body wiggling next to me as she flicked her hips to the beat.
In all honesty, I still didn’t. Clubs were not my scene. After the long day, I wanted to find a comfy sofa and watch movies the rest of the night, but Eloise was a force and wouldn’t take no for an answer.
It helped to have Mina and Landen here, wanting to spend every bit of time I could with them. Ben, Charlie, Hazel, and Theo were by the bar as El, Landen, Mina, and I danced.
“Better enjoy your last nights of freedom.” Mina bumped Landen’s hip, making his expression crunch down with anger and take a long drink from his bottled beer.
“What does that mean?” My eyes darted between them.
He glared at Mina, continuing to dance.
“Like she’s not going to find out.”
“Tell me!” I demanded, tucking strands of loose hair behind my ear. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Landen rolled back his shoulders, taking a huge intake of air, ire riding his brows.
“Cheers to my arsehole father.” Landen held up his beer in the air. “He won.”
Trepidation swallowed thickly down my throat.
Landen shook his head, fighting back emotion. “I’m going into the royal military academy.”
“What?” My hand went to my mouth.
“Like you are really shocked?” He took another sip, staring off.
“No… but…” I had hoped. Wished for once, Fredrick would put his son first. Hoped he’d take a moment and get to know his son. My uncle seemed to like the idea and role of a son but didn’t want to know that person came with his own desires and personality.
“Landen.” My voice cracked, not knowing how to make it better. We had always been honest with each other, not giving platitudes or false optimism.
“That’s why I didn’t want to tell you tonight.” He sent Mina a look again. “Complete buzzkill.”
“I’m gathering that is not something you want.” Eloise tilted her head.
Landen laughed sardonically.
“I get it.” She wrapped her fingers around his wrist, forcing him to look at her. “To have to live the life your parents set out for you. Ignore everything that makes you happy… date and marry only ones they deem worthy. Fuck… I get it.”
Hearing Princess Eloise’s posh voice say fuck made a smile dance over Landen’s face, a true laugh bubbling from him.
“Yeah, I guess you would.” Landen bobbed his head, recognizing Eloise had it far worse than him. “Your Highness.” He bowed dramatically, furling his hand around.
“Shut up, tosser,” she teased back, both of them laughing. “We all know what it’s like.” She motioned around to the group. “As a cathartic exercise, each yell out what you had to sacrifice because of who you are.” She held out her drink in the middle of our circle.
“Being in theater.” Landen put his bottle next to Eloise’s.
Mina put her drink in with theirs. “Always having to explain my heritage; staying quiet when someone says something racist and demeaning.”
“Wow, put mine to shame, will you?” Landen nudged Mina, making her knock him back. I hadn’t been gone long, but I could already feel their bond had grown without me. “Spence?”
I took a breath, feeling the pain of mine still lash at my heart. “Giving up my acceptance to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.”
“What?” All three swung to me. I never told Landen or Mina I got in.
“You got accepted to RCVS?” Mina’s mouth dropped open.
“You didn’t tell us?” Hurt streaked Landen’s face.
“I couldn’t…”
“We are your best mates!” Mina exclaimed.
“If I had told you guys, it would have made it real.” I downed my vodka and soda, the music shifting to another loud song. “Break me even more.”
“I don’t understand.” Eloise glanced around us. “Did you get this before you and Theo became a permanent thing or after?”
“Before.”
“That is one of the most prestigious schools.” Eloise tilted her head. She probably didn’t see why, at my rank, I would turn it down. “How could you not go?”
My gaze skimmed to Landen, his mouth crumpling with ire.
“Father.” Fury burned his eyes.
“Yes, and Dad also said we couldn’t afford it,” I muttered.
“Bloody hell, Spencer. That is a huge accomplishment.” Eloise gaped at me. “Theo told me you were smart and into animals, but I had no idea how much. That’s incredible.”
I blinked, trying not to cry, the sting still raw.
“Doesn’t matter.” I tried to smile. “If I’d gone, Theo and I most likely wouldn’t be together.”
Everyone stared at me.
“Your turn now.” I pointed to Eloise, lifting my drink in the air.
A faraway haze glittered through her green eyes