"The kissing, Evie."
"Oh.Yes, it was nice.We kissed a couple of times in the kitchen, and then a few more times when we were in my room.You saw one of them."
"I was coming to find out how it went.I got my answer."
Warmth floods to my cheek."The Nate part went great.The part with Mama, not so much."
"Please don't tell me that she caught you kissing?"
"No.But she came to my room while I was waiting for Nate and told me off for leaving the feast so early.I'm not allowed to leave anything before the end now.At least until the Gaullessian delegation goes home."I let out a sigh."And I have to have a ball for my birthday."
Veronica grimaces, an expression that Icanunderstand."Surely she knows that's a bad idea?"
"I told her it was," I point out."But she insisted.And said that she expected me to dance with suitors."
"Ah."
"I don't want to do that.I wouldn't have wanted to do it anyway, but now even less so.What's Nate going to think?"I didn't even tell him about any of this last night.
"He's not going to think anything," Veronica assures me."He knows that you're a princess and that you have royal responsibilities, he's not going to be surprised by it."
"But what about when he finds out that I'm supposed to flirt with people?"
"Evie, I'm trying to help, but if you say ridiculous things like that, I'm going to end up laughing instead.You've never flirted with anyone in your life before.What makes you think you're going to start now?"
"I know how to flirt," I mutter, though internally, I know she's right.
"Mmhmm.If you're worried about what Nate will think about the ball and the suitors, then you need to talk to him about it."
"That's always your solution."I eat the rest of my croissant and wipe my hands on my napkin.
"You say that as if my advice hasn't gotten you exactly where you want to be," she says."You're with Nate now, isn't that what you wanted?"
I don't know how to answer her question, especially because the reality is that I don't actually know what I want.I've spent the past five and a half years wanting Nate to come back to Falhaven, and the time since he came back wanting to tell him how I feel.I don't really know what that means now I have.
I let out a frustrated sigh, getting what I think is a pitying look from Veronica.
"We can figure it out," she promises."But one piece of advice?"
"Only one?"
"Close the door next time you want to kiss Nate in your room," she says."You don't want rumours going around."
I nod.I didn't really intend to kiss Nate before we closed the door, but I can certainly do better in the future.I think.
Chapter3
The kitchens are as busy as usual, and some of the workers nod to me as I pass.My skin starts to itch as I consider what Veronica said earlier about rumours.Have I already started some by coming down here and kissing Nate yesterday?
What about when I do it today?
I push those thoughts to the side.It's not as if I'm going to turn around and walk away before seeing Nate.
Ember lets out a shrill sound that makes me wince.
"You have got to stop that."I put my hand into my pocket and pull out a piece of dried meat."No making noise," I say to my dragon before feeding her.
A warm chuckle comes from in front of me."Does that actually work?"
