EVAN

Yena was pacing in the kitchen. Her lips were moving, like she was reciting something or having an imaginary argument.

“Hey,” Evan said, and Yena jumped.

“Oh, hey!”

“Am I interrupting something?” he asked, smirking.

She laughed. “Sorry, just talking to… myself.”

Evan looked at the table and smiled. An empty pie tin, a can of whipped cream, and a dirty fork.

“Healthy breakfast today, I see.”

“Well, it’s no cold pizza.” She came over and suddenly put her arms around Evan’s waist. He hugged her back.

“I still can’t sleep, Evan.” Yena’s cheek was flat against his chest, and he could feel the vibration of her voice inside his chest as she spoke. “And I’m so tired.”

“Aw. How can I help?”

She sighed, then walked away again, resuming her pacing of the kitchen. “I don’t know.”

He didn’t want to ask what it was that had her feeling like this.

Had to be something related to Nolan.

Like she picked up on his thoughts, Yena answered the unspoken question.

“I can’t figure out what to say to Nolan.”

Evan had his head in the refrigerator. He was checking to see if there were any more pies left. He kept his face hidden and asked, “Why do you need to talk to him at all?”

Yena waited till Evan emerged upright again, holding a pecan pie, before she answered him.

“He is my husband, still,” she said, glaring. “Our divorce isn’t final yet, and my school enrollment isn’t final yet, and now I’m being told I should be getting on a plane and moving to the human world like, yesterday, or ASAP, and I just don’t even know which thing to deal with first.”

“Whoa, whoa.”

Evan dropped the pie on the table and caught Yena by the shoulders.

“Take it easy, okay? Just take a breath.”

Yena had tears in her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” he said, “I didn’t mean anything by that. And this stuff is all gonna be okay, I promise you. Sit down and let’s talk it out.”

Evan poured more coffee and found two clean forks. Then he and Yena sat and ate the pecan pie together while she told him all about today’s problem with Nolan.

She got so fiery talking about him.

The truth was… Yena was obsessed with Nolan.

She loved him, then she hated him.

She missed him, she was mad at him, she couldn’t sleep without him.

And so on and so on and so on.

That’s what was on her mind all the time. Nolan.

Evan had to admit that kind of passion was probably not about to fizzle out any time soon. He could see that in the way that Yena’s eyes almost started glowing when she talked about the prince.

Evan thought back to the talk he had with his dad the night prior.

He wasn’t gonna give up all hope yet.

He was being patient. Playing the long game.

Although, the more he listened to his sister yammering on and on about her husband, the less likely it was starting to seem that Evan really had any chance at all.

YENA

I’d tried out a bunch of the fancy teas that Tina had brought me, but I’d just been drinking them upstairs in my room at night.

Now I was looking at a pile of bags and boxes, little loose items, and a big mess in my bedroom.

Guess the cleaning service was something I’d gotten used to at the palace, too.

I threw a bunch of stuff into the bags that Tina’s gifts had come in and hauled it all downstairs to sort and organize.

The remaining spices and teas, I set out on the kitchen counter.

Then I got all the packaging sorted and put the paper stuff in the recycling.

I was about to go through the empty bags next. Tina liked to keep any that were in good shape, so she could re-use them for groceries. I started inspecting them for tears, when I found something in the bottom of one bag that caught my eye.

It was a little black price tag. It had been cut off something, and fell down into the shopping bag…

I read the print and realized it belonged to my new, super warm blanket that I loved so much.

My jaw nearly hit the floor when my eyes landed on the price.

It cost over $1,000.

No wonder it was so amazing.

But that’s when I knew that it had been a gift from Nolan all along.

No way was Tina buying me thousand-dollar blankets on a whim.

I looked over at all my aromatic spices and teas.

Of course, those were expensive too. And how could I not see this was totally Nolan’s style, anyway? The luxury, feel-good gifts?

I had to admit that they did make me feel good.

I brewed a cup of tea and sprinkled in some of the spices with a splash of milk, then sat at the table and drank it down.

It brought a smile to my lips immediately and warmed me from the inside.

Nolan really did know me. He knew how to make me happy.

I picked up my phone, thinking once again about calling or texting him.

And it pinged.

It was a text from Nolan.

Hi, Yena. I just wanted to check in and make sure you are doing alright. I hope that you and your family are well.

I almost cried. It felt like a hug, getting that sweet message from him.

I just wrote what I was thinking and hit send before I could over-think.

Hi Nolan. I’m doing okay. Just anxious about school soon. Family is good. How are you?

He responded right away.

I’m sorry you’re feeling anxious. If you’d like, we can meet up to work on your plans for school. Or speak on the phone. Let me know what you’d prefer.

I had to smile, just reading his texts.

Never in my life had I known someone with such easy, perfect grammar. It made me miss listening to the clear, sophisticated way he talked.

But I got stuck, then… trying to decide how to respond.

“Go see him at the palace!!” Lily was shouting in my mind. “He wants to see you!”

She was feeling wild now that I was talking to Nolan for the first time in so long. I had to really focus and concentrate to keep my senses clear.

Of course I wanted to see Nolan.

So badly.

But it would only make it harder when I’d have to walk away once again.

“Then don’t leave this time! You said that you wished you could undo it, Yena… now’s your chance!”

I sighed.

I decided on, How about we talk on the phone tomorrow?

Nolan replied, Sounds great. Any time you want, I’ll make time for you.

I thought a little longer, then gave in…

Thank you for the gifts. Tina told me they were from her, but I know you must have had a hand in it… I really loved them.

He replied, You’re welcome, Yena. It makes me smile to know you enjoyed them.

And that made me smile.

And I also felt, for the first time in a while, the fluttering, happy feeling I used to get when I was with Nolan.

Speaking with him, even just in text, was reminding me of who my husband was.

He was so kind. So generous. So special.

I searched my brain, trying to figure out when it was that I started doubting Nolan at all.

When did that happen?

How did everything go so wrong between us?