Chapter 109

Julian started by placing down a queen of hearts. To his left, Veronica immediately lowered four cards. I watched her face closely, but she revealed nothing. Her emotionless façade seemed like it could even rival Nicholas’s.

I decided not to call her a liar. If I did so, and I was incorrect, all the cards she lowered would then go into my hand. Since the way to win the game was to totally empty your hand, I wasn’t willing to chance it.

Julian smiled at her.

The other candidate Julian had selected, Tiffany, narrowed her eyes in suspicion, but also didn’t say a word.

“Piper,” Julian said. “Your turn.”

I looked at my hand. I only had three cards in the heart suit. If I lied and put down more cards, maybe I could actually win this game. Julian hadn’t actually said there was any benefit to winning, but it sure would be fun to pull one over on him for once.

I lowered for cards down. I schooled my face carefully to not give anything away.

Julian laughed, even before Tiffany shouted, “You’re lying!”

“You don’t know that,” I said quickly, but my face was turning red.

“Show your cards, then.” Tiffany leaned back in her chair.

I frowned.

Julian brightened. “Go on, then. Show your cards, Piper.”

Begrudgingly, I flipped over my cards.

“I knew it!” Tiffany dropped her hand down on the tabletop, shaking it.

“Sorry, Piper,” Julian said, and passed the pile of cards to me, doubling the size of my hand. “You really are a bad liar.”

“There’s nothing wrong with being honest,” Veronica said, deadpan. “Unless you wanted to actually win this game.”

“Great. Thanks.” I rubbed my forehead. I was going to be terrible at this game.

I was right. Veronica, however, was an ultimate professional. She had even called out Julian, which surprised the whole table. Julian had been lying. I hadn’t been able to tell.

“Cards are boring anyway,” Julian said, throwing his hand in the pile. “It’s much more fun when we play with secrets.”

“What do you mean?” Tiffany asked.

“Forget the cards,” Julian said. “Instead, ask me something about myself and I’ll give you an answer. Then you can decide whether or not it’s the truth.”

“That sounds dangerous,” Tiffany said.

“And fun,” replied Veronica.

“For sure,” Tiffany agreed. “I’m in.”

Julian looked at me. “Piper?”

Tiffany was right, this prospect definitely seemed dangerous, especially with the cameras watching. Though I doubted Julian would give any straight answers, no matter what he was asked.

“I’m in,” I agreed. I’m not sure what they would have had me do otherwise. Sit in a corner? No way I would miss the chance to ask Julian something, even if what he told me was a lie. There was a slim chance he might tell me the truth.

Veronica went first and absolutely failed with her question. “What’s your favorite color?”

“Blue,” he said.

Tiffany frowned at her. “You wasted your question!”

Veronica tilted her head. “Did I?”

Julian laughed.

“You ask one, then,” Veronica said.

“It’s Piper’s turn,” Julian said.

I thought a moment. “Who is the most important person in your life?”

He hummed, and seemed to consider it. Then, predictably, he smiled and said, “Me.”

I rolled my eyes.

The game continued, and eventually I came to notice how most of Julian’s answers were… truthful.

Tiffany didn’t seem to know, laughing at every one of Julian’s answers. If Veronica knew, she wasn’t telling. She kept a perfectly straight faced the entire time.

Eventually, the camera crew grew bored with us. “We have enough footage,” the producer said, and the group wrapped up and left the room.

When it came to be my turn again, I saw an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. This could finally be my chance to get a straight answer out of Julian, especially with the prying ears of the public out of the way.

“Piper?” Julian was waiting for my question.

“Okay.” I prepared myself with a deep inhale. Then I asked, “Why did you and Prince Nicholas never seem to get along?”

Julian’s smile didn’t as much as twitch, yet I still felt a tension seep into the room. Maybe it was my fault. I knew I was asking a loaded question, and with it hanging now in the air, I felt the true weight of it.

I very nearly took it back. I asked too much, got too personal. I should take it back.

Or he could just lie. I wanted him to, if that meant this terrible moment would end.

He looked at me, and then he said, “Nicholas stole my first love. Her name was Bridget.”

My thoughts fizzled out. Nicholas… stole… Julian’s love? That seemed so impossible! Nicholas dated some before me, I remembered him talking about it some. But he had always said his previous relationships had never included anything serious.

I didn’t think he would lie to me about that.

Had it been different from Julian’s perspective? Or was he lying to me now?

Tiffany started laughing. “You can’t expect us to believe that! No one, not even Prince Nicholas, would be able to steal a woman away from you.”

“You are very sweet,” Julian said, smiling at her. He placed his elbow on the table and then his chin in his hand. “And you’ve played right into my trap. Tell me more about how wonderful I am.”

Tiffany indulged him at once. “You have the most beautiful eyes. And your wit is unmatched.”

Julian continued to encourage her. “Go on. Don’t stop.”

Veronica glanced at me. She didn’t say a word and her face looked no different than before, yet I felt like she was giving me a vibe. Someone I knew she was telling me that Julian hadn’t been lying.

I had no reason to think that, really, other than a growing pit in my stomach, but it was what I believed.

As the date winded down, his unusual answer remained on my mind. Veronica and Tiffany each said their goodbyes and left the parlor. But I stayed behind.

I wanted to talk to him alone.

After seeing out Veronica and Tiffany, he stayed near the entryway, while I hovered near the card table.

“You have questions,” he said without looking at me. “You might as well ask them.”

I traced the edge of the table with my fingers. “Were you telling the truth?”

“Of course I was.” He turned, facing me. “Blue is my favorite color.”

I sighed. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

“Do I? Veronica thought it important enough to ask that question first.”

“She also asked your star sign and which of your cars is your favorite.”

“All valid questions.” He laughed as he walked closer.

I gave him a withering look.

Just like that, his laugh turned bitter. “Don’t ask me questions you don’t actually want the answers to, Piper.”

“I want to know, Julian. You and Nicholas have been rivals for so long. I had no idea back in school that the two of you were brothers. Rivalries are typical between siblings, but nothing like this hatred you seem to harbor for each other.”

“Some things just aren’t meant to be sunshine and sparkles,” he said.

“I just want to understand.”

“You’re kicking a hornet’s nest.” He ran a hand through his hair. Yet even as he removed his fingers, it returned as it was, attractively messy.

“I care about you both. I want to know you both better.”

“Then the person you want to talk to isn’t me.” Julian’s smile slipped, just for a moment. “You want to know why he did it, ask him. Because honestly, Piper, you think you know him, but how well do you actually know about his past before you came around?”