Chapter 255

Daphne sighs and we talk through some further protests, but finally we get to the point where we both feel like we’re on even terms. The champagne helps, I think, unwinding our tongues and our inhibitions, and after long I think we’re feeling even again, renewed.

Which is how I know that it’s time to blow up our world again.

“What?” she asks, frowning at me, sensing that I’m prepping to tell her something as she holds out her glass for a refill. I oblige her, filling my own as well.

“I’ve been keeping secrets, Daph,” I say with a sigh. Her eyes go wide and I laugh little, shaking my head. “Nothing to do with you, but…”

And then, with another big sigh – honestly, I’m getting kind of tired of sighing – I spill. I tell her everything – about having two mates, and Luca and Jackson figuring it out last night, and how everything went to pieces, and how Jackson didn’t show up for the train today.

Daphne is an amazing listener, scooting immediately closer to me and wrapping an arm around my shoulders. She quietly listens to the whole story, nodding her understanding and hugging me tighter and tighter as I go. “Wow,” she murmurs when I’m all finished. “Ari – that’s…that’s insane.”

“I know,” I groan, shaking my head.

“I can’t believe Jackson didn’t come home for winter break,” she murmurs, looking over her shoulder out the back window of the caboose, almost as if she’ll see him running back up the tracks behind us or something. “What a jerk.”

I laugh a little, straightening up and shaking my head at her. “He’s not a jerk, Daphne, he doesn’t have it in him to be a jerk –“

“All men do,” she says with narrowed eyes, and I laugh, which just makes her laugh in turn.

“No, Jacks is…he’s just delicate in this way,” I say on a sigh. “I guess he just…needed a minute alone to figure out how he feels about all of this. But at least Luca’s here.”

“Yeah,” Daphne says, patting my shoulder warmly. “But I get it. You wanted both of them – you want both of them. It’s hard for everyone, I think.”

She takes a moment to consider me, tilting her head a little bit. “So,” she says quietly, “they want you to choose between them?”

Slowly I nod, sipping my champagne.

“And are you…leaning one way or another yet?” Her question is hesitant, careful.

My eyes go wide and my mouth pops open. “No!” I say, shaking my head vehemently.

“Really?” she says, leaning forward, pressing but doing so delicately. “Like, not even at all? Not even a little bit of you liking one more than the other, or seeing a…a better life match? Or…” she wrinkles her nose a little bit here before lifting her champagne to her lips, “who might be…better in bed?”

I burst out laughing at this and cover my face for a second with my hands. “No, Daphne,” I say with a sigh, dropping my hand and smiling at her. “I mean, honestly, they’re both really different and bring different thing to the table – but maybe it’s because I’m mated to both of them? But I’m absolutely not leaning towards one or the other right now. They’re both…mine.”

I sigh, hoping it makes sense, even though I know it’s probably impossible unless you’re in my own heart.

“Well, then that just makes it all harder, doesn’t it?” Daphne says, twisting her lips a little as she stares at me with empathy.

I nod, leaning my head against the wall, grateful that she understands. noveldrama

Daphne’s eyes move over me now, taking in how sad and exhausted I am by all of this. I mean – it’s been a big couple of days. I think it makes sense that I’m tired and stressed by it all, even if we are celebrating today.

“You know what might make you feel better?” she says, soft and encouraging. I lift my head, curious. She grins, leaning closer. “Turning you back into a girl.”

I sit up straight, laughing “What!?”

“Come on!” she says, her smile deepening. “Don’t you want to go back to the Capital as a girl!? You can borrow some of my clothes, and I have make up –“

“Yes!” I shout, immediately enthused. “Oh my god, yes!”

That’s enough for both of us. We jump off of the window seat and hurry for the door. The boys all turn to us in surprise as we burst through it, but we ignore them. Daphne heads immediately for her suitcase as I dash behind the bar, getting a bottle of wine instead of champagne so that we’re thoroughly fortified for our mission.

“Important Princess business!” Daphne says loftily as she strides back towards the bathroom, her case swinging in her hand.