by Piper Rayne
“Are there rules as to who he has to marry?” She seems almost shy when she asks, and it pains me to give her the answer.
I nod, and she squeezes her eyes shut. “Of course, but the prince hasn’t ever wanted to rule his country.”
“Why?” she asks, seeming more interested than I thought she’d be. I actually feared she’d run out on me.
“He’s just not interested.”
Our food arrives and she picks up her fork. “Do you think the prince is underestimating himself?”
“No.”
“Do you think the prince doesn’t want to live by the rules?”
Man, she knows me well. “Maybe.”
She smiles. “But if the prince is the king, can’t he change the rules?”
“But he must marry before those rules can be changed.”
Her shoulders sag a bit and she forks her omelet, putting it in her mouth as though she’s thinking. When she’s done chewing, she asks, “And what about Princess Adelaide?”
“What about her?”
“Where will she go if the prince doesn’t marry her?”
“She’ll stay in her country until she finds another prince to marry her, but it will hurt the ties between the two countries.”
We eat in silence for a moment. The tables around us are emptying and filling again.
“Does the princess want to marry the prince?” she asks.
I shake my head.
“But she traveled a long distance to see him.”
I shrug. A little girl from across the way leans over the booth, trying to hear us.
“She did, but it’s more out of embarrassment. She’s afraid the prince will make her look unworthy,” I say.
“Oh.” Her lips tip down. “That’s sad.”
“Which is why she wants to hide out until he goes home.”
She forks another piece of her omelet off her plate, and silence fills the space between us for a minute. “So what does the prince want to do now?”
“That’s easy. He wants to stay where he is and enjoy every day with his new girlfriend.”
The little girl’s mouth hangs open. “The prince has a girlfriend!”
Sierra turns to look at the little girl who’s probably eight years old.
“Sweetie, sit down.” The mom tries to divert her daughter’s attention.
“That man is telling a fairy tale and the prince doesn’t want the princess.”
Her mom looks over her shoulder and smiles politely, but there’s a scowl hidden under the fake facade.
“I think the monarchy and the royal family might feel a lot like the girl behind us,” Sierra says, the smile that crested her lips moments ago vanishing.
“The prince isn’t changing his mind.”
Sierra puts down her fork, balls up her napkin, and puts it on her plate. “Sometimes even princes get pushed into corners. I have to think this prince will be too.”
I shake my head. “Not the prince I’m talking about.”
She nods, but there’s disbelief all over her face, which means I’ll have to prove it.
“I’m fine with her staying, but you’ll have to get it past Rian.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
She nods. “We all have family drama. Most of mine’s in the past. I can’t lie, I’m scared what all this will bring, but I’m willing to see where it takes us.”
I drop cash on the table and offer her my hand. “Let’s go.”
She accepts my hand and slides out of the booth.
“Princes and princesses live happily ever after,” the little girl says as we pass her booth. She sticks her tongue out at us.
“I’m terribly sorry,” the mom says, clearly embarrassed. “I told you he was just telling a story. Now sit down.” She smiles at me once.
Sierra and I end up outside, and instead of heading toward the apartment, I lead her toward the park.
“I need something from you. Something I know isn’t easy for you to give.” I squeeze her hand and guide us to a bench.
“You need more? What?”
“I need you to trust me on this. Trust that I know my family. Trust that I know the royal system. It’s not going to be easy.” I turn toward her on the bench.
She nods. “Okay.”
“I’m serious. I promise you from this point forward there will be no more omissions from me. I will tell you how it is, but for the next month, let’s enjoy one another. Enjoy life without having to deal with the monarchy while we can.”
“That’s hard to do with a princess living under the same roof as us,” she grumbles.
“I know it’s not ideal, but we have no choice. If we don’t, she’s going to out me.”
She nods. “Trust isn’t one of my best personality traits.”
I chuckle. “I know, but try for me?”
She nods, though apparently reluctantly. “I’ll try.”
“And we can enjoy these four weeks?”
“That’s the only part I’m fully prepared for.”
I stand and offer her my hand again. “Then let’s go home. You’re filthy and in need of a shower.”
“Is that so?” We walk hand in hand out of the park.
“Yes, and I need to dirty up that delicious body of yours a little more before I clean it.”
She grins. “And do I get to wash your body too?”
“That’s a must.”
She moves closer to me, her hand gripping tighter. Maybe we’re both in denial about what’s coming over the horizon in thirty days, but right now, I’m not ready to face the thundercloud headed our way. I want to enjoy the clear skies for another month before the storm starts.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Sierra
* * *
Adrian and I return from breakfast to find Blanca and Rian with Adelaide in the living room. Adelaide’s on the phone while the two of them whisper to one another.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
Blanca stands and rounds the back of the couch. “The princess is talking to her parents. Telling them she’s headed to a friend’s house until you’re found.” She nods at Adrian.
He closes his eyes and shakes his head.
Rian doesn’t wait to join our huddle in the kitchen. She jabs Adrian in the chest with her finger. “I hope by friend she’s not talking about you.”
I’ve never seen Rian this upset with someone before. Except for the short stint when Dylan was dating that one girl. But Rian just gave her the cold shoulder, not outright death glares.
“Well…” He grimaces and grips the back of his neck.
Blanca leans in. “You’re going to have the princess move in?”
“Absolutely not,” Rian says, crossing her arms.
“Listen, if we don’t let her stay with us, she’s going to post on social media where Adrian is. If that gets out, he has to return home right away.” I give Rian a pleading look, knowing it’s unfair of me to ask her for this when she’s already been so great about Adrian staying here.
He puts his arm around me. “I’m not ready to leave.”
“Too bad,” Rian says. “Not my problem.”
I turn to Adrian and place my hand on his chest. “Give me a few minutes with the girls.”
He nods.
I motion with my head for the girls to follow me into my bedroom.
They follow, but Rian turns around midway to my door. “And the princess wants tea with non-dairy milk. Good luck.”
Adrian says nothing, but the pain on his face is clear. He wishes things were different. Unfortunately, we’re stuck with a princess who’s going to have a much harder time adjusting to normal life than Adrian did.
I shut the door and Blanca sits on the edge of my bed, Rian in the chair.
“I hear what goes on in that bed,” Rian says.
Blanca rushes to her feet and looks around for another place to sit. She opts for the carpet.
“I wash my sheets,” I say, rolling my eyes.
I suspect Rian’s sour mood has something to do with Dylan admiring the princess, not just Adrian’s omission, but I’m not calling her out on it. “Okay, I need to fill you guys in on what’s going on.”
They listen intently as I tell the story Adrian told me at breakfast. They’re both kindhearted people, so I assume they’ll understand and go along with my plan, but once I finish, they still look skeptical.
“So can she stay, Rian?” I ask.
Blanca looks at Rian and Rian at Blanca. Are they so close that they can have a conversation without any words?
“I’m worried you’re going to do all this, bend over backward for this guy you barely know. I mean, he was just straight with you because his arranged bride showed up unannounced. He had no choice. And when he has to return to his ‘royal duties’”—Rian puts royal duties in quotation marks—“he’s going to drop you.”
I suck in a breath and steel myself, turning to Blanca. “And you?”
Blanca is more subtle, shrugging. “Honestly?”
“Always,” I say.
“I fear you’re willing to go along with this because in some twisted way, you want him to break your heart.”
I drop my head and stare at her. I wanted honesty, not some Psych 101 bullshit.
“You’re hanging out with Ethan too much,” I say. “Living with him has made you psychoanalyze everyone.”
She holds up her hand. “You tend to go out with unavailable men, whether it’s emotionally, physically, whatever. I’m not saying you enjoy being hurt. I just think you keep your guard up so when it blows up you can say, ‘See, I knew it.’”
“Don’t hold back,” I say.
She stands and moves the comforter over the bare sheet before she sits down. “I don’t want to be mean about it. That’s not my intention.” She places her hand on my leg. “Remember our junior year in high school when you dated that senior from Nichols High who had a football scholarship to UCLA? You dated him the entire summer, saying the two of you would be long distance, that he promised you. And what happened a week after school started? He called and said it wasn’t working out.”
“He was busy with classes.”
I’d forgotten about Kevin. He did end up going to the NFL. I’m sure that needed his attention more than a girl back home in Brooklyn.
“Everyone around you knew it would never last. And then there’s Ethan. He was hiding his past from you, and from what he tells me, you weren’t forthcoming with him about yours either. You had to know that was going to be a major issue. Ethan told me he thought you’d accepted and healed about the loss of your mom.” Her eyes widen, silently implying that she knows I’m not.
“And then there was that guy before Ethan who was, like, thirty years older than you,” Rian chimes in. “Remember him? He ended up reconciling with his wife.”
I throw my hands in the air and stand. “Jeez, you two make me feel great about myself. Thanks so much.”
“All we’re saying is that you try to protect yourself by dating men who are either physically or emotionally unavailable. Maybe it’s subconscious and you don’t know you’re doing it. But I think you do it so you never have to be all in.” Blanca squeezes my knee.
I think of all the men I’ve dated over the years, right down to my TA in college. Blanca and Rian might be on to something… but with Adrian, it’s different. He saw me at my most vulnerable at my dad’s house, and he was the one who picked me up. He stayed.
I fix my gaze on them. They’re sharing a look with one another again. “I understand what you’re saying and maybe that was my MO before, but it’s not with Adrian. He’s different.”
Blanca blows out a breath.
“I’m asking you as my closest friends to support me. I stepped aside so you could date Ethan.” I look at Blanca, then Rian. “And I’ve kept your secret love for Dylan to myself for years. All I’m asking for is a month. Please.”
They’re silent for a moment and I hold my breath, afraid to make a sound.
Blanca nods. “You’re right. You were a great friend to me. I do hope I’m wrong about Adrian fitting into the trend from your past. I’ll support you no matter what and I won’t make waves while he’s here.”
“Thank you.” My gaze shifts to Rian, who now has her knees pulled to her chest.
She lets her head fall back and looks at the ceiling. “Fine, but the princess needs to figure out that this is not her palace.”
“I’ll talk to her,” I say. They stand, and we share a three-way hug. “Thank you, girls. I heart you so much.”
“We heart you, and that’s why we’re worried. We don’t want to see you hurt,” Rian says.
“I know. Thank you for being so concerned about me.”
“Always,” they say in unison.
We file out of my bedroom to find Adrian sitting in the chair across from Adelaide, leaning forward. “They aren’t here to serve you. If you want to stay here and live a life without privilege, you need to become self-sufficient.”
She nods. “I just asked for tea. She’s a thin girl, I figured she had non-dairy milk.”
He releases an exasperated sigh. “Do you really not do any of this yourself at home?”
She shakes her head. “No.”
“Hey, guys.” I break up the conversation.
Blanca hovers by the front door, and I sit on the arm of the chair. Adrian runs his hand along my back and hip. Rian sits in the chair opposite us.
I say, “You can stay, Adelaide, but like Adrian was telling you, we’re not here to serve you. We all have jobs already.”
“Yes, okay, but will you help me?”
Adrian blows out a breath. It’s his annoyed one. “Sure. Why don’t we go to the store today and get you settled?”
Adelaide smiles. “I’d like that. I have my belongings at a small hotel by the train station.”
“We’ll go pick them up,” I say.
Adrian stands. “But we have to shower and get ready first. You’ll be sleeping in that second room. I’ll move my stuff out of there for you.”
“Where will you sleep?” Adelaide asks.
“With Sierra.”
She nods. “Of course. Okay.” Her perfectly shaped legs that seemed glued together turn to Rian. “Thank you, and I’m sorry for this morning.”
I turn to Adrian and smile like “See, she’s a quick learner.” Adrian rolls his eyes.
“Thank you for the apology,” Rian politely says.
I’m happy that we’re all getting along. Or at least trying to.
“Great. Now it’s time for Sierra and me to get ready for the day.” He takes my hand and heads to the bathroom.
“You shower together here?” Adelaide asks.
“Water conservation,” Adrian answers and I laugh, slapping him on the chest.
“Oh.” She looks horrified.
“He’s kidding. You’re going to have to figure out our brand of humor if you live here. Especially with the guys across the hall,” Rian says. “Come on, I’ll give you a proper introduction. Which will get you out of here before the moans and loud fuckery noises start from those two.”
Rian stands and Blanca opens the door, all three of them filing out.
“Now let’s see how dirty you are.” Adrian backs me up into the bathroom.
I don’t object as he strips my T-shirt off and pulls my pants down to my ankles. “You really think this is going to work out?”
He strips himself down and turns on the water. “All I really care about is you and me. Everything else is just noise.”
He steps into the shower and takes my hand as I step over the tub wall and join him. He pulls me into his body as the warm water rains down between us.
“You can’t live in a bubble,” I say.
“Sure, I can. At least for right now I can. Now forget all that’s out there and allow me to thank you properly for being so understandi
ng.” He falls to his knees, setting one of my feet on the edge of the tub wall, spreading me wider for him.
Between the warm water freeing the tension knotting inside me and his tongue teasing my clit, I forget all that’s waiting for us outside of the small bathroom.
Blanca and Rian are so wrong. Prince Adrian doesn’t want a princess. He wants a Wonder Woman.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Sierra
* * *
Princess Adelaide adjusts well to change. Better than I thought she would anyway. After our shopping trip—where she bought her non-dairy milk and tea, along with egg whites and all the other foods she said she likes—she seemed to settle in okay with the group. It’s still obvious she’s treating this sabbatical from her life like some kind of fun experiment, but whatever.
I’m not going to lie, leaving her and Adrian alone in the apartment this morning was hard for me, because of that stupid little voice in my head. But another voice in my head tells me that if I don’t show up at work, Kay will be the one to get Georgia’s anchor position.
“Hey, Mick,” I say, walking into the station.
“Did you hear the news?”
I stop and he hands me a few messages.
“That Kay is marrying Jack?” I ask, not looking up from my notes.
“No. She has to get pregnant before he marries her.”
We both laugh.
“Some princess is missing,” he says.
My hands pause mid flip between my messages and I glance up to see if he’s testing me in some way. “What do you mean?”
“Yeah, it’s all over those gossip blogs you got me addicted to. I figured you would’ve already seen. First that prince you love so much and now a princess. Do you think someone is picking off royalty?” He puts his chin in his palm and looks at me, waiting for an answer.
I swallow the lump that’s blocking my airway. “I’m sure they just needed a breather or something. They’ll turn up.”