The crinkle of the paper echoed around us as Aiden opened my gift.

The morning hadn’t gone as I’d expected in both good and bad ways. Alex wasn't there, which was awesome. She and her family were staying at a chalet they’d bought when she married Geoff.

And Aiden’s mom was particularly quiet, also like winning the lottery. But the death stare coming from her was something out of old legends. She was pissed and not keeping it to herself. She hadn’t spoken to a single one of us, not even her own children to wish them Merry Christmas.

But everyone seemed unmoved by her fury. We unwrapped and ate and laughed as the living room became a place of littered chaos.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Aiden’s words were soft as he opened the tube and unrolled the poster-sized picture of Jack and Millie on their bicycle built for two.

Hattie winked at me from across the room where she sat with her huge cup of coffee.

Aiden’s eyes lifted to mine as the wording on the tag began to sink in. “How?”

“Magic.” I smiled, beaming because I’d gotten this right in a way I’d never gotten a gift for another person right.

“I don't know what to say.” He stared at the beautiful photo I’d had remastered and blown up.

“You have to get it framed. I didn't want you to be able to guess what it was.”

“Fin.” Aiden placed it back into the tube carefully and walked to me. “Thank you.” The glisten in his eyes was better than the words. He kissed me softly, politely for the crowd of people around us. “And you’re right, it does fill some of the holes.” He gave me a look, one that suggested I’d created new holes with my talk from earlier. I hated where we were. It made my stomach ache and my mind race with thoughts of what if. But the only way I would ever be satisfied with making the choice to marry him, was to distance myself from it all and focus on school.

He didn't agree. He would never agree.

He lifted the tube and carried it away from the tree and everyone else. Watching him walk away made me stand and follow. He was impossible to resist. I snuck behind him, following him to his room. I peeked through the doorway, watching him put the tube on his bed. He sighed and sat, his hands running through his hair.

I stepped into the room, closing the door behind me.

He lifted his gaze, shaking his head while fighting a grin. “You can’t break up with me, give me the perfect gift, and sneak in here and offer up that look all in the same morning.”

“What look?” I asked innocently. “And I never broke up with you.”

“You might as well have.”

“No. I didn't and I wouldn't. And I came because I need to gloat over my exceptional gift giving.” I crossed the room to him, climbing into his lap and straddling him. I cupped his face and kissed him. “And a long courtship is not breaking up.”

“Promise?”

“Swear to God, I love you more than anything in the world.”

“I suppose I’ll live with that then.” His hands made their way down my body, gripping my butt and adjusting our position as the kiss became a frenzy and the desperation became unbearable.

I wasn't sure it was love we made or something else, but by the time it was over, I was gasping for breath and still half clothed. He was the same, making it awkward when Linna burst into the room. “You need to see something.” She didn't seem to notice we were clearly busy. Her tone was urgent and angry.

“Okay, coming.” I straightened my shirt and dragged my skirt back into place as Aiden pulled his covers over himself.

Linna brought me her phone, tapping it to press “play.”

A video began to play of a man, who I vaguely recalled, being interviewed.

“Uh yeah. I arrested her. Shoplifting. Kid’s a complete flake. I’m sure this prince or king or whatever is in over his head. Switches personalities like most people change their underwear. Never shuts up. She can talk for forty-five minutes without breathing, I swear.”

The mall cop.

My stomach lurched.

Linna tapped it again, cutting off the reporter. “And somehow the medical records leaked of you trying to kill yourself. And the video of our fight.” Linna lowered her eyes, her brow furrowing. “I’m going to kill Sheila.”

My trembling fingers lifted to my lips as it all flashed back in my head. The mall cop. The hospital. The bandage on my wrist. Our fight. Aiden screaming at me that he couldn't date me if I wasn't going to behave.

Aiden was up and out the door, still dressing as he left.

Linna wrapped herself around me as Jess burst into the room and ran at me with Dad on her heels.

The room spun but this time I wasn't drunk.

“Fin.” Dad hugged me with the group. “I’m calling the lawyers and filing. She’s gone too far.”

“She’s a fucking psycho,” Jess said, about her own mother. “This is what she was planning at Thanksgiving. That look—I knew I saw that look! I’ll kill her!”

Mary stepped into the doorway, her eyes red and watery. “Fin.” Her voice was a whisper.

“I know, Mary,” I finally spoke, my own voice a cracking murmur. “Guys, we have to leave. We have to get this as far away from him as possible.” It wasn't about me. I was humiliated again. I was publicly shamed again. But this wasn't about me. Aiden would need to distance himself from all of it.

“Fin, we don't have to go.” Jess shook her head. “We can talk to the press and explain that all away.”

“Fin’s right,” Hattie said from the doorway next to Mary. “Aiden is in the first day of being king and already it looks like he can’t even choose a girlfriend.” Her gaze appeared tense and strained. “Sorry, kid.”

“Nope.” I blinked, wishing for tears. “It’s the truth. We need to leave now. Everyone pack.” I struggled from the embrace and hurried from the room.

My bags were packed so leaving required only my jacket and boots.

I carried the bags to the servants’ area, taking the elevator down to the service floor.

Isaac met me in the hall. “He told me to come find you.”

“I can’t stay,” I said, trying not to be this mess.

“I know. He knows that too. I’ve pulled the car around the side and have been told to drive you to Toulouse myself.” He took my bags and hurried along the corridor.

Aiden had instructed for me to leave. He wasn't even going to say goodbye.

I was getting my wish, distance and time and the ability to understand myself. Only I was getting it the worst way possible.

When I reached the car, Jess was already there. “I packed last night. I suspected things weren’t going well when you left the ball early.”

“Yeah.” I didn't know what to say. I had nothing.

“I’m so sorry,” Jess burst, tears springing from her eyes. “I’m so sorry she’s so evil.” I jumped at her, hugging tightly and wishing all this was a bad dream but needing someone to hold me.

“Let's get the hell out of here!” Linna shouted, hauling her own bag down the hall toward us. Tracy threw it in the trunk with Jess’ and mine as Linna wrapped herself around us both. “This is some shit.”

“Fin!” Mary came rushing out, throwing herself at us. “He’s going to fix this. He’s just protecting you from Mother.”

“It’s okay,” I lied to Mary as the tears finally arrived.

The four of us cried and hugged tightly.

I was worried it would be the last time I’d see Andorra, and I wasn't sure how I felt about that. It had been a prison in my mind when it was the forced future, but now that it wasn't an option, I was scared.

We got into the car and drove off as Hattie and Dad climbed in the other one.

I stared back at the mansion as we left the large estate driveway. His silhouette was in the window, and I wondered if it would be the last time I saw him too.