broadcast at some point to give your own insight into Ms. Tremblay.” He raises a single brow. “To possibly counter what Dr. Harcourt claimed.”
I stare at him for a beat, my expression impassive. “You know as well as I do it’s against protocol for the royal family to give an interview, especially when it would involve information that directly contradicts a statement made by the royal household.”
“That’s true. And I’d probably be fired if anyone knew I’d brought it to your attention. But I thought perhaps you’d want to make up your own mind about this.”
“I’m not allowed to make up my own mind,” I say evenly. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to enjoy my breakfast in peace.”
He doesn’t move.
“Did you not hear me? You’re dismissed.”
He opens his mouth, then snaps it shut, straightening.
“What?” I growl.
“With all due respect, sir, I thought you’d fight harder for her.” Then he bows. “Your Highness.” He spins on his heels, hurrying from the room.
I check my appearance in the mirror, making sure my medals are lined up perfectly, nothing out of place on my military dress uniform, my required outfit for the state dinner tonight. I’ve always hated these things. Being forced to make small talk. Feigning interest in things like polo and yachting. Pretending my heart isn’t still in pieces.
But I particularly hate the idea of being required to attend, considering this event is the first step in the royal household’s plan to rekindle any appearance of romance between Caroline DeVries and myself. And like the puppet I am, I’ve gone along with it, despite my conscience screaming at me to fight. No thanks to Bridge’s statement at breakfast this morning that’s played on repeat all day.
I thought you’d fight harder for her.
Hell, I didn’t fight at all. At the first sign of attack, I sacrificed my queen.
But I had to…
Didn’t I?
“Are you ready, sir?” Creed peeks his head into the dressing room of the private quarters where I spent my adolescent years.
I squeeze my eyes shut, wishing I could rewind the clock to the day I looked up from my coffee at a downtown Chicago diner and saw Nora for the first time. To the freedom we felt when we scaled a fence and explored a run-down drive-in. To the way the wind whipped her hair around her face as I drove with the top down on the Wrangler.
To when I was still happy.
To before this life stole that from us.
“Are you okay?” Creed asks.
I open my eyes, pinning him with a glare as I start to push past him. “I’m fine.”
“You’re such a bloody liar, Anders,” he grinds out, grabbing my arm, yanking me to a stop. If it were anyone else, he’d be fired on the spot for his severe break in protocol. But we’ve always been friends first. “Nothing about this is fine. The sooner you stop pretending—”
“I told you!” I tear my arm from his, my eyes on fire. “I don’t want to talk about it!”
He leans into me, not letting me ignore this conversation any longer. “Oh, I know what you’ve said, but I’ve also heard what you don’t say.”
All week, he’s attempted to get me to open up about what happened between Nora and me. And all week, I’ve insisted I’m fine, that our hand was forced and the only option was for her to leave.
“You. Miss. Her.”
I glower at him, chest heaving, jaw tight. Then I throw up my hands. “Of course I miss her!”
“Then why are you still here? Better yet, why isn’t she?”
“You know why! This was the only way!”
He studies me for a beat. “Bullshite, Anders! That’s complete bullshite and you know it. Are you really going to stand there and have me believe the only possible way out of this was to do nothing? To simply let her walk away without a fight?”
“Fuck you.”
Creed smirks. “You’re not my type, mate.”
“Well, I’m sorry if I’m a bit wary of listening to relationship advice from someone who hasn’t been in one since you dicked over my sister.”
He pinches his lips into a tight line. As always happens when I bring up what went on between my sister and him. Which is why I don’t mention it often.
“You know damn well that’s not the case. I never made your sister a promise I had no intention of fulfilling. Not like you did with Nora. Going back on a promise? Not standing up for what you believe in? That doesn’t sound like