Page 70 of A Royal Promise
Drew shrugged. “I didn’t know you’d kissed anyone.”
“We’ve never really shared dating info with each other. But I’m sixteen… I feel like that’s a normal age for a first kiss. I don’t plan on it happening again with him, though.” She grimaced.
He smirked. “That bad, huh?”
“It felt like I was kissing a fish. I’m no expert, but I don’t think it’s supposed to be like that.” She shook her head as she continued walking. “Your turn. Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
Bri’s lips morphed into a wry grin. “Who wasyourfirst kiss?”
Drew blanched. He hadn’t expected her to ask the same question back. “I really don’t want to talk about that.”
“You brought it up first,” she scoffed. “It’s not a hard question. I told you mine.” Her eyes gleamed with mischief. “Unless you want to do the punishment.”
“Fine, it was Lady Bridgette.”
She turned quickly on her white platform tennis shoes to face him. “Bridgette from Bristol? She’s, like, two years older than us.”
He shrugged. “It was last year, so I was fifteen and she was seventeen. We were at a ball, and she danced with me so I wouldn’t have to dance with Clarissa again. As a thank you, I gave her a quick kiss on the balcony. It wasn’t much, but it was pleasant.”
“Huh. So you’ve got a thing for blondes?”
You have no idea.
“I wouldn’t say I have a type exactly.”
I just have one person who makes my heart beat out of my chest.
“Your turn—” he started saying.
“Dare,” she said before he could finish.
“I dare you to a foot race.”
“We’re not kids anymore.”
He shot her a smirk. “Last one to the tree is a rotten egg!” he shouted as he took off at a steady jog. Drew pushed himself to a sprint as he heard her gaining close behind.
He kept his pace as they ran, always staying a few feet in the lead. But at the last second, he slowed his sprint, allowing her to pass him and cross the finish line before he did.
“Ha! I beat you.” She threw him a victorious smile over her shoulder.
He would let her win a hundred times over just to be the reason that beautiful smile was on her face.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Bri
Moving farther down the dirt path of the wooded, mountain trail, Bri felt lighter with each step. Anything to do with adventure and the outdoors filled her soul. Even though she’d walked this trail countless times, nature was always changing, providing a new backdrop for each hike.
It was just what she needed today to forget about her kiss with Drew. She was still reeling over what she had felt.
There she was, thinking of him again.Stop it, she chided herself. This hike was supposed to be a Drew-free zone, a way to get herself out of her head and relax.
After a few more minutes of walking with only the sound of chirping birds around her, she finally felt centered again. When she reached the peak of the small mountain, Bri took in a long breath and slowly exhaled, soaking in the moment. The scene in front of her was so beautiful, from the canopy of the blue sky to the rocky mountainscape. She was sitting in a 360-degree masterpiece.
Bri sat down, letting her feet dangle over the cliff’s edge, thankful she’d been able to leave without any bodyguards trailing her today so she could enjoy the scenery around her in peace. She breathed in the mountain air, loving the petrichor smell lingering in the warm breeze after this morning’s rain.
