The Heir and the Spare (11 page)

Jesus, if this is who his parents want him to marry, why should I bother?
I'm so not like her.

Blood pounded in my ears and my skin crawled. I wanted to run. I needed to be anywhere but here.

Air, I need air.
The sea of people turned claustrophobic and overwhelming.

My eyes searched the room for anyone I knew, but with everyone decked out in costumes, I couldn't find my girlfriends. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't just stand there, watching some witch give my date a tongue bath.
Is she going to find a way to come between us every time?

This was just too much. I liked Edmund far more than was safe for my heart.
I can't watch this.
Feeling shaky, I tried to find Caroline. As I pushed my way through the crush of people, anger pulsed through my veins.

“What the hell is going on with that?” Suzy surprised me and hauled me up next to her. She gestured toward Edmund, but I didn't turn around. I'd already seen it, from the front row.

“Edmund's wannabe princess sucking his face off, what does it look like?” I snipped at her, then cringed. “Sorry.”

“That cow. Let's go find Caroline.”

I followed Suzy, daring a glance back at Edmund. He was talking to Jax and Chloe, an angry scowl on his face. I watched him scan the room as he ran a hand through his hair and wondered if he was looking for me.

This was such a bad idea.
Lesson learned. Don't date guys whose parents have power over his love life.

“Oh!” I plowed into the back of a frozen Suzy. “What's the matter?”

I leaned around her to see what caused the roadblock. Inside the kitchen Caroline sat on the counter, kissing a standing Marissa. Suzy pushed against me and backtracked out the door, stumbling over me in her haste.

“Did you know they were . . .?”

“Didn't have a clue.” Suzy chuckled. “It's actually kind of cool.”

I nodded. “Let's leave them alone.” I rubbed at my shoulder, tears burning. “You know, I think I'm gonna go. Maybe see a movie or something. I'll catch you later.”

“Evie, you can't leave.” She grabbed my hand. “Don't let Jax scare you off. Edmund will want to talk to you.”

“You're probably right, but . . .” I shook my head and squeezed my eyes shut. “This date was such a bad idea. His parents already have his future mapped out with Jax and she knows it. So why am I even bothering? I'm just getting in the way. God, this is so humiliating. I need to be alone for a little while. Need to clear my head.”

Suzy sighed. “Fine, but stay safe, okay? There's bound to be a bunch of loonies out. Find me when you get back if you want to talk.”

“I will, and have fun.”

I glanced back before I left. Edmund was nowhere to be seen.
Jax probably snuck him off somewhere private.
My rational side knew if she did, they'd only be talking, but my jealousy-riddled emotions won out over my rational thought process.

Why couldn't he have just pushed her away and told her off? Screw appearances and family obligations.

At the door to my freedom a crazy-looking mad scientist stopped me.

“Where do you think you're going?” Preston stood in my way, his blond hair in spikes. Weird little round goggles perched on his forehead. “Where's Edmund?”

I pasted a smile I didn't feel on my face. “Preston. Your costume turned out great. Are you entering the competition?”

He met my eyes, seeing right through me. “No, I'm not. You didn't answer my questions. What's going on?”

I shrugged. “This isn't really my scene. I'm going to take off.”

“Not your scene, huh? So, why isn't Edmund with you? He's your date, right?” He looked like he was trying to sort out whether or not he should be mad at me for ditching his best friend.

“Edmund got sidetracked.”

“By what?”

“Jax.”

“Oh bollocks.” He frowned and reached for my hands. “Are you okay?”

I looked into his concerned face. “I'm fine. I just want to get out of here.”

“Right.” Preston nodded. “Let's go.” He grabbed my hand and tugged me out the door.

“I can't believe it's so late,” I whispered to Preston as we returned to the dorms. A few stragglers were still out partying, but it was mostly quiet.

“I know. But I had so much fun tonight. Way better than the party would've been.” Preston grabbed my hand and squeezed.

“Thanks for keeping me company.” I pulled my shawl tighter around me. “Although after that ghost tour I doubt I'll be able to go anywhere alone on campus ever again.” Our tour guide had taken us through the best-known Oxford University haunts. Super creepy
.

Preston laughed as we walked up the stairs. “I'll happily escort you anywhere.”

“You better. That was your brilliant idea and I'm a chicken.” I pulled my hand from his and playfully pushed on his shoulder. It felt weird, him holding my hand. Granted, throughout the spooky ghost tour it'd felt perfectly fine.

“Anytime.”

“And thanks for dinner. You helped take my mind off . . . things. I'm really glad you came with me.”

We stood on my floor's landing and he reached up, giving a gentle tug on a tendril of my hair that had slipped loose. “You deserve the best, Evie. If Edmund can't give that to you, there are others who'd gladly step up.” He kissed me on the cheek. “I guess this is good night.”

Was that an offer?

“Night.” I gave him a shy wave and stepped through the door to my floor. I leaned against it and heaved a deep breath.
This isn't how I pictured the evening ending.

This night had played out so differently in my mind. In my little fantasy world, Edmund and I would be about to have our first kiss. Instead, I was coming home alone, wondering if my date now had a brand new, parental-approved girlfriend.

I kicked off my shoes, anxious to crawl into bed. Frowning, I realized I never got a picture of myself as Emma. It would've been nice to have one to send to Dad and Abby.

Pushing away from the door, I padded down the hall, my shoes dangling from my fingertips.
Is someone sitting against my door?
I squinted my eyes.

Edmund.

I stopped in front of his sleeping form and stared, unsure what to make of this. Inside my emotions pinged from annoyance to anger to happiness that he was here.
He's got me such a mess. Why is he even here? What does this mean
?

I crouched down and gazed at him.
Damn you, Chloe.
If she hadn't brought Jax tonight, where would we be instead?

“Edmund, wake up,” I said softly near his ear.

“Hmm?” he mumbled, barely stirring.

“Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey.” I shook his shoulder. He cracked open a bleary eye. It took a moment to focus, but when he did, he snapped awake.

“Evie, you're all right. I looked everywhere for you.” Relief spread across his face. He scrambled to his feet and grasped my upper arms, as if needing to touch me. “I was so worried. Why didn't you answer your mobile?” His hands dropped as if touching me had scorched him.

“I didn't have my phone. I forgot to grab it when I left.” I shrugged. Waves of exhaustion crashed over me.

“I'm so sorry about tonight; it was awful. Can we talk?” His eyes pleaded with mine.

I nodded and unlocked my door with a sigh. Going in, I picked up some scattered laundry from the floor and stuffed it in my hamper.

Edmund sat on my bed, staring at his hands. I parked myself on my desk chair and turned to face him. I couldn't sit next to him, not right now.

“I don't know where to begin. Sorry isn't anywhere near adequate. Please believe I didn't know she was going to be there.” He reached out and grasped my hand. “Can I ever make this up to you?”

“Edmund, I'm not mad.” I shook my head and met his pleading eyes. “I know this wasn't your fault. I'm just really confused. Despite wanting to, I don't think I belong in your world. I'm just an average girl from Seattle.”

I wanted him to tell me that I
could
fit into his world. That he wanted me to. Instead, he sat in silence, looking at his shoes.

She's still on track to be his future wife.
My stomach turned. If I kept going down the path of more than friends with him, I was going to walk away with an utterly ravaged chest cavity.

“Evie, I . . .” He raised a hand, like he wanted to touch me, but stopped himself. “You're not average, furthest thing from it. I'm sorry for everything. You deserve so much better.” He stood, startling me. “I'll see you in class tomorrow. Good night.” He was out the door like The Flash.

Why is everyone so concerned with what I deserve tonight?

“Paris? Christmas?” I squeaked. “I've always wanted to go there.” I stopped walking across campus and leaned against a leaf-bare tree, buttoning the top of my pea coat.

“That's exactly why I thought we should go.” The smile in Dad's voice warmed me through the misty fog. He lived to surprise me. It was one of my favorite things about him.

“This is going to be amazing. I can't wait.”

“Me neither,” he said, groaning like he was stretching. “I've got to get to bed, Peaches, early meeting in the morning. Give me a call tomorrow.”

“I will. Love you, Dad.”

“Love you, too.”

I stayed against the tree, clutching my phone in my hands. Closing my eyes, I pictured a glittery Eiffel Tower with snow softly falling around it. Christmas lights. The Louvre. I opened my eyes and let out a squeal, clapping my hands together.

“Good news?” a voice asked, making me jump.

“Caroline, you scared me.” I laughed and pressed a hand over my heart. “It was my dad. He's planned a trip for us this Christmas.”

“Oh, where to?”

“Paris.”

“Have you ever been?”

“No.” I shook my head. “Although, I think my dad has.”

“You'll love it. It's fabulous and it's not that far either.” She smiled and changed the subject. “So, I've been thinking, we should do a girls' night and catch a movie this weekend.”

“Oh, here comes Suzy.” I smiled and waved to her to join us.

Caroline smiled. “So, Suze, would you be up for a girls' night?”

“Absolutely.”

I sighed. “I could definitely use some girl time. No men allowed.”

“Brilliant. I'll see if Marissa wants to come too, really do it up.” Caroline pulled out her phone and started tapping away.

“So, how are things with Edmund?” Suzy pulled out her tube of lip balm and applied a fresh coat.

“Awkward,
extremely
awkward. We barely speak. Which makes our classes together painful. I miss how things used to be.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “If I could just stop having feelings for him I'd be better off.”

Suzy chewed at her bottom lip, her eyes darting to the ground.

“What? You obviously want to say something; spit it out.”

“I heard something at breakfast.” She stared at me.

“Okay, and?” I'd been opting for early morning wake-ups to avoid running into Edmund and the weirdness of being near him.

“Well, while we were eating, Preston asked Edmund if it would be all right if he asked you out.”

What?
I stopped walking and turned, eyes wide. “What did Edmund say?” It was wrong how much I cared.

Caroline took over. “He didn't say anything. At first he looked shocked, then got cheesed off. He gave Preston a look, got up, and left. Preston said, ‘I guess he doesn't like the idea.'”

“Okay, I don't know what I'm more disturbed by, Preston wanting to ask me out or Edmund being . . . whatever it is Edmund's being.”

He doesn't like the idea of me being with another guy.
I'd be a liar if I said this didn't thrill me. Yet, along with that bubbly excitement coursed irritation. “Guys are too confusing.”

“Well, at least you've got two hot guys interested in you. I'm liable to be Single Suzy for the rest of my life.”

“Suze, you're a great catch. Some guy will figure it out. You just need someone more mature.”

“Hmm, maybe I need to start looking at graduate students.” She winked at me with a silly giggle.

We cut across the grass to St. John's, the frosty leaves crunching under our feet. “Do you want to grab an early dinner? I'm getting hungry and I'd like to hit the dining hall before Edmund.”

“So you
are
avoiding him. I thought so.” Caroline smirked.

The sun had set and a chill descended in the air. I pulled my gloves from my pocket and slipped them on my hands. “I suppose I am. It's hard being around him when it feels like whatever chance we had is gone. Why would he let his parents have such a say in his love life? I get that they're the king and queen, but it's still his life.”

“I think there's still a chance for the two of you. I mean, obviously he likes you and cares about you. Anyone with eyes can see that. How's he taking to you avoiding him?” Suzy sniffed, her nose red.

“I can't tell. We don't really talk above polite pleasantries. Even if he wanted to talk to me, which I don't think he does, there always seem to be too many cameras and no privacy.”

Suzy put her arm around my shoulders and gave me a sympathetic squeeze. “Let's go get some early dinner.”

It wasn't long before I was back in my room at my desk. The three of us had finished eating and left, just as Edmund arrived.

Pulling up Google, I typed in Mom's maiden name: Elliot.

It's well past time I started my fourth quest.
Although nervous, at least I wasn't ditching Mom anymore.

Pages of results popped up.
Man, there's a lot of Elliots.