Libby leans over to Edward and whispers something in his ear. He whispers something back. She responds, nodding emphatically.
I study my boyfriend and my sister with narrowed eyes. This ends now.
Suddenly, my phone pings with a text.
EDWARD: hi! So sorry for radio silence yesterday, had a busy night with family stuff. really sorry you were having a bad day—hope you’re feeling better now? See you after chapel? Xxx Is he pity-texting me because Libby told him to?
Oh, hell, no.
After the assembly, I wait outside for my friends to exit. Flossie walks out first, a bored look on her face.
“Four years at this school and I’ll never understand the point of those things,” she says. “As if I care about the dance team and its bloody bake sale.” She stops when she sees the look on my face. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing.”
“You look constipated.”
“I need to talk to Edward,” I say, clenching my jaw and mentally preparing for battle.
When Edward exits—surprise, surprise—he’s deep in conversation with Libby. I march right up, interrupting him.
“Why didn’t you text me?” I demand.
“What?” he asks, sounding taken aback.
“You didn’t text me all day. What the hell?”
He blinks, looking around to see if anybody else is paying attention. Libby takes a step back, looking uncomfortable. Edward’s bodyguard is exiting the chapel, looking at me doubtfully but keeping his distance. “I did text you. Just now.”
“Not for, like, eighteen whole hours. I had a horrible day and you completely ignored me.”
India, Alice, Georgie, and Oliver exit the chapel, looking at me in alarm. I know I’m drawing attention—a cardinal sin—but I can’t help it.
Edward frowns. “Stop making a scene.”
“Well, then stop ignoring me.”
“Charlotte, you’re being rude.”
I start laughing. “That’s hilarious. I don’t think you quite understand the meaning of the word. Calling out somebody you’re dating on their BS isn’t rude. Rude is ignoring your girlfriend for an entire day, with no explanation. Rude is not comforting your girlfriend after she loses a huge game. Rude is suddenly spending all your free time with your girlfriend’s sister. Why don’t we talk about how rude you are?”
“This is a pretty big conversation,” says India quietly. “Why don’t you two go somewhere more private?” I ignore her.
“I’m sick of everybody walking on eggshells around you. Blessed Prince Edward, who can do no bloody wrong. Poor Prince Edward, who needs his privacy. Nobody calls you out—ever.”
His eye twitches. He inhales sharply before speaking. “Is that so?”
“Yes. That is so.”
He takes another deep breath. He seems to be struggling to control himself. “Charlotte. You don’t seem yourself right now. Why don’t we take a pause and talk about this later?”
“I don’t need more pauses from you. That’s all our bloody relationship has been lately—one giant pause.”
“Look,” he says through gritted teeth. “There are things you don’t understand.”
“Educate me.”
“I’m sorry if I’ve been distant recently, but I’m dealing with some family things—and I really don’t want to talk about it here and now.” If I weren’t so worked up, the force of his voice might cause me to take a step back. But that thing inside me I’m constantly trying to keep together has snapped—I’m beyond the point of no return.
“You don’t get a pass just because you’re royal,” I say. “You’re always banging on about how busy your family keeps you, but then you don’t confide in me and explain why. I’m totally in the dark—and what’s worse, you confided in Libby about it!”
I glance at her. She looks apprehensive.
“Relationships are give and take,” I say. “If you can’t hold up your end, then you shouldn’t be in a relationship at all.”
“I’m busy!” he says. “God, can’t you cut me some slack?”
“Kids. Somewhere else. Come on,” says India.
“Are you and Libby hooking up behind my back?”
Libby recoils as if I’ve slapped her. “What?”
Edward snorts. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Charlotte, c’mon,” Georgie whispers, drawing her fingers across her throat and making a slitting sound. “This is bananas.”
“Why don’t you just calm down, Bug,” Libby says soothingly. “Nothing is going on.”
“God, back off!” I shout. “You’re so irritating!”
She looks wounded. “You’re just as irritating.”
“I’m irritating you? That’s hilarious.” I swivel back to face Edward. “And I’m through being ignored. You and me are done.”
India stands off to the side, her head buried in her iPhone, now pretending as if nothing’s going on. Georgie has her hand over her mouth, looking at me in horror. Flossie and Alice watch everything unfold with barely disguised glee. All they need is a tub of popcorn.
“Wait, what?” Edward says in disbelief. “You’re breaking up with me?”
“You’re damn right I am. Maybe next time you’ll think twice before taking your girlfriend for granted.”
As he stands there looking stunned, I spin on my heel and flounce off.
I feel a heady mix of panic and elation, the thoughts tumbling around my brain as I have a silent conversation with myself.
Did I really just dump Edward?
That’ll teach him.
Has he ever been dumped before? I bet I’m the first.
Crap, I can’t believe I lost it on him.
Whatever, he deserves it.
I’m halfway down the lawn back toward Colvin when I hear Libby yelling my name.
“What is with you?” she asks, her chest rising and falling from running after me. “You’re acting bonkers. There’s nothing going on between me and Edward.”
“I wish you’d never come here,” I say coldly.
Her face falls. She stares at me, her eyes filling with tears, and I know I’ve gone too far.
She turns around and walks away.
“Can you believe them? The nerve. They deserve each other.”
India pours a cup of white wine, wordlessly handing it to me as I pace back and forth across her room. Flossie, Alice, and Georgie are sitting on the bed, eyes wide, watching me as if I might snap. The door is closed—and India never closes the door.
I suppose it’s only fair that they’re all treating me with kid gloves. They’ve never really seen this side of me.
India takes a sip of wine, not saying anything. The look she’s giving me is enough.
“I know,” I say. “You don’t have to tell me. I made a fool of myself.”
She shakes her head as if to say that she’s not getting involved.
“I shouldn’t have done that in public—but I reached a breaking point!”
“You broke, all right,” Flossie says. Georgie shoots her a look.
They stare back at me from the other side of the room.
“You’ve seen them!” I continue. “They’re always together. And he’s telling her all his secrets? He should be telling me. I’m his girlfriend, not her!”
“I don’t blame you for that part,” says Flossie. “Libby’s in the wrong there. You shouldn’t go after your sister’s boyfriend. It’s totally tacky.”
“Why is it Libby’s fault?” says Georgie. “That’s messed up. If anybody’s to blame, it’s Edward.”