Everlastingly Loving You - Chapter 122
Her arrangement with Louis was something she hadn’t considered when agreeing to give her and Blaine a shot again.
She knew it was wrong and could cause future problems, but she wanted to enjoy life by the moment. And even if it meant she’d have to find a way to continue being with Blaine instead of Oliver… she would.
Oliver… oh, Oliver.
Clarisse didn’t mind him.
Surprisingly, he hadn’t turned out to be that bad, except when he got flustered around her.
It was strange, but she’d convinced herself it was because he knew the arrangement between his kingdom and her kingdom would ruin her relationship, and he was simply feeling guilty whenever he was around her and Blaine.
If only she realized how far off from the mark she was.
Poor, unsuspecting Clarisse.
She wasn’t dense unless it came to herself.
She wasn’t in denial, she was too busy and focused on her boyfriend to pay any heed to anyone else but him at the moment.
Oliver knew it was wrong.
He’d tried everything he could to get the arrangement cancelled, but his parents wouldn’t allow him it to happen no matter what he did.
He was fortunate they’d even agreed to listen to him.
Had it been Nicholas asking, they never would’ve agreed.
It was only because he was the family’s golden boy that he was listened to. It was unfortunate they ended up continuing with the arranged marriage anyway.
He and Clarisse…
He knew it’d be awkward, what with their relationship.
They were friends… sort of.
He didn’t know what they were, actually.
She had Blaine, her boyfriend.
She had Sophia, her best friend.
She had Nicholas, her friend.
But for him?
He could only go as far as to say they were acquaintances that were to get married as soon as the kingdoms settled everything else.
Some things needed to be solved other than the arrangement itself, so they didn’t need to rush things for now although the dinner was only the beginning for what else was to come.
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He knew Clarisse and Blaine were dining at Blaine’s fancy office situated in his company’s headquarters in Beldovia.
He knew all about it.
Blaine had confided in Nicholas for the date.
Oliver cursed under his breath, ‘He stole my brother from me.’
He couldn’t comprehend why he was feeling so envious.
Nicholas wasn’t that much of a treat – unless you were Sophia.
He wondered when would Clarisse return.
He tried to start up conversations with her, only for it to end in him unable to form coherent sentences and her completing his sentences for him.
He wondered why she even put up with him. He was a nobody, aside from her best friend’s… boyfriend’s brother.
Yikes, that was complicated enough.
He went over to Sophia’s quarters.
He knocked.
Nicholas opened the door.
“What are you doing here?” Nicholas asked, looking his brother up and down.
“I came to talk to your girlfriend,” Oliver answered.
“What? Why?” Nicholas asked sceptically.
“I just need to talk to her about something, ‘is all,” Oliver answered.
Nicholas furrowed his brows.
He sighed.
Sophia asked, “Who is it?”
Nicholas answered, “Oliver.”
The prince and duke heard the duchess say, “Oh.”
“What’s he doing here?” She asked.
Oliver answered, “I came to ask you something.”
Nicholas looked exasperated.
Oliver had come just as they were about to start their date.
What horrible timing he had.
“Just… do it quickly,” Nicholas said frustratedly.
“You’re ruining movie night,” Nicholas said with a small pout.
He placed one hand in his pocket.
He spoke to Sophia before opening the door for his brother.,
“Come in,” he said.
“You sure?” Oliver asked.
“Come in before I change my mind, I’ll wait outside,” Nicholas said.
“But I’m watching you,” he said to his brother, glaring at him.
He wouldn’t forgive him so easily for ruining their date.
They’d started it off with champagne, and afterwards, they were planning to cuddle and fall asleep watching movies.
It was practically routine, but it didn’t mean they enjoyed it any less.
Oliver entered Sophia’s quarters.
Sophia got up.
“So, what the hell are you doing here this late at night?” Sophia asked.
Oliver answered, “To ask you something.”
Sophia scowled, “I know that, carry on I want to know what.”
Oliver replied with, “Clarisse.”
Sophia’s curiosity was piqued.
“Clarisse?”
“Why would you come in here asking about Clarisse?” She asked.
She already had a slight hint as to what he was going to say, but she kept it to herself. She coaxed Oliver – or Jax, as she called him – to go on.
Instead of asking her what he wanted to ask her what he first intended to ask her, Oliver blurted out, “I like her.”
“I like Clarisse.”
Sophia tensed.
Did she hear what she thought she’d just heard?
“Excuse me?” She asked, seeking validation as to what she just heard.
“What did you just say?” She questioned.
Jaxson blinked.
He was struck with confusion.
What the hell did he just say?
To Sophia, no less.
Did he just tell her he liked Clarisse?
He tried playing it off as nothing, “As a friend.”
“Nothing more.”
He laughed nervously, “She’s just a friend after all.”
“A happily taken friend,” he added hesitantly.
“I should stop talking shouldn’t I,” he said, quieting down.
Sophia didn’t seem furious. She seemed amused.
“You shouldn’t,” she said, a mysterious glimmer in her eyes.
“Go on.”
“This is a free space here.”
“You can continue,” she said amusedly.
“I promise I won’t tell Clarisse anything.”
“You’re her best friend, how could you not tell her anything,” Jaxson blurted.
“I’m not helping,” he mumbled aloud.
Sophia scoffed.
“I kept my feelings for Nicholas well-hidden didn’t I?” She reasoned.
“The only reason she found out was that she pieced it together herself.”
“Also because I made it extremely obvious I… how did you put it? ‘Like’ him,” she said.
“Go on, you have my word that I’ll tell Clarisse absolutely nothing.”
“Besides she doesn’t suspect anything,” Sophia whispered.