The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

Chapter 0108

Our game of tag lasted for another twenty minutes or so before Elva finally tired and wanted to pick flowers instead. Susie sat with her, teaching her how to make a flower crown with her gathered collection. Mark stood nearby, watchful.

Nicholas and I sat in the grass a few yards off. I’d been pleased when he chose to sit beside me. I felt like there was much regarding his conversation with Julian that he had been keeping from me.

He was relaxed, resting back on his elbows with his long legs stretched out in front of him. His typically perfectly styled hair was a bit windswept from running.

He looked perfect and comfortable, and in another life, I would have stretched out alongside him and buried my face into his neck.

Now, I maintained my careful distance.

I teased, “I hope you were too tough on Julian.”

At once, I regretted the words. The softness in Nicholas’s face hardened. He pushed himself into sitting

upright.

“He’s still in one piece, don’t worry,” he said gruffly.

I tried to quickly think of a different topic of conversation. The weather, perhaps? It was pleasant today.

“You must care for Julian deeply,” Nicholas said, causing my thoughts to stutter.

Julian’s lies truly work on

I should probably correct him, but I wasn’t sure. Julian had said we should keep the truth from Nicholas. Maybe this lie was an extension of that. I wanted to

this felt too far. It

I said, trying to reveal just

I hated lying. I really wasn’t built for the deception Julian

brow, acting casual. But his grip on his knee had tightened, giving

know why he cared so much about this. He’d already told Julian, flat out, that

for all the

it. But I still wanted

not serious about Prince Julian,” I admitted. “We’ve had

the death grip he had on his knees, and

I

in the way his

Elva worked on a flower crown.

gentle encouragement, she began again.

I still felt

a fleeting moment, gave me a sense of comfort. I had thought

calling

believe he could do so again. Next time, I wouldn’t