Page 27 of Reign

“Yes, right now. I’m not waiting for the next party at Tudor House, hoping to catch you before you run off on a mysterious errand.” He held out a hand to indicate the sunshine. “Besides, this is the perfect weather for the Broken Spoon. Unless you’d rather get Mulberry’s cheese tots, obviously.”

Nina fell in love with him, just a teensy bit, for knowing to suggest ice cream on a first date.

“Definitely not. You don’t want those cheese tots before midnight,” she agreed.

They headed onto Market Street and into the neighborhood adjacent to campus, filled with fast-casual restaurants and coffee shops.

As they walked, Nina noticed that people kept glancing their way. She couldn’t blame them; James was undeniably gorgeous, with his chiseled features and roguish grin, blond hair glinting in the sun. There was something self-aware in the way he walked, as if he expected everyone to be looking at him, and the force of his ego was so massive that they alldidlook at him.

“What did you think of that class?” James asked. “To be honest,King Learhas never been my favorite of the tragedies. I’m old-school and preferRomeo and Juliet.”

“Romeo and Juliet?” Nina made a face, then registered his words. “Wait—you’re in Dr.Larsen’s Shakespeare class, too?”

“I just joined.”

“They let you do that mid-semester?”

“I got special permission.” Before she could ask for details, he deftly changed the subject. “That Oxford program sounds incredible. Are you applying?”

Nina shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

“The girl who lives and breathes Jane Austen? Why not?”

Because she could never do something like that. The farthest Nina had ever traveled was to the Caribbean with the Washingtons one year at spring break.

“I don’t want to go that far from home,” she told James. He didn’t know her well enough to hear the lack of conviction in her voice.

They pushed open the door of the Broken Spoon, and a bell chimed inside. The chalkboard menu overhead advertised today’s selections, mostly inventive flavors like lemon poppy seed or Boston cream pie. Nina ordered a scoop of strawberry, then chuckled when James asked for a waffle cone of triple brownie batter.

“Triple brownie batter? That’s a lot of chocolate.”

“So?” James asked, paying for their ice cream despite Nina’s protests.

“So, nothing should be that chocolatey. It’s a chocolate overload.”

He placed a hand on the small of her back to guide her gently from the store. She felt a little jolt of electricity at the contact.

“Why don’t you try for yourself.” James held out his cone in amused challenge.

Nina hesitated, wondering if it was too girlfriendy to share his ice cream cone—but then, theyhadalready kissed. She smiled and took a bite, only to pause at the sound of her name.

“Nina!”

Rachel was stepping out of the stationery store down the street. When she saw that Nina was with James, her eyes widened—just as Blair followed her out of the store and noticed the exact same thing.

“Omigod,our two leads are already vibing!” Blair clapped in glee. “Iknewwe were right to cast you two! Nina, youseriouslyhave a type,” she added meaningfully.

Nina’s stomach swooped.Our two leads?She glanced over at James, whose brow was furrowed as the directors hurried toward them—Blair beaming, Rachel looking unmistakably guilty.

“You actually put me in the show?” Nina demanded when her roommate was closer. “I told you that I didn’t want to do it!”

“But, Nina, you were so good. How could wenotcast you?”

“Who am I playing?”

“We posted the cast list earlier today; I’m surprised you haven’t seen it.” Rachel fumbled in her bag and withdrew a printed sheet of computer paper.

Nina’s eyes skimmed over the names.Hermia—AnnieGleason; Lysander—Kevin Straithairn; Helena—Nina Gonzalez; Demetrius—Jamie Stuart…