AllFreeNovel
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My heart skips an entire measure of beats.
Dinner is basically over now, right? We’ve made an appearance. We’ve survived the repulsive greetings. We’ve effectively excused ourselves from the conversation. We’re allowed to go home and talk about the fact Wolfgang’s hair is still wet and glass-flecked now, right?
That was fanfiction levels of intense.
The cliché I’d been waiting for.
Loved it.
I’m going to find a way to add a similar situation to my book, just so I can relive it again and again. Think of the scandal it could prompt if Doliver threw a glass at someone in Britney’s honor. If he falls from grace before all the world, it would drive home the fact Britney loves him for him, not his prestige, money, or celebrity perks.
Yikes.
That could signal the end of the story.
At over ninety chapters, it’s probably about time.
I blink, becoming aware that Ollie just spoke, that Ollie is pushing out his chair, that Ollie is standing. Mimicking the actions, I rein my head back into the moment.
“Take care,” Cael says, lifting the platter of doughnuts toward me once more.
Platonically, I love him, your honor.
“Leaving already?” Markov asks, narrow eyes hardened on the both of us.
This time, I meet his gaze and shove the entire ball of fried dough in my mouth.
Ollie tucks his hands in his pockets, casual. “I could sit here in silence for another few hours, but I don’t want to.”
“You could offer something of substance to the conversation—” Brogan licks animal grease off his thumb. “—couldn’t you?”
“When I have something of worth to provide, I offer it to my prince in a privacy that benefits him alone.”
The stem of Markov’s glass snaps.
Cael utters a giddy curse.
Then he gives me the entire tray of doughnuts.
There may very well be tears in my eyes as I look at him and touch my chest with silent, non-incriminating, thanks.
“We’re family,” Markov says, seemingly oblivious to the wine running into his plate from his broken glass.
“Quite recently,” Ollie begins, “I have come into a fuller understanding of that word, and it is with the honesty I cannot separate myself from that I say, no. We aren’t.”
My heart stampedes.
Cael, eyes gleaming, settles in as though he’s watching a movie, chin perched in his palms, fingers curled against his cheeks.
Markov stands, thrusting the rest of the broken glass down into his plate. The plush ground of this room mutes his pounding steps as he approaches to tower over us.
Ollie puts himself squarely in front of me as Markov growls, “I dare you to repeat that.”
“Isn’t it as obvious as you’ve always made it?” Ollie tilts his head back to meet the man’s eyes. “Temperament aside, we hardly bear a resemblance, and none of you have ever let me forget that.”
“It seems I flattered you overmuch earlier and you’ve gotten cocky.”
“Your opinion is noted and disregarded entirely.”
