Playboy Princes (Royals of Arbon Academy, #2)(71)

His smile grew larger. “On instinct, you almost always expect the worst. You're realistic to the point of pessimism. And I get it, I really do; you were not raised to expect good things to happen to you. But this is not the same, Violet. It’s not.”

Dude already knew me better than he should.

“Time will prove it,” Rafe said suddenly from the side. “Only time will prove it for her, J. Let her have her thoughts.”

This one knew me as well, as if that didn’t pile more freak-out on top of my already healthy load.

I mean, I’d spent most of my life avoiding close relationships; even people I considered great friends like Meredith I’d always kept just on the outside of my deeper feelings. But these two, and Mattie and Nolan, they had all crept in.

They’d crept in without me even noticing, and now…

Now I had everything to lose.





Chapter 30





I didn't use the fancy mask or the fancy face spray and creams, but I did end up agreeing to answer twenty questions with Jordan, much to everyone’s amusement.

“How many countries have you visited?”

I snorted. “Uh, two. New America and the Switzerlands.”

He winked. “Knew that, but I wanted to warm you up with an easy one.”

“How many have you visited?” I asked, returning his snort.

He had to think about it for a minute. “I think almost all of them. Lots of royal engagements growing up, especially in my younger years.”

“I can’t imagine it,” I said, shaking my head. I legitimately couldn’t. “We grew up worlds apart. How the hell am I even here now?”

“Not all of our worlds were that far apart,” Rafe said without inflection.

I nailed him with a stern look. “Are you going to explain that or just continue with your random cryptic statements?”

He tilted his head like he was considering it. “I think I’ll continue being cryptic,” he said decisively.

I fought the urge to punch and kiss him. I really wanted to do both.

“Okay, next question,” Nolan said, interrupting. “Who is better in bed, Rafe or Jordan?”

His green eyes were alight with mirth, but beneath that, I could genuinely tell he wanted to know.

Two sets of eyes, other than his, were locked on me, and I fought against the nervous smile that wanted to cross my face. “I’m definitely not answering that,” I finally said. “I agreed to play with Jordan, not you.”

Nolan turned pleading eyes on the New American heir, but only got an annoyed glare in return.

“Okay, so what is your favorite memory?” Jordan said, bringing us back on track.

I had to stop and sift through all my memories. “Outside of events at the academy,” I finally said, “It was when my sensei gifted me my wakizashi blade. I had been working for months to prove myself worthy of the weapon, and at times, I never thought I’d make it.”

I could remember the moment with a startling clarity. My emotions had been so strong, so bitingly strong, that I doubted I’d ever forget.

My greatest achievement.

“You wield it like the old masters,” Rafe said. “It’s right to be proud of that achievement.”

One more compliment from him and I’d probably die of shock. Or possibly jump him right here on the plane.

Thankfully Jordan asked me more questions, most of them easy to answer.

My favorite drink: Water or grape juice.

My favorite food: Fruit Loops. The one treat I got growing up, and one of the few cereals to survive the Monarch War.

What I wanted to be when I graduated Arbon: Sports therapist.

Then a few harder ones…

My worst fear: Small, dark spaces. Rafe knew the reason why, but no one else did yet. They didn’t push me, but I knew they wanted to know. Thankfully, like true friends, they let me be.

And finally, the one that had been breaking my heart for most of my life: Where did I see myself in ten years?

It was the age-old question, the one asked to try and give someone goals and something to strive for. Or years to dread.

“I—” I cleared my throat. “I used to think about that question, and… honestly, for a long time, I just hoped to still be alive. And sometimes, in my darkest moments… I hoped I wouldn’t be.”

Fuck, that had slipped out when it shouldn’t have. It was too late to take it back now, so I hurried on, pushing through the tense silence.

“Now, I’m just hoping to be happy. Content. Maybe have a little money and my own place. Working in some job I don’t completely hate.”

Simple dreams, but I was a simple girl.

“Not fucking married to Alex,” Mattie piped up, lifting her mask. I wasn’t sure if she’d been sleeping or just pretending to, but either way, I was glad for her breaking up the tension-filled moment.

“And especially that,” I said, shaking my head.

“Never gonna happen,” Jordan growled, and I had to admit, it was nice to see that fire. He might have a gentle side, but I knew there was a will of steel beneath it. When it came out to play… yeah, I liked that a lot.

“Please take your seats, we will be landing in approximately eight minutes.”

The pilot’s voice filled the cabin, but since none of us were out of our seats, we didn’t move. The flight so far had been smooth; I’d almost forgotten I was even on a plane.