NOLAN
Nolan asked to speak to Alaster when he called the nursing home, but the person who answered the phone told him that the old man was taking a nap.
“Alright,” Nolan said. “I’d like to check on his condition, though. Can you put me on the line with someone who can give me an update on his health?”
“Of course, Your Highness. Please hold on for just a moment and I’ll go get the doctor.”
The line clicked and some music started playing.
Nolan drummed his fingers on his desk.
The doctor picked up quickly. “Your Highness, so good to hear from you.”
Nolan frowned. This was one of the people he used to know, when he’d sneak out and visit his friend under his secret identity. He didn’t love the feeling it gave him when the doctor addressed him now in such formal terms.
“Please, Doctor M., you don’t need to address
“Well,” Evan said, “What do you feel like doing?”Yena grabbed a blanket off the back of the couch and wrapped it around her.“Evan, I have become such a baby,” she said. “I really did get spoiled at the palace. I’m so freaking cold all the time in this drafty house.”He laughed and looked out the window. It was dark and windy out.“So I take it you don’t want to go out?”Yena shook her head wildly.“Definitely not. I just want to stay bundled up here on the couch the rest of the night. It’s warmer down here than in my room… honestly, I don’t think I can sleep at all up there when it’s windy like this.”I could sleep with you and keep you warm,Evan thought.What a horribly cheesy line that would sound like.“Okay,” he said. “Sounds like we’re doing a movie night
NOLAN“You have a visitor,” the prince’s secretary told him.“I have no appointments.” Nolan looked up, puzzled. “Who is it?”The secretary paused, like he didn’t want to say.“Gina?”“Yes, Sir.”“Alright,” Nolan said, glancing at the clock.He didn’t realize it was almost ten a.m. He’d been in his office working since before sunrise.“Ask her if she’d like some breakfast, and if so, set her up in the dining room. I’ll join as soon as I can wrap this up.”There wasn’t much that Nolan actually needed to wrap up.He just didn’t want to look too eager to greet a surprise visit from Gina, afraid that might give her the wrong idea.He strolled in to meet her about ten minutes later.Gina was waiting patiently at the table. She stood when s
NOLAN“Are you feeling alright?” Luna asked.She had been watching suspiciously as Nolan refused a glass of wine that her servant offered him when he sat down.“Yes, I’m alright.” Nolan shrugged. “I just have a lot of work to do tonight, and need to keep my energy up.”She nodded and sipped her own glass. “We need to discuss your plans, Nolan.”He took a sip of water. Stalling.“Tell me what you’re going to do,” she continued, “if I allow you to process this divorce.”“If?” Nolan looked up expectantly.“Yes,” Luna replied. “If. Because I willpermit you to divorce Yena but only ifyou will take a new wife immediately after you do so.”Nolan couldn’t think of what to say. He just wanted to get out of this conversation somehow. And find a way to put
EVAN“Did you see this blanket that Tina got for me? Feel it!”Evan nodded and felt the blanket. “Yeah, real soft.”He didn’t believe for one second that his parents had picked up these gifts for Yena on their trip to see Uncle Isaac.It had to be from Nolan.The fancy stuff had the rich dick’s name all over it.But Yena was so happy. Her voice was practically cooing. And she didn’t even know that it was from the prince.It made Evan jealous that he had such power over her. Could make her so happy like this.“You have to smell this,” she was saying. She pushed a little purple box up to Evan’s nose.It did smell nice.“Mm. Pretty.” He gave Yena as much of a smile as he could manage.To his relief, she didn’t seem to notice Evan’s discomfort.“I’ll catch you later, Yena.&
“The thing is,” Lucy said, “I think he has feelings for someone else.”“Oh, Goddess, Lucy. That must feel so awful!”My heart was hurting for my friend. She was finally spilling her secret to me, and it was hard to hear.Lucy had come over for breakfast again, and now we were in my room talking.She had one of my fluffy pillows clutched against her chest and was lying in my bed. I’d been sitting at my desk doodling a design, but turned my full attention to her when she told me she wanted to talk about her situation with the mystery guy. “Why are you staying with him, Lucy? You deserve so much better than that.”“I know,” she said, nodding. Her eyes looked sad. “I just haven’t been able to figure out how to end it.”“What do you mean?”Lucy sighed. “Okay, I’m gonna be honest with you, but please don&rs
YENAAs I walked to the bakery from my house, I started getting a funny feeling.Lily was saying to me that something was wrong.That she could sense danger.Adan set up the meeting at the bakery to make it convenient for me. I was glad.I didn’t want to go to campus. It had become a place full of unpleasant memories for me at this point. Even though school was out right now, there was still plenty of activity there, and I would rather avoid it.I arrived a couple minutes early, but Adan and his professor friend were already there when I walked in.Adan stood when he saw me. He pulled a chair out for me and did a small bow as I approached, but then quickly sat back down, before I could tell him to stop with all the theatrics.The woman seated beside him gave me an anxious look. I assumed she was taken off-guard by Adan bowing to me. She was wearing all black and had chunky, black-frame
EVANPeter was sitting at the dining table, reading a book when Evan came downstairs.“Hey, Dad.”“Hi, son. What are you doing up? Can’t sleep?”Evan sighed and sat down across from his father at the table.“I actually came to talk to you because I need some advice.”“Oh? About what?” Peter closed his book and set it aside.Evan’s heart was pounding. He actually felt kinda shaky, too.“How about I put some coffee on, then we’ll talk?” Peter shuffled off to the kitchen, giving Evan time to collect his thoughts.There was a small fire burning in the fireplace. Evan crouched beside it and opened the grate, then started working some new logs into the fire.“Quite a blaze you got there,” Peter said when he returned with their coffees, carrying the mugs carefully in both hands.Evan looke
EVANYena was pacing in the kitchen. Her lips were moving, like she was reciting something or having an imaginary argument. “Hey,” Evan said, and Yena jumped.“Oh, hey!”“Am I interrupting something?” he asked, smirking.She laughed. “Sorry, just talking to… myself.”Evan looked at the table and smiled. An empty pie tin, a can of whipped cream, and a dirty fork.“Healthy breakfast today, I see.”“Well, it’s no cold pizza.” She came over and suddenly put her arms around Evan’s waist. He hugged her back.“I still can’t sleep, Evan.” Yena’s cheek was flat against his chest, and he could feel the vibration of her voice inside his chest as she spoke. “And I’m so tired.”“Aw. How can I help?”She sighed, then walked away again, resuming her