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"Abigail has laid out all of the good reasons why you should get married. No one can really argue with any of them. It is, in fact, a very good, practical idea. But was one of those reasons, at any point, in private between the two of you, because she’s in love with you, too?"
It wasn't. She has never said that.
“No,” I admit to Jonah. “But I haven’t said it to her either.”
“Why not?”
“Because she’s not the whirlwind romance, head-over-heels, follow her heart kind of girl,” I say honestly. “It’s been fast. And it’s all a little crazy.”
"Exactly,” Jonah agrees.
"And that concerns you. You think she's marrying me for my money? Or to get what she needs professionally from me?”
"I think the reasons she's marrying you are not…the same reasons you're marrying her. But,” he adds. “I think she thinks she’s marrying you for the same reasons. So I can’t really fault her.”
I sigh. “I’m marrying her for the same reasons she’s marrying me, too,” I say. “The farms, Cara, Linnea, my grandfather.”
“But you’re making a mess of this.”
“Because I haven’t told her I’m in love with her?”
Finally, he drops his arms and takes a big breath. "I'm talking to you as your best friend now. Not your bodyguard. Not a member of the royal staff. Not even just a guy. But as someone who considers you a brother."
I prepare myself. "All right."
"I don't want you to get your heart broken. And I think there is only one thing, and two people, in the world who can do that. Your country. Your grandfather—who has repeatedly done it, especially over the past year. And now Abigail Landry. Who is going to come to Cara with you, and potentially break your heart over and over again every day."
Well…damn.
I swallow. "She and I are an amazing team. We can do really amazing things."
Jonah nods. "I think that's absolutely true. I think Abigail should come to Cara."
I nod. "Good."
"But I don't know if you should marry her.”
I feel my gut tighten. I am marrying Abigail and I really want my best friend on board. “It’s the best way.”
He gives a single nod. “In a lot of ways, I think that’s true.” He pauses. “But, if you do it, you need to remember it’s a solution to a problem. You're going to be king, Torin. You're going to be faced with difficult decisions every damned day. And you're going to sometimes have to make choices that really suck, that are going to break your heart. I don't want your personal life making you feel shitty too. You deserve to be happy. And if you’re happy, you’ll be better for Cara.”
I take a deep breath. “Abigail is the right choice for Cara. I thought you understood this was the plan all along."
“Making a deal with her to be princess. Sure. I actually thought the plan was exactly what Abigail seems to think it is,” Jonah says. “And seducing her? Sure. I saw how you looked at her clear back at Charlie’s wedding.”
I shift, and clear my throat, but nod.
“But falling in love with her? Especially without anything reciprocal from her? That’s…dangerous.”
“I think she really likes me,” I say, trying for a light tone.
He doesn’t smile. “Everyone likes you, Torin.” He says it like it’s just a fact. “Even your grandfather likes you. He still makes you fucking miserable because he doesn’t give you anything more than that,” Jonah says bluntly. He’s frowning again. “I like Abi. She’s brilliant. And yes, I’m sure she likes you. But she proposed and specifically said she doesn’t want it to involve any emotions. And she said she wants it to only be for a year.”
"So you're trying to protect me."
"Well, it’s kind of a habit now after eleven-plus years," he grumbles.
"It’s because you love me."
