Page 46 of Royal Icing
“Are those really your friends?” Emma’s teeth chattered as she asked the question again.
The no-coat thing was a mistake. The wind bit at her.
“Not really,” Ruby admitted. “I don’t really have any friends. People only want to get close to me because of my family, not because of who I am as a person.”
“That sounds really hard,” Emma said, even though she was dying to yell at her for doing something so dangerous. “Do you go to school?”
Ruby shook her head. “I have a governess. But soon I’ll be at NYU.”
That’s right. Maybe that meant Leo would visit too.
“What will you major in?”
“International Relations, but only because I have to. I’m also going to get my teaching certificate, no matter what they say.”
She tripped and almost careened into a ditch, but Emma righted her. The wind was picking up, and the snow pelted her from what felt like every direction. Her hands were ice blocks. She started to shiver. It was hard to see where they were going, but she could tell they were still going up.
“Leo says you have a soft spot for kids,” she said.
Ruby nodded—at least that’s what it looked like behind the thick screen of snow. “I do. In a different world, I’d teach kindergarten.”
“What’s stopping you?”
“Princesses don’t get to have normal jobs. My job is to make public appearances, christen yachts, organize charity events. None of it really makes a difference.”
Emma smiled. “You sound so much like your brother.”
“You’ve been getting awfully close with Leo,” she accused.
“Hardly.” Emma blew into the ice blocks that used to be her hands. “He’s just helping me with something for the dessert.”
“Sure. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. It’s been a long time since he looked that way at someone.”
What was she supposed to do with that information?
“He’s great, but we’re strictly platonic,” she fibbed. “Is there anyone special in your life? Not Paul, I hope.”
Ruby scowled. “Paul’s an idiot. Never in a thousand years.”
“Good choice. I bet you’ll meet someone amazing at NYU. It’s like a big, sexy melting pot. Did your governess give you a crash course on birth control?”
“Gross,” Ruby slurred. “I won’t need it.”
Emma looked at her sternly. “I assure you, you will.”
“I won’t. Because I don’t like men.”
“Oh. Cool. But you still need to be aware of the dangers of STIs and?—”
She stopped. Ruby was standing ten feet behind her, stock-still.
“What’s wrong?” she called to her.
“I’ve never told anyone that before.”
Emma’s heart softened. She walked back and stood next to Ruby. “So your family doesn’t know?”
Ruby shook her head.
