The Luna Choosing Game

When our lovemaking was done, Nicholas held me in his arms under the covers of the bed. Despite the bliss running through my
veins, now that the deed was done, I also felt a wave of... guilt.
I didn’t know if Nicholas and Bridget were together. Maybe they were, maybe they weren't. But probably should have clarified
that before I jumped into bed with him like some kind of thirsty harlot.
My moral compass seemed to fly out the window when it came to Nicholas.
’d pretty much do anything to keep him in my life.
“you're quiet,” Nicholas said. He combed his fingers lazily through my
hair as I laid, half-draped, over his chest.
“I was just thinking...” I began, but lost my nerve to say more.
“About what?” Nicholas prompted.
I should have known he wouldn’t let this go so easily. “About you...” I said.
A pause. Then I added, “And Bridget.” Nicholas sighed.
«ghe warned me that the two of you are together,” I said. I wasn’t able to stop the words, now that the dam had been broken.
“She said it would be for the best if I stayed away from you.” Nicholas’s hand stilled. It had just passed through my hair and was
now sitting on the edge of my shoulder.
“She said that to you?” @» “Yes.” I lifted my head, to look himin _ § the eye. “Was she telling the truth?” “I haven’t made any
decisions,” Nicholas said.
He held my gaze so I knew that was the truth, but I also could tell there was much more to the story than simply that. I waited
patiently for him to continue. I wasn’t waiting long.
“My parents are convinced Bridget is the best choice for my Luna,” Nicholas said. “They are being very insistent.
They even talking to Bridget about it, which is why she’s so confident.” He sighed again, and this time it came out harsher. I
could sense his frustration.

“So many people think they have a right to decide everything for me. It was bad enough when it was just my parents. But now to
have Bridget in the mix? She is my friend. She always has been, but she is suddenly demanding more of me. She wants
promises I'm not ready to make.” Not ready, he said. That didn’t mean he was outright refusing her or outright refusing any of it.
He just needed more time to think about it.
It wasn’t the dismissal of Bridget that I wanted, but... I always knew that Nicholas would choose the crown before anyone or
anything else, including me. That he would need to think carefully was no shock. And that he wouldn't want to immediately
dismiss Bridget when she was such a promising candidate wasn’t shocking
either.
It still stung, though. Somedays I half- wished Nicholas would throw it all aside and choose me over everything else, but that was
an entirely selfish notion. And Nicholas was too good of a man to do that.
So, for now, I clung onto what I could of him, and tried to enjoy him for as long as I could have him.
Which led my thoughts to this trip.
“Nicholas,” I began.
«Hm?” That showed he was listening.
“What if, since we are on vacation, we... pretended to be different people?” He considered the words a moment.
“What do you mean?” ‘Maybe what we both really need is a break. A break from worries and responsibilities. We're on vacation.
We don’t need to worry so much here. Why don’t we try being other people? People who aren’t a prince and a commoner.” He
laughed a little, and I knew I was winning him over.
“Who would we be?” he asked.
“Just two regular people on equal footing,” I said. “Without any cares.
Two people who just want to drink boat drinks and watch the waves hit the sand.”