Page 185 of Bad Prince
There it is.
No games.
No flirting.
Just the question sitting between us like it’s been waiting all night.
I lean back.
Run a hand through my hair.
Think.
Actually think.
Because I could give her something easy.
Something clean.
Something that sounds good.
I don’t.
“I don’t leave people when they need me,” I say.
Simple.
True.
Not the whole truth.
But not a lie either.
Her eyes search mine.
She nods slowly.
“Yeah,” she says. “I figured.”
A nurse knocks lightly, steps in, checks vitals, adjusts the IV, asks routine questions.
We both answer automatically.
Like we’ve been here before.
Like this is normal.
It’s not.
When the nurse leaves, Isa shifts slightly, wincing.
“God, this sucks,” she mutters.
“Yeah.”
“I had olympic scouts coming next month.”
I nod.
