Page 74 of Movers and Fakers

Jasmine laughs nearby. “Seriously, we’re happy for you and even happier you shared with us.”

“Same here. Though the offer to key his car is always on the table,” Marigold says with a mischievous grin.

I shake my head and let out a sigh. I love my friends, even if they’re a little—or a lot—crazy.

“I know I got all melancholy, but I really am happy for you. Your relationship gives me hope,” Saylor adds.

“Why, because if my ice heart can find someone, it means you can too?” I ask in a flat voice.

“Exactly!” Saylor chirps.

“Saylor,” Jasmine and Marigold scold at the same time.

A laugh bursts out of me at Saylor’s sheepish expression. My laugh sends all of us through a roller coaster of giggles. I find myself feeling lighter than I have in a long time, and while I don’t buy into the whole frozen-heart theory, I do think I have Hayes to thank.

Chapter thirty-seven

Too Much

Hayes Rosewood

Aurora doesn’t seem like the type of woman who could be bribed. However, I figure it can’t hurt to give her an iced coffee before dropping the news about my parents on her. I wait outside the performing arts academy building, grateful that I added an iced coffee sleeve to my purchase this morning. The sleeves were at the checkout counter, and there was a pink one, so I couldn’t resist. The few dollars is worth it, because it’s protecting my hand from freezing cold condensation on an already blustering day.

I take a sip of my hot coffee, trying to warm myself, though caffeine might be a mistake considering the anxiety pinballing through my chest right now. The doors open, and a group of slender women dressed in layers with buns on top of their heads pour out. Aurora is amongst them, wearing a pink leotard that shows beneath her open gray jacket. The sweatpants she has on are rolled up several times at her waist, and her shoes are bubblegum-pink puffballs. She looks adorable and beautiful, and I’m about to ruin her entire day.

She tugs out her wired earbuds and tucks them into the pocket of her sweats as she approaches. I extend the coffee toward her, and she accepts it with a faint smile.

“Good morning, beautiful,” I greet, and press a brief kiss to her lips.

She blushes the same shade as her leotard.

“Morning. I didn’t expect you to be waiting out here.”

I swallow and muster up a smile.

“I thought it would be nice to walk together. How was class?” I ask, and take her hand in mine, intertwining our fingers. The action grounds me, stifling some of my worries.

“It was good,” Aurora replies softly, taking a sip of her iced coffee. “The instructor complimented my form, which is rare. She’s more likely to point out faults than anything.”

“That’s great,” I say with a real smile, bringing her hand up to kiss the back of it. “I’m proud of you.”

Her blush deepens a shade. She looks down at the ground as we walk.

“It’s not that big of a deal.”

“Anything involving you is a big deal,” I correct. “You are royalty after all.”

Aurora groans. “Are you ever going to drop that bit?”

“Unlikely.”

She shakes her head, but she’s smiling as she takes another sip of her coffee. It’s quiet for a moment, and my mind races to fill in the gaps with everything that could go wrong in our upcoming conversation. Aurora seems oblivious to my spiral, which is good. She’s surveying the path ahead of us, which is teeming with students and staff alike. Almost all of whom turn to look as we pass.

“Do you think I’ll get used to this?” she asks. “Being watched.”

My heart sinks at the discomfort in her tone. It was easy enough to play things off when we were fake dating, but now that this is real, she has to contend with what it means to be attached to a Rosewood. And if we stay together, it will only get worse from here.

“I hope so,” I answer in a quiet voice. “But I guess I don’t know what it’s like to be without the spotlight. There was no transition for me, since I grew up this way.”