Maeve “He just left? Just got up and left?” Gemma picked at her fingernails, looking over at me from perch on the couch. We were in the atrium, a towering four-story high addition to the backside of the castle where the windows stretched to the ceiling and almost microscopic hoses ran along the beams, showering hundreds of plants in a steady flow of mist. It was what I imagined a jungle would look and feel like. I fingered one of the leaves of a massive Monstera vine, marveling at the size of a leaf before turning to Gemma and taking a seat at on a wicker lounge chair across from her, folding my hands in my lap. “I don’t think he even, uh, finished?” Seriously?” She sat up a little straighter, her eyes wide. “I mean, I don’t know…” “Did he say anything to you?” “No! Nothing. He just left. I haven’t even seen him since last night. Maybe it wasn’t… good? Good enough for him?” Gemma rolled her eyes, “Maeve, come on. Ask any man what constitutes good sex and they will say sex in general!” I blushed, pressing my hands between my thighs. “I must have done something wrong.” I definitely felt like I had done something wrong. I knew I had been difficult; he had made that very clear. We had ended up in a tangle of sheets on the floor, and not in a sexy way. Oh, yeah, it was my fault. He was expecting me to be submissive, unyielding. I had failed. “It’s not your fault,” Gemma said gently, her eyes piercing mine as she willed me to believe her. “Something’s up with that guy.” “What do you mean?” “He is not what I thought he’d be. Nothing like the Aaron I met when his family visited Winter Forest.” “Come on, Gem! I told you it’s been ten years since-” “He looks nothing like he should, Maeve! He was a blond! Kind of a weakling!” “Who says hair color can’t change? Rowan’s hair was nearly as light as mine until he reached his twenties. Now it’s as dark as Dad’s!” “His eyes, Maeve? Don’t you think we both would’ve remembered those eyes? How often do you meet someone with eyes of two different colors, hmm?” “Well, do you remember what his eyes looked like, Gemma? I don’t! He told me they got more pronounced as he got older-” “Oh please, how is that even possible?” paused, biting my lip. “It’s not possible!” “What are you saying, Gemma? Do you think he’s not that he’s not Aaron? Who else could he be?” “I don’t know! I’m only saying he rubs me the wrong way, okay? Like he’s hiding something.” “I think you’re the one hiding something!” I exclaimed, narrowing my eyes at her. She arched her brow, leaning forward in her chair. I was being defensive, trying to cover my own shame and suspicion by bringing up the one thing I currently had against her. It was a dance we’d done since my childhood, really.copy right hot novel pub