“Panic?” I asked. “Panic about what? Me?”
“You want my honesty?” he asked.
“Good lord, yes, sir!”
“I was attracted to you,” he said. “Incredibly so, and I was caught off guard when you touched my arm. Happy?”
I froze. “I was lost.”
“Yes. Still. Generally, I do the approaching when it comes to women, so when you started speaking to me, I was already too focused on what I might say in response to think about anything else. When you identified yourself as Sam’s bride, I...I don’t know. I knew— I knew Sameer would be upset that I didn’t collect him to come meet you, but I…” He let me fill in the blank.
“You what?” I asked.
“A part of me forgot he existed. It didn’twantto collect him.”
“...Did you know of Agatha?” I asked.
Cyrus stretched his arm across his chest. “The dance was fast, you said?”
“Incredibly,” I replied. “Eventually, we slowed, but it was not atallwhat I expected or how I learned to dance back home. Sameer is your closest friend. I’m sure he would’ve understood if you explained the hesitation.”
“He did,” he explained. “Before he realizedyouwere Apple Girl.
“I don’t love that name,” I said.
“Sam is sensitive. Don’t tell him of this conversation. It shouldn’t be happening, but you asked me for honesty; I gave it. Please don’t punish it.”
“Sam would not care,” I said. “And ultimately, it was an honest mistake. I’m not so childish that your…reception to my appearance should affect our relationship.” I swallowed.
“I think I know your prince a little better than you do. He can be possessive,” he explained. “He’s used to getting what he wants, and he called you his wife within seconds of meeting you. He wants you.”
“What do words and nicknames matter?” I asked. “He turned around to feed apples to—” I gasped. “Were those the apples you bought?”
“I had nothing to do with the scene you discovered. I shared my bounty with him, but they weren’t a special purchase for his evening,” he said. He sighed. “Look. I’m being transparent with you, but not without risk. I missed the opportunity to tell Sameer about our interaction; I didn’t know what to say, and now he knows that I purposelyhidyou, which is exactly what I did not want.”
“Oh,” I eased.“Oh,”I realized. “I causedtroublefor you then.”
“And only,” he said. “But Sam and I have talked since. Otherwise, he would’ve been cross with you at your ball. Right? And was he?”
“No…In fact, he was really happy, I thought. I don’t know. We shared a moment where—Wait a second!” I cried. “Youtrickedme! I specifically stated I would not speak of him to you, you weasel!”
“Weasel?”Cyrus laughed. “That one’s new. I wish I could frame it for my wall.”
“New and rather fitting, I think. Youtrickedme into speaking my mind!”
“No one could evertrickyou into that,” he dared.
“What doesthatmean?” I spat back.
“Itmeansyou give your opinion too freely and without incentive. Come.” He flipped his palm.
“What am I supposed to do withthat?”I asked.
“Take it,” he suggested. “Or don’t. Though it will make itmuchharder to dance with you if we do not touch.”
“Touch? Dance?” I stopped. “You’re asking me todancewith you?”
He waited, brows peaked and an effortless look on his face.
