Just Pretending

by Leah Rooper

  The real Prince Tiberius. He’s supposed to be arriving tomorrow. When I had asked Madison what she planned to do about him, she had just winked and said, “Don’t you worry, Tyler darling. I am most excellent at distraction.”

  “For a whole week?” I had replied skeptically.

  “Trust me,” she had said. “From what I know about the real Tiberius, he’s going to be living in the new Oak’s Tavern the entire time.”

  I sink into the soft leather seats of the limo. How did I end up giving myself up to Madison Myong?

  One week, I tell myself. One week and this will all be over, for better or for worse. I mean, can it really be so bad? Getting to spend Christmas in Eldonia? Thankfully, Dad was taking holidays anyway, so I don’t have to feel guilty about not being there to help watch over Millie.

  But a week has never seemed so long.

  Madison stops singing for a second and scrambles forward, staring out the window. “Hey, Daniel, there’s your dad’s rink!”

  I follow her gaze out the window as we drive past a beautiful, brand-new arena. Renovating the old one was the last thing Daniel’s father did before he passed away.

  Daniel looks adoringly out the window. “Looks great in the snow, doesn’t it?” He wraps an arm around Madison and pulls her close. “Get used to it, babe. We’re going to have to come back to Eldonia a lot next year.”

  “Only on school breaks, of course,” Madison says. “But how come?”

  He smiles broadly. “Big news! I’ve started to organize the first Eldonian hockey team through the university!”

  “What?” I say. “Dude, that’s awesome!”

  “Yeah, the university is only a few minutes down the road, so it’ll be easy for the students to come to the arena for practices and games.” Daniel scratches his head. “But it’s a lot of work. I’m going to have to scout some amazing players. You just know that as soon as Lyle Worthington gets word that I’m starting a team, he’ll try to organize one at his garbage university.”

  “It’ll be great, bud.” We pass the arena and I stare out the window at the beautiful half-timbered buildings and their vaulted roofs. Everywhere I look, the images shift into oils and watercolors. I could spend a day painting a single fountain and still not do it justice. “I’m sure it won’t be hard to recruit players,” I say. “Who wouldn’t want to go to school here?”

  “Let’s can the hockey talk for a bit.” Madison sighs. “I think we all need a break from it.”

  It’s true, a break from hockey will be good for all of us. The Falcons are on a losing streak. We started out the season so strong, but this last month, we just can’t seem to land a win. A few months ago, we were front-runners for league champions. Now it looks like we might not even make the playoffs. If we don’t win our first game back after the Christmas break, the Falcons are done for.

  Maybe some time off the ice will do us good.

  Madison goes back to singing over Mariah Carey and I drift my eyes back to Daniel.

  Daniel’s been my best friend for years. We’ve busted each other out of too many jams to remember. No matter what, he was always there for me. Why do I feel like I can’t trust him with this?

  But as we pull closer and closer to the castle, I remember. Daniel’s gaze is trained on me.

  “What?” I finally say.

  “Remember, dude,” he says, “you’re here to save my sanity. I don’t want to be stuck babysitting Prince Tibbers. I did that once three years ago, and I won’t do it again! So, don’t spend the whole trip making goo-goo eyes at my baby sister, got it?”

  Before I can say anything, Madison slaps his leg. “The patriarchy is dead in Eldonia, remember, Daniel? Eva is a strong, independent woman and she can handle herself, thank you very much!”

  “It’s not Eva I’m worried about,” Daniel says, crossing his legs and leaning back. “I just don’t want Evans to embarrass himself.”

  “Don’t worry, Daniel,” Madison says before I can even open my mouth. “I heard Eva’s going to be very busy entertaining Prince Tiberius.” She winks at me and my face grows hot.

  One week. One week in Eldonia to make Eva see the real me. And if that goes well, then I’ll worry about Daniel.

  The castle looms before us, glimmering with crystal icicles and snow-covered buttresses. I suck in a breath. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

  Except for her.

  My heart slows, and everything seems to fade away—Madison’s terrible singing, the whirr of the limo, even the castle evaporate into mist. It’s like the whole world has stopped to look at her.

  Evangeline stands at the bottom of the stairs, a shard of obsidian glass against the winter. Her dark hair flows behind her, and she wears a black, fur-lined cape. We’re so close now, I can see the kiss of her dark lashes on her cheeks. She looks like she stepped out of some old fairy tale—

  “Oof!” Suddenly, my whole world turns translucent yellow as Madison slaps a pair of yellow ski goggles over my eyes. “What are you doing?!”

  “It’s chilly out there!” Madison trills. She wraps a giant scarf around my face, then tugs a big fluffy hat over my own beanie.

  “Why are you so worried about him?” Daniel says.

  “Your cold heart will protect you,” Madison replies, not bothering to look at him.

  I push her off me. “Stop! I look like an idiot—”

  “No,” she growls, low enough that only I can hear. “You look unrecognizable. Which is what we need right now.”

  Daniel opens the limo door and rushes over to his little sister, embracing her in a giant hug. Madison stares at me. “Hurry past her. The butler, Eldredge, will be inside the door. Tell him you’re feeling ill and need to be shown to your room right away. Got it, Evans?”

  “You’re the brains of this operation,” I say. I take a deep breath and rush out of the limo.

  I dare a single glance at Evangeline as I run up the stairs into the castle.

  She’s even more breathtaking than I remember.

  I am so done for.

  …

  Eva

  I pile my hair on top of my head, then let it fall back down, then pile it up again. Finally, I let out an exasperated sigh as it falls down around my face. No matter what I do today, I just can’t look right. The Prince of Perienza is arriving soon, and everything must be absolutely perfect.

  Including me.

  I finally decided on wearing my long-sleeved burgundy dress with dark tights and evergreen heels. I cast another glance at my bed, piled high with rejected skirts, tops, and dresses. Maybe I should have gone with the black one.

  I wonder if Daniel and Madison will get along with Prince Tiberius. And what about the friend Daniel brought? I know he’s one of his teammates, but I haven’t even met him yet. He was sick all last night. Hopefully, everyone will feel better and get along.

  I want this to be the best Christmas ever!

  Suddenly, I hear a wail from outside my balcony doors. As I unclasp the locks, a light dusting of snow blows into my room. But my balcony is empty, save for freshly fallen snow.

  I was sure I heard something.

  Then I hear a grunt and another wail. I run to the edge of the balcony and peer over the edge.

  Hanging twenty feet above the ground on the cast-iron trellis that snakes up the building is…

  “Tiberius!” I scream.

  He looks up at me, his yellow scarf blowing in the wind. His blond hair is a tousled mess on his head. “I thought I would be romantic,” he calls up, “and climb to your balcony…but it’s slipperier than I thought…”

  I burst out laughing and clutch my stomach.

  Tiberius grapples with a hand hold. “I’m glad to know my impending doom is funny to you.”

  “Hold on!” I call down to him. I run into my room and grab a throw from my bed. Back on the balcony, I toss it down to him.

  “A blanket?” he says, tugging on it. “Isn’t a princess supposed to throw me her hair
or something?”

  I keep a firm grip on the throw as he climbs it. “You didn’t say the magic words.”

  “Evangeline, Evangeline,” he pants as he makes it closer to the top. He lets out a heavy groan as he climbs over the balustrade. He puts his hands on his knees, his warm breath swirling in front of his face. Then he tilts his head up and levels a smirk at me. “I’ve honestly forgotten the rest.”

  “I really want to know why you climbed my balcony like some sort of assassin,” I say, my feet shifting in the snow, “but I don’t think I can wait another moment.”

  He straightens. “Another moment for what?”

  “This.” I grab the collar of his jacket and pull his face against mine. He utters a sharp gasp, then loops his arms around me.

  I pull away, only because I want to look at him, drink in the face I’ve been missing for the last month. I could stare into his blue eyes for a million years and never get bored.

  He keeps looking at me, wide-eyed. I run a hand through my hair. Maybe I should have left it up. “Is something wrong?”

  “I’d forgotten just how beautiful you are.” Tiberius tilts his head and gives me a lopsided smile. “I thought about you every day.”

  “I thought about you, too.” I can’t keep my face from flushing. “But seriously, Ty, why not enter the castle from the front door? Mother and the staff are all waiting for you.”

  He runs a hand through his blond curls, brushing the snow free. “I wanted to, ahh, avoid the whole hullaballoo of the entrance festivities.”

  I stop for a moment and imagine my mother meeting him. She wouldn’t miss the way I’d have looked at him, the way he looks at me. Maybe this is for the best.

  “And,” he says, “I just couldn’t wait to see you.”

  I swear the falling snow must be melting the instant it hits my skin—it feels like there’s a fire inside me.

  Ty looks over the balcony. “Why don’t we get out of the palace? You can show me around Eldonia.”

  Beyond him, snow covers the mountains. “I know the perfect place.”

  “So, I’m not judging,” Tiberius says, pulling his wool hat down over his ears, “but I wasn’t expecting your perfect idea to be Dwayne driving us for two hours into the wilderness and then trekking through the forest.”

  I laugh and tug on his arm. “Just trust me.”

  “I do trust you, but I’ve also lost feeling in my—” He stumbles to a stop as we reach the top of the hill and the trees clear. “Wow.”

  From up here, we have an incredible view. The trees are covered in crystal-blue ice, the lake is frozen, and towering snow-capped mountains lay just beyond them. Just down the hill from us is a small wooden hut. Smoke rises up from the brick chimney, curling and twisting in the winter air.

  Tiberius’s gloved hands grasp my shoulders. “Wait, are those…”

  “Yes.”

  “Reindeer!” Tiberius stumbles forward.

  “This is the Macdonald Reindeer Farm,” I say. To the left of the hut, a herd of reindeer mingle around the evergreen trees. Behind the cabin sit long, elegant sleighs. There are several locals and tourists milling about.

  “Are we going to go for a sleigh ride?” Tiberius grins at me.

  My face falls. “Well, no. But I thought we could go down and pat them. They really like carrots.”

  “But those people are going for a sleigh ride.” He gestures to a couple in a sleigh departing into the woods.

  “Yes, but Mother and Ms. Macdonald are rather good friends. Mother would be furious if she knew I went out into the woods. She’d say it’s too dangerous for a queen. Besides, Ms. Macdonald will recognize me for sure. The reindeer know the route, so she doesn’t bother with guides, which means she’s always at the hut.” I feel a knot tangle in my stomach as his face falls. I shouldn’t have brought him here, knowing we can’t do the main attraction.

  “You could go with Dwayne!” I gesture behind me to my bodyguard, who looks like a giant snowman, dressed from head to toe in a white puffy jacket and snow pants.

  Tiberius follows my gaze and wrinkles his nose, then he turns back to me. “I have a better idea.”

  “Are you sure this is going to work?”

  Tiberius steps back, eyes narrowed, inspecting me. “Hmm.”

  “I look like a Yeti.” I look down at myself. Ty has dressed me up in Dwayne’s giant white ski jacket. My bodyguard is in the limo, and it took every bit of my negotiating power to get him to wait there. I think I only won the argument because I reminded him he’s near the end of his audiobook—he’s dying to know if Bella’s going to choose Edward or Jacob.

  “I think we have to do something about all that hair.” He takes off his wool hat. “Turn around.”

  I do, and he reaches up, gathering my hair on top of my head. As his fingers brush the back of my neck, a shiver runs through my body and I give a sharp inhale. But then he pulls his hat down over my head, hiding all my dark hair. I wonder where he got such a ratty old thing. Maybe it’s so warm in Perienza, they don’t often buy new winter wear.

  I turn around. “Won’t you get cold without your hat?”

  He shrugs. “If I do, I’ll just wear yours.”

  “It’s pink!”

  “So? I think that color really brings out the blue in my eyes.” He bats his eyelashes dramatically. Then he gives me a sly grin. “I suppose you could always find some way to keep me warm.” While I’m still trying to find my words, he pulls out a pair of neon yellow ski goggles from his pocket. He slides them over my eyes, and the world turns sepia. “There! You are fully disguised!”

  I blink, adjusting to my new yellow world. “How do I look?”

  “You look,” he takes my chin between his thumb and forefinger, “like the most ravishing Yeti in the woods.”

  I swat at his chest. “Let’s hope this disguise is better than your jokes.”

  “Ouch.” He laughs and slings an arm around me as we head down the hill.

  The reindeer farm is absolutely beautiful. Smells of cedar and spice waft over me, and although it’s cold, only a few delicate snowflakes caress the sky. The animals all seem so peaceful, milling around, tromping through the snow.

  But I can’t tear my gaze away from Tiberius. His eyes widen, and his mouth parts as he takes everything in.

  “Don’t see many reindeer in Perienza?” I ask, reaching for his gloved hand.

  “Not really.” He shakes his head. “This looks like something out of Millie’s Christmas storybooks.”

  The door to the cedar cottage opens, and Ms. Macdonald steps out. Her long yellow braid is woven with red thread. She’s wearing a dark purple coat lined with fluffy white fur, and short brown boots. “How can I help ye?”

  Tiberius says, “Uh, we were hoping to go for a sleigh ride.”

  She narrows her eyes, looking back and forth between us.

  I hold out a wad of cash. Will this disguise work?

  She snatches the money, then turns. “Follow me.”

  I turn to Ty and grin. He wraps an arm around my shoulders as we follow Ms. Macdonald behind her cedar cottage to the sleighs. She stops in front of a small one with a simple design of flowers carved along the side. There’s a plaid blanket thrown across the seats.

  Ms. Macdonald walks away for a moment, then returns leading a large reindeer. “This,” she says, attaching the reindeer’s harness to the sleigh, “is Keira.”

  Ty slides in close to me and whispers, “Is it just me, or does Keira have crazy eyes?”

  I study the reindeer. She’s got huge fuzzy antlers and light brown fur that darkens around her muzzle. But her eyes…so big and black and glassy… are looking right into mine, seeing every deep secret of my soul.

  “Yes,” I whisper back to Ty. “Definite crazy eyes going on over here.”

  “The route will take forty minutes to the frozen lake,” Ms. Macdonald says. “When you arrive, give her one of my homemade reindeer bars and let her rest there. Then it’s forty m
inutes back. She can have the second bar when you arrive at the cottage. You shouldn’t need to use the lead to direct her—she knows the way. But you can hold them if you want to feel like you’re doing something.”

  “Okay,” Tiberius says, stepping toward the sleigh. “Sounds good to me.”

  “Here are my special reindeer bars.” Ms. Macdonald shoves a bag into his hands. “Remember, she gets one bar when she gets to the halfway point and one bar when she gets back to the cottage. Got it, blondie? If you feed her both at the same time—”

  “I’ve got it! What, do you think this is my first reindeer ride through the Eldonian wilderness?” Tiberius tries to sling the bag over his shoulder but accidentally hits himself in the face instead.

  “Come on, Ty,” I say and jump into the sleigh. “Let’s get going. Thank you, Ms. Macdonald!”

  Ms. Macdonald gives us a wave and Tiberius scrambles in beside me, tucking the bag under the seat. I grab the reindeer’s lead and Keira takes off, trotting into an easy pace through the woods.

  As soon as the cottage is a distant speck on the horizon, I throw off my ski goggles and turn to Tiberius. “I can’t believe she didn’t recognize me. You’re really good at disguises.”

  Tiberius puts his hands behind his head and leans back. “You have no idea.”

  …

  Tyler

  The sleigh ride makes me feel like I’m in a Christmas carol—the boughs of the towering fir trees covered in snow, the soft jingle of Keira’s bells as she trots leisurely along, and the welcome absence of Eva’s menacing bodyguard. But the best part is how Eva rests her head on my shoulder.

  I could be in this sleigh forever, listening to her talk about Christmas at the castle. All her best memories seem to be of Daniel. I tell her about Christmas, too, although I do have to use a bit of creative license to make them fit into Tiberius’s royal life. But the core of the memory is there, like the time I gave Millie a Unicorn Princess doll—except they don’t actually make those, so I had to hand-make all the pieces, including molding a tiny clay unicorn horn and hand-sewing a pink tutu.

  “You know how to sew?” Eva looks up at me from under her thick lashes.