Just Pretending Read online

  “Shut up! Don’t let Sacs hear you,” says a voice I don’t recognize.

  “Sacs is on the ice,” Gervase says.

  “I heard she’s a total snob,” says another.

  “I don’t care what she is.” Gervase laughs. “She’s a fucking princess. When else will I have the opportunity to hook up with royalty? That’s definitely worth a black eye from Sacs.”

  I stagger out into the lobby, not bothering to look back. My cheeks feel damp, and I quickly wipe them with the back of my hand. I mutter to myself, “I’m a queen, not a princess. I’m a queen—”

  I collide with a wall—even though I’m fairly positive there wasn’t a wall in front of me a moment ago—and fly backward, falling onto the hard floor.

  “Ah, jeez! I’m sorry! Do you know if practice has ended? I’m running late!”

  I shake my dizzy head and peer through my hair, flung in front of my face. It wasn’t a wall at all, just another hockey playing brute. One of the Falcons is sprawled on the floor in front of me, his helmet twisted over his face. His hockey gear is spread all over, and so are the contents of my purse. My makeup, notebook, and pencils are scattered everywhere.

  I growl a response and reach for my things. He’s already started scooping his stuff into his bag, not even bothering to fix his helmet still drooped over his face. He reaches for his skates but accidentally grabs my sketchbook instead. It’s opened to the picture I just drew, of Daniel and the rest of the Falcons.

  My face flushes, and I try to snatch it back.

  He fumbles with his helmet and murmurs, “Wow. This is really good.”

  I withdraw my hand. “You think so?”

  He adjusts his visor and flips to another page with a quick watercolor of the belugas at the aquarium. “Yeah,” the player says. “I love how you used the color here to mimic the light underwater. Incredible.”

  I bite the inside of my lip. A part of me just wants to snatch my sketchbook back but…I haven’t shown very many people my art, and Daniel and Mother have never studied my pictures like this. I try to get a good look at him, but his face is covered by his helmet and he’s wearing his practice jersey. No number.

  “Aren’t you late for practice?” I urge.

  He doesn’t even look up, just flips the page. The next one is of the gardens of Eldonia, backed by the tall towers of the castle. My home.

  “What’s your name?” I ask.

  “I know this place,” he mutters. “It’s…”

  He drops the book and scrambles to his feet. But he’s in such a hurry, his hockey stick swings out of his grasp and knocks me across the chest and back onto the hard floor. “Oh my gosh, Princess Eva—I mean, Queen! Queen Evangeline! I’m so sorry. Argh, I’m such an idiot! Are you hurt, Your Queenship?”

  I snarl and shove my book into my bag and turn away from him. So, it was only okay to talk to me when he didn’t realize who I was? They’re all the same. Daniel was right. Not a single one of them can see past my crown. I was an idiot for thinking someone like me could ever belong here.

  “Are you hurt?” The player staggers after me, his bag still open, contents flying everywhere.

  “If I am, it’s because of you.” I stalk through the hallway. My face feels like it’s on fire.

  “I’m so sorry! Let me help you!” the player stutters. I can hear him clomping after me.

  I can’t even look at him. “Get in my way again, and my bodyguard will make sure it won’t matter if you’re late for practice.”

  I hear him stop in his tracks. Good. I see the exit door and bolt outside. The chilly wind feels good on my hot cheeks.

  “Queen Evangeline.” I turn around to see Dwayne walking toward me. “Are you all right?”

  I feel like a fog of disappointment and embarrassment has settled over me. “I only have a few days left in Chicago,” I say. “I guess I thought when I returned to Eldonia…I would feel like I belonged here.”

  “You do belong,” my bodyguard says, “to Eldonia. To your people.”

  Then why do I feel so empty? “I just want someone to see me as something other than a queen.”

  Dwayne looks confused. “But…you are a queen, milady. It is who you are.”

  I think of Mother’s loveless hugs, the empty echo of the castle late at night. It’s all so different than Daniel’s warm townhouse, so unlike the rink that hums with the connectivity of the players. “It doesn’t matter. I understand now,” I whisper. “I’ll never be a part of the team.”

  Chapter Two

  Eva

  There’s something so comforting about Daniel’s townhouse. It’s small and quaint, with a warm glow and the rich smell of homemade meals. It’s not quite comfortable enough for me to take Daniel up on his offer to stay here. As kind as he was to suggest he sleep on the couch so I could have his room, I think I’ll take my hotel’s double plush duvets over my brother’s bed.

  But I do love coming here. Daniel’s mother, Maria, has hosted us almost every day for lunch. However, this afternoon, she’s been a whirlwind of activity. Daniel’s taken over the kitchen, chopping onions and tomatoes in a frenzy and anxiously following his mom’s movements.

  Maybe I should have gone back to the hotel. After the practice yesterday, I had returned to my room and told Daniel I had a headache. I just didn’t feel like being dragged to another tourist trap, or doing anything at all, really. I take a deep breath and remind myself that today is a new day…even if I spent the whole morning in bed watching TV.

  Daniel plops down a plate in front of me, a sprawling dish of noodles and vegetables. I stab a tomato with my fork, imagining it’s Gervase’s dumb face. I’d think of that other player’s dumb face, too, but I didn’t get a good look at him.

  Daniel raises a brow at me. “Everything okay?”

  “I’m fine,” I snarl.

  “Hey.” Daniel reaches across the table and squeezes my arm. “I know you may not love everything we’ve done this trip, but it’s just—”

  “I know!” I say, pushing my chair away from the table. “You were right, okay? You were right about it all.”

  “Wait.” Daniel grips his fork with a taut fist. “At the practice, did someone—?”

  “No,” I say. The last thing I want is to get between him and his teammates. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “I swear to God,” Daniel says, “if anyone did something to you…”

  “You can put down your pitchfork. No one did anything.” I give a long sigh. “Nothing that I shouldn’t have expected. I just wish…I wish it wasn’t this way. I wish I didn’t have to be Queen Evangeline all the time.”

  Daniel walks over and leans against me. “Why do you think I kept the fact that I’m a prince a secret for so long?”

  I only shrug.

  “You know what I realized last summer?” Daniel says. “The world is always going to think it knows who you are. But those closest to you can see and hear your truth.”

  “Okay.” That’s easy for him to say. He’s got a warm and caring mother who loves him unconditionally, a girlfriend who adores him, and a whole team of friends to back him. And I have…a mother who’s more frigid than an iceberg, a bodyguard as hard as a rock, and well, Daniel who lives across the sea.

  “I have an idea.” Daniel pulls away and whips out his phone, walking into the other room.

  What crazy plan has my brother thought of now?

  There’s a click of heels, and his mother comes into the kitchen.

  “Wow,” I say, barely able to keep my jaw from dropping. “Maria, you look lovely.”

  Maria tucks a curl behind her ear. “You think so?”

  Usually when I see Maria, she’s either in scrubs or an oversize T-shirt. And although I think it would be impossible to hide how naturally beautiful she is, with her long brown hair and bright brown eyes, she looks especially stunning now, dressed in a smart black dress and heels.

  “Positively,” I say, then grab my purse. “There’s just one thing you
need.” I shove a tube of lipstick in her hands.

  “It’s very…red,” she says, untwisting it.

  “It’ll look perfect. Purse your lips!” I grab it and apply it for her. “So where are you off to?”

  “Oh, just out…with a friend…”

  I smile. “A male friend?”

  “Why, actually, yes.”

  “In that case…” I fluff her hair, and then unclasp the top button of her dress.

  “Eva!” Maria gasps, laughing.

  “You look like a vintage movie star,” I conclude.

  “MA! EVANGELINE!” Daniel stalks into the room, a horrified look on his face. He pushes me away from his mother.

  “Chill, Dan-Dan.”

  “What are you doing to Ma?” He jerks his head between me and Maria. “Ma, where are you going?”

  “Out,” she says, grinning at me.

  Daniel’s shoulders tense nearly to his ears. “How could you, Eva, after what I just did for you?”

  “What did you just do for me?”

  He sulks away. “I sensed that maybe you were getting a little bored seeing Chicago, so I made a slight adjustment to the schedule.”

  “The Daniel Sacachelli Schedule of Fun that cannot be altered or differed from?”

  “Yeah, that one.” He shrugs. “I told Madison she could have you for the day. She’s already got something planned. I couldn’t tell for sure because her voice went into supersonic range, but I think Al’s coming, and I heard the words ‘nails’ and ‘shopping’ and other dumb stuff you probably wouldn’t care about. She’s on her way over now.”

  “Daniel!” I throw my arms around him. “That sounds amazing.”

  He pulls away and holds me at arm’s length. “Are you really that happy to be rid of me?”

  “Obviously.” I laugh. In Eldonia, I caught a glimpse of the friendship that Madison and Alice have. I got to share in it, too, hearing about all their crazy antics. They never treated me differently. Maybe, just for today, I can pretend I’m a part of that friendship again. And then tomorrow…tomorrow, the queen will return.

  “Well, that was before I saw you put lipstick on Ma!” Daniel says. He rounds on his mother, who disappears down the hall. “Ma! Where exactly are you going? And with who?”

  I can’t help but smile. The Prince of Eldonia really does love the women in his life.

  My phone buzzes on the table. Mother flashes on the screen. I groan. My mother doesn’t ever call me unless she has a particular torture in store.

  Reluctantly, I answer it. “Mother dear.”

  “Evangeline, darling,” Mother drawls. “How is your little stint in American going?”

  “Just peachy, Mother.”

  “Splendid. Now, I have the most wonderful news for you, something I think you’ll find quite refreshing to break up the all the time you’re spending with the…commoners.”

  That is the kindest term I’ve ever heard my mother use for people who don’t own acres of land and aren’t addressed by a title. She must really want something from me.

  “Yes, Mother?”

  “Now darling, I was speaking to the Queen of Perienza—you know Perienza? All the olives and nude beaches? Anyway, she told me her son, Tiberius, is going to be vacationing in Chicago and will be arriving this afternoon!”

  “What a coincidence,” I say. It feels like one thousand rubies have settled in my stomach.

  “His flight gets in at two o’clock, so of course I told the queen that you and Mr. Boulder will pick him up and give him a little tour of the city. Have some sparkling apple juice in the limo. It’s his favorite. Make sure he has an enjoyable time around Chicago, a royal time. I would avoid any place Daniel suggests, honestly.”

  “I don’t even know Tiberius,” I say, trying to keep my voice as steady as possible. I have heard the crazy rumors about him, though. He’s got even more bad press than my darling brother. “I’ve only met his parents once, years ago. And I have plans…”

  Mother doesn’t say anything, and all I can hear is her sharp, crisp breathing on the other end of the phone.

  There’s something about talking to my mother that always takes away the volume of my voice. Especially when I know her ideas are the best thing for Eldonia. It’s like fun, normal-girl Eva wants to fight for her vacation, but in the back of my mind, Queen Eva is always sitting and watching, judging everything I do. “I’ll cancel my plans.”

  “Excellent, darling,” Mother says. “Call me tomorrow. Kisses.”

  I set my phone down on the table. Looks like I won’t be having my girls’ day with Madison and Alice, after all. But I know this is for the best. It would be rude not to greet one of our trade partners, especially when I’m already in town. I know how important the relations between Perienza and Eldonia are. And I suppose I am almost an expert on Chicago now, after Daniel’s tour guide service this last week.

  Daniel’s tour guide service…

  “Daniel!” I call, an idea igniting inside of me.

  My brother slumps into the room, obviously still put out about his mother’s plans. He sits down in the chair and looks up at me. “Yes?”

  “I need your help.” I quickly tell him about Mother’s phone call. “S-soo,” I say, in my best sing-song voice, “will you do it? Entertain the prince for me?”

  “Evaaaaa,” Daniel says and tilts his head to the ceiling. “I don’t want to entertain Tiberius! I had to spend time with him three years ago, and that was enough!”

  “Exactly!” I say. “You two know each other…it’s perfect!”

  “No.” Daniel crosses his arms. “He’s weird. Besides, he can look after himself. He’s been all over the world. He won’t need, or want, someone tagging along with him.”

  “Dan-Dan, please!” I clutch my hands together. “Eldonia needs to maintain good relations with Perienza, so who better to show him around than Chicago’s very own local prince?”

  “But I have something important to do.” A muscle ticks in his jaw, and he glares toward his mother as she walks back into the room.

  “Like what?” his mother says. “You’re just sitting there eating pasta.”

  “Please, please, please, brother.” I hop up and down on my toes. “I only have a few days left in Chicago, and I really want to spend time with Alice and Madison!”

  Daniel lets out a long sigh and groans, “Fine, I’ll entertain your stupid prince.”

  I squeal. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

  Daniel grinds his teeth together. “The Prince of Perienza won’t know what hit him.”

  …

  Tyler

  My stomach shoots into my throat as Hayden weaves his Jeep through the busy Chicago traffic like a Nascar driver.

  “Jesus, Hayden, slow down!”

  His dark brows are tight over his eyes, and he’s clenching his jaw the same way he does before a big game. Always the captain, on or off the ice. I quadruple-check that my seat belt is securely fastened.

  “I can’t slow down! You got his message. Daniel said it was an emergency!”

  I run my hand through my hair. “His last crisis was when he ran out of hair gel.” Hayden had just picked me up from my shift at Dad’s sports shop when we both got the voice message that we were to get to Daniel’s house right away. We were going to head to the rink to pass the puck around, but even to me, Daniel’s voice sounded urgent.

  Something prickles on the back of my neck. What if something is wrong with Daniel’s little sister, Queen Evangeline?

  That’s not your problem, a voice says inside. She couldn’t even look at you. A flush creeps up my cheeks as I remember our awkward encounter at the ice rink. She’s always been aloof, even the first time I met her, months ago in Eldonia. Just when I was finally able to form words and talk to her, she held out her dirty plate to me like I was some servant. Being the sap I am, of course, I cleared it for her. Despite that, I couldn’t get her out of my head…the slow blinks of her golden eyes, the tilt of her mouth
, the musical inflections in her words. Did I think it would be different when she came here? Was I idiotic enough to hope a gorgeous queen would remember a dork like me?

  She may be beautiful, but she isn’t kind. I think of the bite in her words and the way she snatched her sketchbook from me. They were incredible, though, her drawings…

  Whatever. I was just the briefest blip on her radar, and that has to be all she is to me. Time to worry about Daniel.

  Hayden’s Jeep flies over a small hill, and he skids to a stop in front of Daniel’s townhouse, just inches from Daniel’s motorcycle. In a second, we’re out of the car and pounding on the door.

  The door flies open, and Daniel stands there crazy-eyed, lip twitching. “What took you guys so long?” He leaves the door open. “Come in!”

  Hayden and I flash each other skeptical looks then follow him inside.

  “There’s no time to waste,” Daniel says, his words too fast. “Come to my room. I’m sure I’ve got something you can wear—”

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Hayden says, planting his feet in the kitchen. “What do you mean something we can wear?”

  Daniel sighs dramatically. “Not you, dummy. You’re much too grouchy. No, I’ve got something in mind for you.” He points at me then throws his head back and laughs maniacally before devolving into a fit of coughs.

  Hayden scrubs his face with his hands. “It’s like the sauce fiasco all over again.”

  I open the fridge and pull out a yogurt container. As suspected, it’s filled with noodles covered in a rich white sauce. I grab a plate and help myself. “Sacs, you better tell us what’s going on because, right now, I’m thinking the only emergency is going to be taking you to the looney bin.”

  Daniel gives another exasperated sigh. “Eva was supposed to pick up some fancy-boy prince from the airport today and show him around town. But she’d rather waste her time with Al and Madison.” He crosses his arms. “So, she roped me into doing it.”