AllFreeNovel
Share Us
And one day just last year, he waved at me through the gates.
I’ve never moved faster in my entire life.
“Why are your tights ripped?” he asked.
I flushed, immediately recalling that pest, Sophia, pushing me down when I passed in front of her in PE. “I tripped.”
I’m not much of a liar if I can help it, but I know better than to snitch. Alessandro might be one of the most powerful boys in the high school, but there was nothing he could do to protect me from my peers if they decided to pick on me. Throwing his weight around wouldn’t amount to anything good.
Even talking to him now likely will result in more bullying from the girls who hated the fact that he was mine.
His eyes narrowed. “Uh-huh. And do youtripoften, Ivy?”
I bit my lip. “Sometimes.”
He sighed, reaching between the bars to push a strand of my straight hair back behind my ears. “It’ll get better.”
“In high school?” I asked hopefully.
He was honest enough to shake his head. “After. When I have you locked up in a golden tower where no tripping of any sort is allowed.”
I gasped, unable to formulate any reply.
“You like that idea, huh?” he’d chuckled. “Good. So do I.”
And then he just walked back to his friends, making that day the very best of my entire life. Except maybe for the day when he became mine.
It’s been six months and my face still burns every time I think about it.
He’s right, of course. He can’t do anything about my bullies. But they can only get to me now; after we’re married, they wouldn’t dare. And if they tried, they’d likely be stopped by my guards. I think his mom’s guarded by four men at all times. Then again, she’s the king’s sister, so that’s probably why.
“Stop admiring yourself,” Bella calls from my bedroom. “We have to get going, or we’ll be late!”
Dammit, she’s right.
I grab my bag and race after her, running to the car.
It stands out in front of the school. In a sea of dark Bentleys driven by professionals in uniform, our dad’s Porsche might suggest the same income bracket, but it screams nouveau riche. None of the other kids’ parents drive them. We aren’t like them, and in most regards, it mortifies me. But I’d exchange the morning rides for nothing in the world—not even their acceptance. It says my parents take the time to spend time with me, unlike theirs. I don’t even mind when he hugs me right in front of the school.
“High school. When did you get so big?”
“Right around the time when you grew those white hairs,” I quip back, pointedly staring at a nonexistent spot on his straight ink-black hair.
He immediately checks the rearview mirror, gasping.
“You little monster! Get out of there.”
I do, practically flying as Bella and I part ways. She walks towards Nic first, and her fiancé gives her a quick hug, before she skips over to her own friends.
I can’t help but check, but there’s no trace of Less near his brother, though they usually arrive together. I’d know.
There are two and a half years between Less and I. He turns eighteen in November. I turned sixteen in April. That’s around the same as the age gap between Bella and Nic, as they’re respectively ten and twelve, but I’ve never done the sort of stuff these two do with Less. I guess it’s far less weird for a seven- and nine-year-old to be friends, knowing they’ll get married someday, than it is for a twelve- and a fourteen-year-old.
Now, three years later, the awkwardness is even more noticeable. With his strong shoulders and his defined muscles, there’s no denying that Alessandro is a man, while I feel like a silly little girl in comparison.
At least I look less childish with the high school uniform. Maybe I’ll say hi. Ask about his summer. I know he vacationed in the Seychelles.
Hi, Less. How are you doing?I practice in my head.
