The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

Chapter 0124

Nicholas’s mouth was so close. As I looked at it, he licked his lips. I licked mine in reply. We leaned

closer, closer, dangerously close..

Then the oven timer dinged.

We immediately straightened, snapping away from each other. Nicholas turned, coughing into his hand.

I reached for the oven mitts and pulled the finished stuffed mushrooms from the oven.

With the tray safely on the counter, I couldn’t find the courage to look at him again.

He cleared his throat. “Nostalgia does tricky things to the mind.”

“It does,” I agreed, thankful for the safe retreat his words offered.

“I should go now.” He took a step, then paused. “Goodnight, Piper.”

“Goodnight.”

I didn’t move again until his footsteps disappeared from the kitchen. Even after he was gone, I needed a moment to get my heartbeat under control.

to putting the finishing touches on my stuffed mushrooms and preparing them for

storage.

did not think about what just happened, or what it might mean.

adding the finishing touches to the garden party dresses for me and Elva. She was sewing

have news,” Charlotte said, “about your other

I remembered. Though Charlotte had certainly opened up to me now, in the early days, she had seemed to only barely tolerate me. The overly–friendly one had helped me feel more at ease

down,” Charlotte said. “They let her go from the palace staff, but she was able to find another position in a noble household.”

I had worried that she

stressful.” Charlotte

is safe and well. I’ve

to her, she seemed worried

whole of the palace

her a smile. “And that’s what matters. With the support

any of these hardships.”

ruined appetizers were nothing compared to the hardships I

past.

I had a roof over my head, food for both Elva and me, and proper medical treatment for

basic needs, which in the past had

incredibly difficult

lack of physical turmoil of these minor hardships, they still made my staying here more difficult. I had to be careful to make certain I succeeded in every challenge. I wanted to stay here as long as I could.