The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead Page A

Princess Jailbait.” I enunciated each word with my fork. “Besides, Big Ben over there’s married to his duty. You’ll never get him. Find some Moroi prince and give up on dhampirs altogether. They’re nothing but trouble.” Didn’t I know it. “Besides, you may have everyone else fooled, but I know you’re not into him.”
    â€œYeah? You have a psychic bond now?”
    â€œDon’t need one.” I tapped my head. “I have aura vision. That, and I just know you. What are you playing at? Why are you trying to pretend you’re interested in him?”
    She sighed. “Because I hope I
will
be interested in him.”
    â€œLike, if you do a good enough act, you’ll convince yourself?”
    â€œSomething like that.”
    â€œThat’s nonsensical. And coming from me, that’s a serious accusation.”
    She kicked me under the table. “If I can fall in love with Neil, then maybe I’ll stop . . .” Her voice faltered a moment. “Maybe I’ll stop thinking about Eddie.”
    I deleted the snarky comments I’d been mentally accruing. “I don’t think it works that way. Actually, I know for a fact it doesn’t.”
    â€œI have to do something, Adrian. I wish I’d realized how I felt about Eddie sooner . . . I was so stupid and missed my chance. Now Sydney says he’s all caught up in honor and duty and thinks no princess could lower herself to him.”
    â€œThat sounds like something he’d say,” I agreed. I’d never actually heard the tale directly from Eddie, but Sydney had had a heart-to-heart with him and gotten the scoop. He’d once had a crush on Jill that he staunchly denied. Neither of us knew if it had survived his Angeline days, but something told me if it had, his views on chivalry hadn’t changed.
    â€œMaybe instead of trying to trick yourself into falling for another guy, you should just go confront Eddie and get it all out,” I suggested.
    â€œLike you did with Sydney?” asked Jill archly. “That didn’t go so well.”
    â€œNot at the time.” To describe Sydney’s reaction to my initial declaration of love as “not going well” was a kindness. “But look at me now, lounging in the lap of love.”
    Jill’s earlier grin returned. “You should make Sydney dinner. For her birthday.”
    It was one of those times when it was nice having someone who was already up to speed on my life. It saved me a lot of explaining what had been weighing on me. I also realized this abrupt topic change was Jill’s subtle way of saying she didn’t want to talk about her own love life anymore. “That’s not a real gift. She deserves more.”
    â€œDiamonds and roses?” Jill shook her head. “You should know her better than that. She’s not a material person, and you don’t need to make some big expensive gesture. A homemade dinner’s romantic.”
    â€œAlso disastrous. You know better than anyone else that I can’t cook.”
    â€œAnd that’s why she’ll love it even more. She’s into personal effort—and learning. Figure out how to make a simple dish, and it’ll go a long way. Imperfection is endearing.”
    Jill had a point, but it was a tough one for me to swallow. Most of my courtship with girls—even the one-night stands—had involved those “big expensive gestures.” Flowers and more flowers. Seven-course meals with wine pairings. Cooking boxed spaghetti didn’t measure up.
    â€œI’ll think about it,” I conceded.
    That perked Jill up. “Maybe if the atmosphere’s romantic enough, you guys can—”
    â€œNo, Jailbait.” I held up a hand. “Don’t go there.”
    â€œBut you want to,” Jill insisted. “And she does too, or she wouldn’t have made that chart.”
    â€œI