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!”

her up into his arms and spun her

happy in her life. I could have cried bittersweet tears, so happy that

she

tackle him down

called from the sidelines,

new monster approaches, even more harrowing than

to the new game, running and play–fighting with

the ground and walked to me near the swing set. He

debris from his pants, but the back of his shirt

I?” I asked, motioning to

“Is it bad?”

back to me. I brushed away the grass and

did I realize the potential weight of what I had just done. I had touched him so casually. We had teased each

moment, everything had felt

well. His posture shifted, straightening. His smile

back

soon as

but could never have

reality. A prince

us, too large

back together,” Nicholas

“Thank you.”

sat mostly in silence. Elva slept soundly, having worn

his arm wrapped