Eddi managed a smile. “Thanks for caring. We all know the dangers of flying winged horses. I’m just grateful that White landed safely and I got nothing worse than a few bruises.” As they passed one of the garden gates, she motioned toward it. “Would you like to walk in the garden with me?”

His entire being brightened. “Now? Sure.”

Eddi’s guilt weighed heavier after they passed through a side gate and strolled along a path between brilliant lilies, daisies, and towering delphiniums. The longer she waited, the worse it would be. “Fidelio, I’m so grateful for the fun we’ve had together these past few weeks.”

“Oh.” His grasp on her hand tightened, and a crease appeared between his brows as he looked down at her. “I don’t think I’m gonna like where this is going.”

“I know, but I have to say it. This . . .us. . . It isn’t working.” Sudden tears burned her eyes. Oh, this was awful!

“But Eddi, itisworking! I know we’ve had some rough spots, but I’ve been working hard to please you, and I can do even better. I mean, I’ve spent way more time with you than with Raquel since we had that talk, and—”

“I know. I don’t blame you, Fidelio. I really don’t. I feel awful about this, but . . . It’s not that I think a relationship doesn’t require work on both sides; of course it does. But to me it felt as if our friendship got strained and almost fake this summer, and even worse as soon as we became ‘official.’”

“Just because it was new,” he objected.

Eddi shook her head. “We argue about pretty much everything! I thought I wanted to be your girlfriend, but I really think we are much better as ‘just friends.’ That way, you can spend as much time as you want with Raquel or any other girl, and we can pursue our own interests without annoying each other.”

“And you can spend all the time you want with other guys,” he grumbled. “I thought you really liked me, Eddi. I mean, a forever kind of thing. I was so sure . . .”

“I thought I did too, but . . . I’m awfully sorry.”

He groaned, rubbing his eyes with the thumb and forefinger of one hand while gripping her hand with the other. “You’re breaking my heart, you know,” he managed.

When she realized he was crying, Eddi’s own tears spilled over. “I feel terrible . . .” She choked up. “I led you on for months . . .” It was no wonder he’d felt sure of her.

They finally sat on a bench in a secluded corner of the gardens and talked and cried and did their best to calm down. After a time, they sat quietly, still holding hands while gazing at their soothing surroundings and thinking private thoughts.

Then Eddi said quietly, “Fidelio, we’ll always be friends, and you’ll find a girl who’s better suited to be a surgeon’s wife.” Her voice still quivered, but she managed to speak without choking up.

“Maybe someone who doesn’t believe that horses fall in love and want to settle down.” He gave her a sidelong glance, and she glimpsed a hint of twinkle in his puffy red eyes.

Her heart lightened. “Exactly! And someone who wouldn’t need to stand on a chair to kiss you.”

The twinkle vanished. “Oh, Eddi . . .” His voice wobbled. “I never did get to kiss you.”

“Your next girlfriend will be pleased about that,” she observed.

“Maybe. But . . .” He sighed heavily. “Let’s be honest here. We both know why you’re really ending this. It’s Kai, isn’t it?”

His words brought such a rush of hope and fear that Eddi had to swallow hard twice before speaking. “Kai and I are just friends.”

“Right.” He let out a short laugh. “No, don’t worry. It’s okay. Outside the context of you and me, I think he’s a good guy.”

Eddi’s family arrived at Faraway Castle the next day, which served to take her mind off some of her worries, but the coming week loomed before her, packed with end-of-summer activities as well as serious practice flights. Preparations for the race meet’s influx of guests and visitors had already begun.

To Eddi’s surprise, word of the breakup hadn’t spread quickly . . . but then, most people probably hadn’t realized she and Fidelio were seriously dating. The relationship had lasted only a few weeks, and they had never been physically demonstrative.

Seriously, the fact that she had never felt ready for him to kiss her should have told her it would lead nowhere. At one time she had dreamed of kissing him, but daydreams and reality were poles apart. It wasn’t as if Fidelio lacked masculine appeal; he was adorable in his lanky, boyish way. Someday, when and if his frame filled out, he might even be considered hot.

She seldom so much as glimpsed Kai around the stables, but there was no way to avoid encounters with Fidelio and Raquel, who seemed to be together constantly. To be fair, Fidelio had a hangdog look, and his eyes seemed to be perpetually red-rimmed, so imminent romance between them seemed unlikely. But it was early days. Raquel would likely get him in the end.

The sweet prince deserved better, but it was his life, his choices.

Had Kai heard of the breakup? Eddi longed to approach him, maybe even confide a little . . . But how cheap would it be to dump one guy and rebound to another within a week? She had to accept that her ideal romance might be spoiled forever, and she’d destroyed it herself.

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