Page 111 of The Broken Note

Jinx: Riding On The Royal Coattails.

They say it’s not what you know. It’s who you know. And gaining the favor of royalty is the fastest way to freedom.

Royal networking 101: the powerful can open doors, not just for you, but for all the important people in your life.

A lesson New Girl discovered today.

Someone working the morning shift at the biggest amusement park in the city sent photos of an unusually smiley Prince Charming and the ladies he was trying to impress.

Will this finally be enough to win Cinderella’s hand? Or will Prince Charming have to give up more of his heart and up to half of his kingdom?

Until the next post, keep your enemies close and your secrets even closer.

- Jinx

CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT

CADENCE

Dutch is tense and quiet on the drive back to my neighborhood. He doesn’t bring up what happened last night at all. I feel the distance, but I don’t breach it. A part of me is grateful that he seems to be pulling back. I don’t know how I would have handled it if he’d been all over me.

Last night already broke something.

Some boundary.

Some wall.

Some defense between my life and his.

I need to assess the damage and build back what was there before so I don’t fall even deeper than I already am. Because what happens when I really give up the fight?

Marriage. Graduation.

And then what?

What does my future look like with Dutch Cross in it?

The thought frightens me.

I can’t give up control. I just can’t.

Vi gets into the car. She’s brimming with questions and smiles until she sees both our faces. Her mouth snaps shut and she melts into the backseat, not saying a word.

“Vi, let’s go,” I mumble when Dutch slows his car in front of my apartment building.

Vi wiggles through the space between the front seats instead. “I told Shanae about the amusement park. She didn’t believe me when I told her you rented the entire place.”

Her innocent words seem to spark him from his daze.

Dutch glances over his shoulder. “We’ll do it again soon. You can bring your friends next time.”

“No way!” Vi’s eyes light up.

I stiffen. “You shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep.”

“Who says I can’t keep it?” Dutch’s eyes take me in, wrecking me, tearing me to shreds without any effort.I’m already falling for you. I can’t let my sister take the same path.

The air turns tense.