Page 10 of Princess and Country

Bonding over music erased some of the tension in the room.

As time passed, we made ourselves more comfortable.

Little knots in my stomach loosened.

We shared smiles. And Jeff was right; I adored his playlist.

“I didn’t you know you like indie music—”

“There is a lot of things you don’t know about me, Princess,” he said, his eyes zeroing on mine, all traces of playfulness now gone.

That was it. The moment I’d die. Did my lungs puncture, or was I having a heart attack? Anyhow, something didn’t feel right in my chest. I closed my eyes and swallowed hard, my breathing slowly evening out.

When I opened my eyes, Jeff’s gaze was still trained on me.

“You want to make one?” he asked.

My lips parted, but I said nothing.

I must have looked at him with question marks in my eyes because he added, “A playlist? You want to make one?”

“I’m—I’m not sure how,” I said in a low voice, avoiding the magnetism of his irises.

“It’s super easy. I’ll show you. Here, take my seat.”

Jeff tugged at my hand, and I got up to sit on the chair he had just vacated. He kneeled beside me and handled the mousepad, blanketing my hand with his large one, his skin feeling soft on mine. Jeff’s scent enveloped me. I closed my eyes and took a big whiff. Better.

Each time our skin brushed, my heart swelled a bit more in my chest.

Time passed, and after a while, I forgot about my big news.

Wherever Carter was, he still wasn’t home.

On his bed, Jeff rested his back against the wall, his legs stretched in front of him as I lay on my front, my chin propped on my crossed arms, beside him.

The silence felt comfortable. My heart had decreased its thunderous beating.

“I can’t believe we’ve never had a chance to hang out together,” Jeff said after a while. “You and Carter are always together. Like Siamese twins. He’s so protective of you.”

I swiveled my head to stare at him. His posture was more relaxed than before.

“Carter’s my best friend. I’ve never pictured you as the guy hanging out with his younger brother’s friends. Carter’s your—”

Jeff straightened his back and peeled himself from the wall. “I don’t care about your age, Dahlia. We’ve been around each other forever. I’ve never considered you to be only my brother’s friend.”

The air around us changed in a second. Seriousness flashed in his eyes. Jeff gazed at me with an intensity that seared my being. I lost myself in the hypnotic pull of his irises. Neither of us blinked. Neither looked away. The pounding of my heart made me dizzy.

“Here you are,” Carter announced as he walked into the room, breaking the moment. “Dad told me you were here. I’m sorry it took longer than expected. There was a fender-bender on the highway.” My best friend sat on the bed next to me, unaware of the connection simmering between his brother and me, and continued, “What are you guys doing?” I rose to sit on my heels, hoping to find my balance after the avalanche of overwhelming emotions.

“Listening to music,” Jeff shrugged, “waiting for you to come home. You’re lucky I was around when your sorry ass wasn’t,” he ended with a wink. Carter captured Jeff in a headlock, and they brawled, laughing like idiots, until they rolled off the bed and crashed on the floor, never breaking apart.

The memory of why I came here returned.

“Hey, Cart, when you’re done, I have something to tell you. It’s big.” Carter released his grip on his brother, my words acting like a fight breaker. His eyes flared as he rested on all fours, on the hardwood floor. He tipped his eyebrows, prompting me to speak up. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Jeff looking my way with the same curiosity, both Hills brothers ready to swallow anything I had to say.

Feeling self-conscious, I adjusted my shirt and pushed my thick braid over my shoulder.

My eyes met Jeff’s for a flash before stopping on Carter. I couldn’t seem to look directly into his eyes. My gaze slipped down a little, a sliver of guilt prickling inside me. Both stared at me like I held the truth to eternal life.