Page 36 of Princess's Revenge
He’s earned all of their respect.
Not me—they’d tell on me in a second.I keep getting the easy,shitjobs because they think they’re protecting me.
I don’tneedtheir protection.
After getting ready for my day, I decided to check in on Andrea. I’m about to knock on her door when I see Carlo approaching from the other end of the hall.
He smiles, “Miss Andrea’s breakfast.”
I unlock the door and accept the tray from him, “Thanks Carlo.”
He tips his hat and leave. I go inside and find Andrea seated on the patio. She waves to me with a big smile, “Hi!”
Every negative thought I’ve had is immediately banished at the mere sight of her.
I want to be with her so bad it hurts. She’s all I ever think about.I think I’m in love with her.
“Hi,” I set the tray on the table, “how’re you doing?”
“Good. You?” She takes the dome off the big tray. Underneath is diced fruit, yogurt, muesli, bread, butter and jam. There’s also a pot of coffee.
“This looks good,” I give her a smile.
“Yeah! I thought it was time to shake things up,” she laughs, “I was starting to feel like everything I ate either had eggs or cheese in it.”
I sit down while she digs in to the food.
I’m not sure how much times goes by with me silently enjoying the show—I love watching her—but the spell is broken when Andrea gives me a strange look, mid-chew, and asks through a mouthful, “You want?” gesturing to the spread.
“Uh, no, thanks,” it’s probably time to come clean before I end up looking like a stalker, “there’s another reason why I came by this morning.”
“Yeah?” she pops a grape in her mouth and takes a bite of buttered bread.
I blurt it out before I lose my nerve, “I know about you and my brothers.”
She keeps chewing and doesn’t look fazed at all. “So? I like them.”
I can’t believe she can be so flippant about this!“But,Ilike you, Andrea.”
“I like you too,” she smiles.
“But you’re with them!”
“I’m not ‘with’ anyone,” she does air quotes. “No one owns me.”
“But how can—”
She stands and comes over to me. I look up at her and she gently caresses my face, then leans down and kisses me.
My heart leaps into my throat.I want her so much!I pull her down and she straddles my lap. I kiss her deeper. She sucks on my tongue…and as my hands start to wander…she suddenly stops me.
She places a quick kiss on my nose and gets up to go to her side of the table, “Life can’t beallfun and games.”
“What do you mean?”
“We reward ourselves with pleasure only after we’ve accomplished something that deserves rewarding.” Andrea gives me a stern look, “Your father is dragging his feet. We need to be more proactive.”
“How do you mean?”