The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

Chapter 0067

If that partner was me, I would…

No. I shouldn’t go down that path, even within the safe confines of my mind.

Nicholas and I would never be together again. I had too many secrets that he would never understand. Even if he knew the truth, even if he’d understood, he’d never agree with the choices I had made.

If he knew what I’d given away, he would never look at me the same way.

When Elva appeared for her lunch, she shouted from across the room. “Nick–lass!” Then she ran through. the line, crawled under the table, and threw her arms out wide for a hug.

Nicholas leaned down to oblige. His smile was so warm, my chest ached.

If only Elva and I could have this all the time.

After lunch, and after Nicholas and I finished cleaning up, we joined the children out on the playground.

I pushed some of the kids on the swings, while Nicholas play–chased the children around the grassy lawn. He roared, pretending to be a monster. The children shouted with fake fear, broken with fits of

giggling.

Elva herself often broke the illusion by running up to Nicholas and demanding. “You’re not a monster.

You’re Nick–lass!”

into his arms and spun her around, while she cheered

in her life. I could

sad she would

kids tackle

from the sidelines, “Do you

pointed at him. “Ah, there! A new

new game, running and

distracted, Nicholas rolled up off the ground and walked to me

but the back of his shirt

I asked,

“Is it bad?”

make promises,” he teased, then turned his back to me. I brushed away

weight of what I had just done. I

had felt just like

His

should head back soon,”

We needed to end this fantasy as soon as we could. It was

once but could

our reality. A prince and a commoner, with a canyon of secrets

us, too

ride back together,” Nicholas

“Thank you.”

ride home, we sat mostly in silence. Elva slept soundly, having worn herself

side, with his arm