Page 43 of The Prince and the Double Shot
“You’re telling me to stop being a coward?”
“You got it, kiddo.” She stood up and looked around the ballroom. “Now, if there’s nothing else. I really do need to get back to this.”
I stood up and nodded. “Thank you for everything, Sheena.”
“You sweet man. I did nothing. You did it all by yourself.” She walked around and touched me on the arm before walking towards the workmen. “Be careful with the platforms! If you break my chandeliers, I will murder you!”
I knew she was right. But I was scared. What if what he told me needed to stay hidden? There was something so dark about his past that he avoided sharing it, even when a small moment arose that he could. He didn’t.
I was falling for him.
Hell, I think I loved him.
But could I ever ask him to live a half-life? A life where he would always be on the sidelines?
I was scared, but I knew what I needed to do. Zane and I had to tell each other the truth.
ZANE
“Ilove this place. In all of Princedelphia, I think this beach may be my favorite. It’s hidden and off the beaten path. I like the way the cliffs cast their shadows on the sand.” I held Phil’s hand tightly. It was nice to share this place with someone else.
“I bet all the boys you’ve brought here have loved it.”
“Stop. You’re the only person I’ve shared this with. It… It’s not something I’ve ever wanted to share.”
“That’s sweet – that you wanted to – with me. Thank you.”
“It’s not Majorca, but I love it.”
“There’s no one here.” Phil grinned. “It’s like we have it all to ourselves.”
“I’ve never seen another person here in all the times I’ve visited. It’s far enough away that the tourists never come, and the locals always go to the other beaches, I guess.”
“Maybe it’s a private beach that belongs to one of the houses on the cliff?”
“Maybe? I’ve never really cared. It feels like it belongs just to me, you know?”
“It’s lovely, Zane.”
“You said that you wanted to get away somewhere that we could talk. This was the first place that I thought of.” I shrugged. “The… uh… ball is coming up. Have you peeked inside? I did the other day. It looks nice.”
Phil laughed. “Why are we being so… not ourselves, right now?”
I cackled. “Right? I could feel it too. It’s not Majorca! I’ve never been to Majorca. I just heard my parents talk about it after they went to some… business thing there.”
“Don’t you think that it’s time that we share a little more about who we actually are, Zane?” He suddenly stopped, and his hand fell out of mine. “I mean, it’s been months. I don’t know what we’re going to do with all these feelings that we have, but I…”
“Soon, ok. I am trying to work through a few things right now, and… I promise. I will tell you, Phil. I think that… I guess what I’m trying to say is I don’t really know where I stand.” It was something I had been trying to make a decision about. Maybe it was time to stop hiding in the shadows. Lord knew I had good reasons now.
“Oh.” His face fell. “I thought… differently, I guess.”
“I… What?” My mouth fell open in complete surprise. He was confusing me.
“I thought that you… Never mind. It is what it is, isn’t it? One day soon, I’ll be gone, and I’ll leave you here. Is that it?”
“No.” I laughed, finally understanding. “That wasn’t about… Sorry. I wasn’t talking about us. I’d help you bury the bodies, Phil. I was talking about myself. I…” I turned and looked at the beach. “Our lives are very different. You had parents who cared for you and wanted you to be a part of their lives. You went to school and had friends, I’m sure. I was hidden away, and I always felt like something was wrong with me because of it.”
“I’m sorry.” He walked over and put his hand on my shoulder. “That had to be hard.”
