The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 343

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 343: Competition Day One**

**Judy’s POV**

“Seriously, are you really going to keep me in the dark about why you stumbled in so late last night? There’s no way that dinner wrapped up at 2 AM,” Nan said, arms crossed tightly over her chest, her eyes scrutinizing me as I rummaged through my clothes like a frantic squirrel searching for nuts. I was on a mission to find the workout outfit I had carefully selected for the competition today.

“Not a chance,” I shot back, unable to suppress a cheeky grin.

The truth was, I was not ready to confront the whirlwind of emotions swirling in my mind. Gavin’s presence from the night before lingered like an intoxicating perfume, filling me with both excitement and confusion. The raw feelings that had surged through me felt almost alien now, as if they belonged to someone else. I could still sense the ghost of his touch on my skin, and a shiver ran down my spine at the thought.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I unearthed my clothes and hurried into the bathroom to change. My nerves were already frayed at the thought of the competition; I didn’t need to complicate things further by overthinking my connection with Gavin.

“You’re such a buzzkill!” Nan called out from the other side of the bathroom door, her voice teasingly dramatic.

I chuckled softly as I slipped into my outfit, hastily tying my hair into a ponytail. Once I emerged from the bathroom, I found Nan waiting for me, her hands still firmly planted on her hips, a mock-serious expression on her face.

“I swear, if anything juicy happened between you and that boy, you have to spill,” she insisted, her nose slightly elevated as if she were above the gossip, even though I knew she thrived on it.

I laughed, giving her a playful nudge as I walked past her.

“Honestly, there’s not much to report,” I confessed, my heart racing as I spoke. “We… well, we had sex. That’s pretty much the extent of it.”

“Wait, what? Seriously?” Nan’s eyes widened, and her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. “You ran away from him after that? You were upset enough to just leave the country without a word?”

She had a point; I had promised her this trip would be a break from guys. She needed to clear her head of Chester, and I was supposed to be doing the same with Gavin. Yet, here I was, unable to shake him from my thoughts.

“You’re right,” I admitted, feeling a wave of guilt wash over me. “I’m sorry.”

Nan sighed, her expression softening.

“No, I’m the one who should apologize,” she murmured, her tone sincere. “I’m being a terrible friend. You clearly have feelings for him, and I shouldn’t stand in your way.”

“We’re just casual friends with benefits,” I teased, shrugging nonchalantly, though the words felt heavier than I intended. “At least that’s how it seems…”

“Have you even talked about it?” she asked, her brow furrowed in concern.

I shook my head, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me.

“No, and honestly, I’m not sure if I want to,” I replied, the truth escaping my lips with a sigh. “Everything feels so messy right now. I think it’s best if I focus on the competition.”

She nodded, her expression thoughtful as she glanced at the clock on the wall.

“Do you have time to grab breakfast?”

“I’ve got about an hour. Let’s find something quick,” I suggested, eager to fuel my body for the challenges ahead.

We made our way to the breakfast buffet in the dining hall, a vibrant spread of food laid out before us. My appetite, however, was a mere shadow of what it usually was; nerves twisted my stomach into knots. I settled for a glass of orange juice and a single piece of toast while Nan piled her plate high with an assortment of goodies.

We found a table in the corner, and as Nan devoured her food, she chattered excitedly about her day with her new friends. I was relieved she had found some company to keep her occupied while I prepared for the competition.

As I stared at my empty plate, a frown formed on my lips. Just then, a new plate appeared in front of me, laden with far more food than I could possibly eat. My eyes widened as I looked up to see Gavin, a frown etched on his face, as he nonchalantly took my piece of toast.

“You really need to eat,” he stated matter-of-factly, turning away without waiting for a response.

I blinked, momentarily stunned, as I watched him walk to a different table, engrossed in conversation with someone else. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Had anyone else noticed that?

I quickly scanned the room, relieved to find that no one seemed to be watching me.

Nan, however, was struggling to contain her laughter, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she nibbled on her breakfast, clearly enjoying my discomfort. As much as I wanted to be annoyed with Gavin for his unsolicited intervention, I couldn’t deny the truth of his words. I needed to fuel my body if I wanted to make it through the day.

Reluctantly, I picked up my fork and started to eat. Halfway through the plate, I pushed it aside, my stomach protesting the effort.

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