The corners of her eyes crinkled, and the smile she wore could have slain armies.
“He’s reformed.” She said, “And he’s very handsome, don’t you think?”
Luci shook her head, unable to understand the chaotic thoughts running through Brielle’s mind. Maybe Prince Ira didn’t care right now, but someday he might, and nothing good could come of it.
“You should think about how your fiancé feels about it.” Luci chastised.
The answering curl of her red lips was practically villainous.
“I’m fairly certain he’s too preoccupied to notice.”
“Who are you and what have you done with Brielle Treveon?” Luci asked, mouth agape.
Never in all their years together did Luci once question Brielle’s integrity or virtue. This version of her friend was someone she barely recognized. Morality aside, the way her cheeks pulled tight, and the brightness in her eyes was a sightto behold. Brielle was happy, and beneath her pallor, she was glowing.
“Oh, Luci, someday we'll look back on this and laugh. Just try to make sure it’s before my wedding,” she said.
Her tone was teasing, but the rest was foreign and cut into Luci’s chest. It was the knowledge that someday Brielle would marry Prince Ira, and she would lose her. That was it. Knowing she would sleep in his bed, wake up beside him, and spend their evening together.
Knots as big as stones settled into her stomach, and the urge to run far away took root in her. Kindness and happiness beyond what should have been given to her were her constant companions for most of her life. She could be happy for her friend. Even if jealousy eroded her from within, she could be happy for the woman who meant the world to her.
Forcing a smile, Luci chuckled. “We can laugh about it now.”
The smile fell from Brielle’s face, and Luci knew it was the wrong thing to say, even if she didn’t understand why. All she wanted was to support Brielle. The cost didn’t matter.
“You are a better friend than I could ever have asked for. Sometimes I’m not sure if I’m doing the right thing, but I can’t help but think if I didn’t do it this way, we would go back to Blythe and you would never find the happiness you deserve.”
None of it made sense.
“I would follow you wherever, and that would be all the happiness I need,” Luci whispered.
Brielle nodded and wiped at the hint of tears welling in her eyes.
“Look at that. You will make my charcoal run,” she said. “I see now you’ll never choose yourself over me. I’ll fix this tonight, and I hope you will forgive me for it,” she said.
Goodness, if just one thing out of her mouth would make sense. Brielle Treveon was an open book. There were no secrets,no plots between them, but tonight, Luci didn’t know a single thing.
The right thing to say was lost somewhere inside of Luci, like she was adrift in a place devoid of time or space. Reaching down, Brielle tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. A delicate trail of tears tracking down her beautiful face.
“I am going to say something to you right now, and I want you to hear me. The first is that it doesn’t matter where or to whom you were born— it matters who you have chosen to be. The second is that you are worthy of a love that could tumble the stars from the sky. All you have to do is be brave enough and love yourself enough to accept it.”
It hurt to take in a full breath, and her eyes were stinging with such force that liquid pooled in them. It was like trying to pull a boulder up a mountain. It was a funny sort of dread that whispered at the back of her mind. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for Brielle to speak with her heart, but this felt like the beginning of a tragedy.
Luci stood and ran her hands over Brielle’s face and neck. Several small bumps gathered here and there beneath the skin of her neck, but no more than normal. Sometimes there were more when she took ill, but her skin felt cool, no fevers.
Brielle grabbed Luci’s hands and smiled as she pulled them down.
“I’m fine. You know I am not always sick when I say nice things to you,” she said.
That couldn’t stop the worry clinging to Luci like a second skin. Everything in her was saying that this was a mistake. They shouldn’t be going to this dinner. She should throw Brielle into the bed and get Noah to come see what Luci was missing.
Wiping at her eyes and dabbing her cheeks, Brielle rolled her eyes before grabbing Luci’s hand.
“Let’s go before you try to kidnap me.”
Sometimes Luci wondered if Brielle was capable of hearing her thoughts, for how astute she often was.
“Fine, but if you feel at all bad, we are leaving,” Luci said.