Chapter 282

“No,” Julian said. “There’s no way Bridget would start that rumor.”

I pressed my lips hard together and lowered my head so I wouldn’t have to look him in the eye. I hadn’t talked to him since the morning out in the gardens. He didn’t know all the new things I had heard from Bridget herself.

She had been so entirely indifferent to him and me sleeping together. After she ‘came to my rescue’ against Nathan, she had literally told me she didn’t care if we had slept together or not. I knew then that those words would hurt Julian, just as I did now. I still didn’t want to tell him.

“It was her,” Veronica said. “I’m sure of it.”

Having suspected Bridget from the start, though hoping I was wrong, I believed Veronica. Bridget and Nicholas were the only two who knew I had been out late that night, other than Brian. But I couldn’t imagine Brian would say a word. And Nicholas wouldn’t lie to himself about this.

It could have only been Bridget from the start.

Julian, however, was having a hard time accepting that. His smile faded, as it so often did when it came to Bridget. Without a word, he turned toward the door. He stopped only to gently pat Elva on the head, then he rushed out into the hallway.

We all watched after him for a moment. Then I looked to Veronica.

“Do you think he’ll be okay?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “It seems as if he’s been dealing with these feelings a long time.”

“He’s usually so observant,” I said. “It’s like he has a blind spot when it comes to her.”

“Love can do that,” she said. She glanced at the door again, which was now closed. There was no lingering presence of him in the room. He’d even seemed to forget about the swimsuits.

I turn to Charlotte, who was holding the swimsuits not quite as high as before.

“Please pack both of those suits, Charlotte,” I said. “Is there one for Elva as well?”

Charlotte smiled at Elva. “Come on, Elva. Yours are in the closet still. Why don’t I show you? One looks like it has a little tutu, like a ballerina!”

A bright smile burst from Elva, and she skipped toward Charlotte. They entered the closet together, leaving the door opened wide. I would join them in a moment, but first I returned my attention to Veronica.

“Thank you,” I said. “You didn’t have to go to Julian about this. You certainly didn’t have to include me at all.”

“There were a lot of reasons I felt you should join us,” Veronica said. “One of them is that I want you there.”

“Thank you,” I said again, just in case the first didn’t have enough emphasis. Then I pulled her into a hug, which she returned.

Veronica was a good friend. She and Susie and Julian were the best friends I’d ever made, right up there with Anne. God, I missed my friend. I hoped she was doing well, back in our small apartment. I felt a little like I’d been here forever. I wished we could catch up.

Veronica and I pulled away from each other then. She gave me a soft smile, then excused herself. After she left, I joined Charlotte and Elva in the closet. Elva was so excited the rest of the day.

At dinner time, I joined the other candidates. Susie and Veronica were already there. They both gave me tight, warning smiles as I entered. I didn’t understand why right away, not until I sat down, when Tiffany looked right at me and said, “Why do you get to go to the island? You weren’t even up there in the rankings?”

Tiffany was lower than even me in the rankings, but I didn’t want to point that out when she was already hurt.

I hadn’t considered this, how my joining this trip would make the other girls feel. I looked to Susie for comfort and answers. She, at least, didn’t seem jealous. Why would she? The man she wanted was staying here.

“How does everyone know so fast?” I asked her quietly, while Veronica distracted Tiffany with talk of their meal. The chicken parmesan was delicious. I couldn’t imagine Veronica would tell anyone. Nor could I really see Julian walking into the room to share the news.

“Bridget told everyone before you arrived,” Susie replied.

But how did she know? Only Veronica, Julian, and I knew and – oh.

Julian must have told her. Perhaps Veronica’s accusation shook through him and he decided to confront Bridget for himself. God help him, I hope she didn’t crassly break his heart again.

I sighed. I couldn’t be mad at him for going to her for the truth. It’s exactly what I would have done if Nicholas had been accused of starting the rumors.

“It really is too bad,” Bridget said, speaking loud enough for the whole table to hear. “Piper thinks herself so vital to the competition that she would break the set rules to join us on our trip. I understand how hard it is to be left behind, but rules are rules for a reason. Don’t you think so, Piper?”

All eyes in the room turned toward me. I wasn’t as scared of the spotlight as Susie was, but it was still unnerving to have the sudden overwhelming attention of everyone in the room. I swallowed thickly, suddenly very nervous.

The only pair of eyes in the room not directed at me where Susie’s. In her lap, she twisted her napkin so tightly it was beginning to fray.

“I…” I didn’t know what to say. “If I…”

“You must agree with me?” Bridget said. “Surely you see how unfair that would be, for you to be included on a trip not intended for you?”

“That’s enough,” said Susie, in her soft frightened voice.

I looked at her in surprise. So did Bridget.

“What was that, Susie?” she asked.

“I said, that’s enough!” Susie said louder. “You say it would be unfair for her, but that entire event was unfair to anyone but you.”

Everyone’s eyes went wide, my own included. I’d never heard Susie speak like that with anyone.

She glared at Bridget. “You forget that Piper is Julian’s favorite, and that they are a couple. Of course she would be included wherever he would choose to go.”

“She’s right,” Veronica added, when Susie began to falter. “Unless you think you have a right to dictate what the prince’s want, Bridget?”

Bridget closed her mouth. She continued to smile, even as the corner of her eye seemed tighter than before.

I smiled at Susie in thanks. Her face was beet red.

After dinner, I was so distracted, I was not paying attention where I was going, and in my usual walk down the hallway, ran straight into a hard male chest.

“I’m so sorry,” I said. I tried to back away, but a pair of strong arms came around me and held me closer.

I inhaled. I knew that scent. The feel of this chest and those arms.

Nicholas.

He held me tightly, so I lifted my arms and held him in return.

We stayed like that for a long few moments, neither of us speaking a word.

His heartbeat was so steady, so calming. I wished I could stay like this forever, safe in the cradle of his arms.

But it was not meant to be.

Eventually we separated. We didn’t say a word as we walked away from each other in different directions down the hall.