Page 29 of A Royal Promise
When they reached the funnel cake line, Bri finally shook herself out of her thoughts. “I’m excited to be here. It’s been a few years since I’ve been to the Spring Fling carnival.”
“I’m glad to have you with me.” He shot his signature grin at her. “We’re not here just for fun, though.”
“Oh?”
“This year, local schools are hosting flower booths to raise money for their arts programs. We’re going to purchase whatever flowers they don’t sell at the end of the weekend, but I wanted to make sure the royal family made an appearance to show our support.”
“You’re always so thoughtful.” She leaned closer so her next words wouldn’t be overheard. “Some girl is going to be so lucky to snatch you up.” Bri bumped her hip against him.
She sensed Drew stiffen beside her. When she turned to face him, he was looking straight forward, his jaw clenched and twitching, like he was grinding his teeth.
“Are you okay?” Bri asked, placing her hand on his arm.
“Fine,” he gritted out.
Before she could ask him what was wrong, it was their turn to order. Drew stepped forward and bought a funnel cake and two lemonades. He placed a big bill in the tip jar and led her to a picnic table, pushing the plate and one plastic tumbler toward her.
“Where’s yours?” She tore off a piece of the powdered sugar-covered goodness and hummed happily as she ate it.
Drew ran his hands through his dark-blond hair. “I don’t have an appetite right now.”
Bri gasped, nearly choking on a cloud of powdered sugar. “Who are you, and what have you done with my best friend?” She placed her hand on her chest. “Youneverpass up food, especially funnel cakes—they’ve always been your favorite. Seriously, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I ate before we left.”
She knew for a fact that he hadn’t eaten since breakfast, but Bri chose not to say anything. If he didn’t want to tell her what was going through his mind, she wouldn’t push it.
“More for me.” She smirked before popping another large bite in her mouth and wiping her fingers clean with a napkin. When Bri finished chewing, she asked, “So, what do you think we can do here to look like a couple? Do we need to hold hands or kiss or what?”
Drew was mid-sip when she asked the question, and he must’ve inhaled his lemonade down the wrong pipe, because he coughed and pounded his chest with his fist. “You think we shouldkiss?”
She shrugged. “We said no PDA unless it’s necessary to keep up our façade, and it seems like we still have some convincing to do.”
“But it’s frowned upon for royals to kiss in public.”
“I know. I’m only spouting off ideas. What do you think we should do?” Bri finished off her funnel cake and wiped her fingers clean.
Drew was quietly staring at her like he was sizing her up. “I think some handholding should sell it well enough until we can come up with a targeted game plan.”
“Works for me.” Bri took a long sip of lemonade. “You know what would make this day better?”
“What?”
She lifted her cup in the air. “If there was some sweet tea to go with this lemonade.”
He finally smiled again, a twinkle of amusement back in his eyes. “I think we can manage that.” Drew stood and extended his hand to her. “Let’s go see the flower booths.”
Bri slipped her hand into his, intertwining their fingers as they made their way to the booths on the other side of the carnival grounds. Their hands had grazed plenty of times throughouttheir friendship, but they’d never held hands like this. The only other time their hands had been interlocked like this was when he’d reminded her of their pact and “proposed” to her. But something about this felt different, and she didn’t know what to think.
Her neck started to feel splotchy, and her palms started to sweat. When Drew pulled her to a stop in front of a make-your-own-flower-crown booth, he rubbed his thumb along her skin in small circles, and she felt a flicker of something in her abdomen. She told herself this was normal. Surely, this was how everyone felt when pretending to date someone else. It was easy to confuse the ruse with reality.
“Bri?” Drew’s voice snapped her out of her daze.
“Mmm, sorry. What was the question?”
He gestured to the booth in front of them. “Is it okay if I make you a crown?”
She attempted to shoot him a playful smile as she curtsied. “Why of course, Your Highness. I would be honored.”
