Katy laughed. No, he certainly didn’t.
“So you think you’ll be able to handle this, then? For the long term?” Katy asked, her heart fluttering nervously in her chest.
“As long as you’ll have me,” David replied with a wink.
“Princess Katerina?”
Katy startled at the sound of her full name and title; she’d almost forgotten that they were in public, where she could be recognized at any time. In fact, she’d almost forgotten that there were people in the world other than her and David. But her worry began to ebb when she looked in the direction of the voice to see two college-aged girls standing in front of her, as opposed to a horde of professionally nosy photographers.
“That’s me,” Katy replied graciously. She didn’t like being interrupted, but she was relieved that they weren’t being mobbed again.
“Wow. Could we get a picture?” the shorter girl asked.
“Of course,” Katy replied. At least these pictures were unlikely to be used against her.
The shorter girl handed her smartphone to David and then stood next to Katy. Her friend—a rather busty brunette in a tight-fitting Harvard sweater—stood on the other side.
Katy smiled politely, and David directed the girls, shooting a few pictures from various angles. Then he handed the phone back to its owner.
Katy and David were about to escape the impromptu photoshoot when the brunette spoke.
“Wait. Can I get a picture with you, too?”
David turned and looked at her in confusion. “Me?”
The brunette smiled seductively. “Yeah. You.”
David looked over at Katy with an eyebrow cocked. But Katy nodded instinctively, encouraging David to honor the request. The importance of public service had been taught to her early in life. And, although she didn’t want David getting too close to this strange and very forward woman, she would feel bad turning down a reasonable request.
David looked back at the woman. “Um. Sure,” he answered in an uncertain tone.
The brunette handed her phone to Katy without looking at her. Then David awkwardly stepped toward the girls and crossed his hands in front of himself. The short girl sweetly copied his pose and smiled for the camera. But, as Katy watched with increasing discomfort, the buxom brunette draped her arm over David and pressed her body against him.
To his credit, David looked as uncomfortable as Katy felt.
Katy snapped a picture, and David stepped away, extracting himself from the brunette’s grasp as quickly as possible.
“Thanks, sweetheart,” the brunette said in a sultry voice.
“Yes. Thanks so much, Princess!” the blonde added.
Katy nodded and waved politely as David returned to her side with obvious relief.
“That was weird,” David said when the girls were out of earshot.
Katy merely nodded. She wanted to just laugh the situation off. What a forward girl that brunette was! And poor David—looking like a pillar of discomfort with a stranger’s breasts practically smashed against him. Really, it’d been a comical scene.
But Katy found that she couldn’t laugh at it. It didn’t feel funny. She was surprised, actually, at the worry that swirled in her stomach. Without warning, she was thrust back to a painful memory from less than a year ago. Turning a corner and seeing a handsome Russian boy, the one she’d been convinced she would one day marry, breaking every vow and every promise he’d ever made to her in one sweaty, primal act. Katy remembered making eye contact with Alexei and feeling her heart break in her chest. She remembered watching her future dissolve right in front of her.
And with that memory, a surge of emotions came too. And, for the first time since she’d met David, Katy was afraid. She knew that David wasn’t like Alexei. He seemed good and noble and loyal.
But what if?
4
David
“I had a really lovely time,” David said on Katy’s doorstep, his voice low and breathy. His words were accompanied by small puffs, his breath solidifying in the cool night.
“I did, too,” Katy told him. But her voice had lost its melody, and there was no flirtation in her tone.
David had noticed during their walk home after the movie that Katy had gotten quiet, caught up in her thoughts. And it had all felt so fine, so normal, until those two random girls asked for a picture.
“Katy, is everything all right?”
Katy looked up at David with her steely eyes—a color that he was still getting used to—and bit her lip. Under any other circumstances, David would’ve been aroused by the sight. But Katy was obviously bothered, and all he could think of was what might be affecting her so much.
“You can tell me,” he said, trying to be as gentle as he could. “Is it about those photos we took?”
“Just . . . brought back some bad memories, is all,” Katy replied slowly. But after a pause, she added, “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to make comparisons. That was a long time ago.”
“Sometimes that pain can come rushing back, though,” David replied. He knew that himself, from personal experience. “I understand, Katy.”
Katy looked up, seeming surprised by his response.
“I know you’ve been hurt before. And I could stand here and tell you that I’m different, and that you’ll never feel that pain again,” David went on, looking down at Katy tenderly. “But I won’t. Instead, I’ll show you.”
Katy smiled weakly. “I don’t make relationships easy, do I? Paparazzi, overprotective parents, wounds from old exes . . . I’m lucky that you’re willing to put up with any of it. Much less all of it.” She looked down again, fiddling her hands.
David reached down to grab them. “You keep it exciting, that’s for sure.”
When Katy’s eyes darted up, they both chuckled. David could feel the tension draining out of Katy as the atmosphere around them lightened. But he still wanted to impart something further—something beyond jokes.
“I’m happy with you, Katy. And not in spite of all of the things you listed. All of those things—the fame, your family, even the people you’ve loved before—they made you who you are today. So in a way, I’m happy with you because of them.”
Katy’s eyes misted slightly. “That means a lot, David.”
David inhaled. It was cold out, and he wanted to get Katy inside for the night. And as much as he wanted to follow her upstairs, he had reading and writing to get to.
“Well,” David went on, “I hope I get to see you tomorrow.”
Katy nodded. Leaning forward, David placed two fingers gently under her chin and pointed her face back at his. Then he lowered his mouth to press against hers.
Katy leaned in, closing her eyes. After a moment, she moved away from his mouth but pressed her forehead against David’s, her eyes closed, her nose brushing his. They stayed that way for a few heartbeats, just touching each other, and David hoped that she could feel the reassurance and adoration for her that was thrumming through his body.
Finally, she stepped back, a tired but comforted smile on her face.
“Goodnight, David.”
“Goodnight, Katy.”
David watched as Katy unlocked her front door and disappeared inside. It didn’t feel good to leave her when he knew she had something negative on her mind. But he hoped that she could trust how he felt about it.
He’d meant every word.
He cast one last longing glance at Katy’s door, wishing he was still with her. Then he walked down her steps and back toward the Wolf Club.
He was alone in his room when he got home. Zeke had taken to spending late nights in Nur’s apartment any chance he got. David kicked his shoes off and hung his coat up. Then he sat on his bed.
He was truly thrilled and honored that Katy had chosen to be with him. But so far, dating a princess hadn’t been easy. David had gotten a few weird and invasive comments, from strangers as well as some of his friends in the house. But the personal invasions of privacy were the worst. He�
�d seen his face suddenly plastered on gossip rags and celebrity blogs everywhere across the internet, and he was being called “sexy rebound” and “mystery co-ed” ad nauseam.
David lay back on his bed and sighed. Hopefully things will get easier when the attention dies down.
* * *
After a shower the next morning, David checked his phone to find that he had missed a phone call from his cousin Joseph. And he felt like he already knew what his cousin would be calling about.
“Cuz!” Joseph answered excitedly after only one ring. “Or should I say, Mr. Mystery Co-Ed? When were you going to tell us?”
David chuckled despite how much he hated those names. Obviously, news had traveled fast.
“You wouldn’t have believed me if I did tell you,” David replied.
“Well, you could’ve tried me anyway!” Joseph playfully admonished. “Cerise was so pleased with herself—she said she knew she recognized Katy from somewhere, even with the dark hair and contact lenses.”
It was good hearing from his cousin, especially now that David didn’t have to hide anything.
“How is Cerise doing? And Aunt Mary?”
“Cerise is back in Ithaca. And Mom is doing really well. Seems like she’s gotten a lot of her old strength and sass back after the latest round of chemo finally started to wear off. She’s been asking about you.”
The thought warmed David’s heart. He had been thinking about his aunt quite a bit as well. It was a big portion of what made waiting to hear back from Mia Cantor, the private investigator that he and Katy had hired, so difficult.
“Well, I hope that the next time I talk to her, I have some answers for her,” David said. He didn’t have to tell Joseph that he was referring to their search for Jeanine. His mother.
“Have you heard anything yet?” his cousin asked sharply.
“Not yet. But Katy really trusts this woman. So, no matter what she finds out, I’m hoping we’ll hear something soon.”
David meant that. He had been trying to stay optimistic, but he also knew that Mia could find out bad news. Either way, he just wanted to know something. Anything.
“I just wanted to check in on you,” Joseph replied. “I have to get back to work. But don’t be a stranger!”
David said goodbye and hung up the phone. He certainly didn’t plan to be a stranger, especially not now that he finally had biological family that he could talk to.
David’s classes and seminars went well that day. He texted Katy periodically through the afternoon and noticed with relief that she seemed to be more herself again. After classes, and with no definitive plans scheduled with Katy yet, he returned to the Wolf Club. He ventured into the kitchen to scavenge for food, reminding himself that he would need to grocery shop when the only thing he could find was a few slices of room-temperature pizza on the counter.
Max approached while David’s mouth was full of bell pepper.
“Hey, man,” he said in greeting. “How’s your semester going so far?”
David swallowed his unchewed bite painfully and then mustered words. “Not too bad so far. You?”
“The classes I went to were good.”
David assumed that Max meant that he already started skipping some of his classes. Professor Bell would never let his students get away with that.
“Cool, mate,” David replied. He took another bite of pizza, hoping to signal to Max that he was in the mood for food, not chitchat.
Max didn’t get the hint. “So, about your girlfriend . . .”
David continued chewing. He already didn’t like where the conversation was going.
“Is she coming to any house parties this year?”
David looked at Max with a blank expression. Why, Max? Need some PR for the Wolf Club or what? “I don’t know. Why?”
“Well, it’s just that I was talking to some of the other guys, and . . .” Max trailed off awkwardly, beginning to rub the back of his neck with one hand. “Well, we were thinking it might be better if she didn’t come.”
David’s eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about, Max?”
“I’m sorry, man. It’s just that there’s a lot of partying that goes on here, and we’re worried that having a celebrity at the parties might bring some unwanted attention.”
“Like a closer inspection,” Seb added, walking up behind David.
David was starting to feel cornered. More than that, he was starting to feel angry.
“Are you guys serious right now?” Being asked about his private details was annoying enough. But being told that his girlfriend couldn’t come to parties anymore—never mind the fact that she wouldn’t ever have wanted to—was on another level.
“Look, man,” Seb replied. “It’s nothing about Katy. More about her parents. What would happen if they wanted to shut down her fun by shutting down our house?”
“Katy doesn’t belong to anyone. She’s her own person,” David shot back.
“David,” Max began. But David had had enough.
“If you guys don’t want her here, fine,” he said. He tossed the remnants of his pizza into an overflowing garbage bin. “But I won’t be there either.” David turned out of the kitchen and headed back to his room.
As David threw himself down at his desk, trying to steady his breathing, he got a text from Katy.
Staying in with Cassie tonight. Date night tomorrow?
David sighed. He was glad Katy was spending some time with her cousin, since he didn’t want to monopolize her, but he couldn’t deny that he was disappointed. With all of the weirdness going on, being around Katy seemed to be the only thing that made him feel normal.
5
Katy
“What is it called if we’re not enraged when we’re doing it?” Cassie asked, licking chocolate ganache off her index finger.
“Um. Just baking?” Katy answered bemusedly. She plopped a few fresh raspberries and mint leaves down on top of their immaculately frosted chocolate raspberry torte. She had skipped her usual late lunch after classes to save room for their baking date, and she was so looking forward to indulging.
“Doesn’t have the same ring to it,” Cassie replied.
“Well, I’m sure we can think of things to rage against,” Katy said. “Like the fact that Professor Bissenhof already gave my class its first pop quiz!” Who gives a pop quiz the first week of classes?
“Ugh, the worst!” Cassie commiserated. “Or the fact that stupid Dominic posted a picture of some bikini-clad trollop sunbathing on his yacht deck today.” Cassie had been prowling one of her ex-boyfriends’ social media profiles of late, and Katy knew she was bothered by it. “She looked like an overcooked rotisserie chicken!”
Katy giggled. “Or the fact that David’s newfound celebrity has random girls vying for him right in front of me.” But even as she said it, the words choked up in her throat. Maybe she wasn’t quite ready to laugh about that yet.
“Or the fact that my parents still haven’t called me back,” Cassie added morosely, adding to the rapidly changing atmosphere.
The mirth of the game had been sucked right out of it. Katy sighed and grabbed the cake knife off the counter.
“I guess now we can call it pity-baking,” Cassie joked.
As if I could pity myself any more right now. She’d almost ruined her movie date with David the night before because she couldn’t get the image of the buxom stranger pressing against him out of her mind. At least the maid Alexei had been caught screwing had looked embarrassed. In the photos, the girl had looked downright proud of herself. The photos she’d made Katy take. What a bitch.
But David had been so sweet and understanding about everything. And she knew that he meant what he had said.
“I’m sorry about your parents,” Katy said gently. She knew how much their absence upset Cassie. They had cancelled on yet another scheduled visit to Cambridge and were currently vacationing in Greece instead. To make matters worse, Cassie had only found out when she checked her mot
her’s Facebook page.
“At least they pretended to invite me this time. Like they didn’t know that I couldn’t skip class to go to Santorini,” Cassie replied. “But it hurts that they’re always canceling plans. Up until last week I still thought they were coming here.”
Katy nodded in understanding. If there was one gripe she could understand, it was parental problems.
“Oh, well.” Cassie summed it up, forcing a smile. “What about you? Did you ever talk to David about the picture thing? To explain how you feel?”
Katy nodded. “Yeah, and he seemed really understanding. But I can’t help but feel guilty still. I don’t want him to think I’m comparing him to Al, just because sometimes those fears come racing back.”
Cassie looked over at Katy, her eyes sympathetic. “Are you going to cut that torte or what?” she joked.
Katy chuckled and picked the knife back up, effortlessly sliding it through layers of spongy cake, fresh whipped cream, and sticky raspberry preserves. Katy picked up a large slice and toppled it over onto a plate, passing it to her cousin.
Cassie received it with a wolfish grin. She stuck her fork into the torte dramatically. “There. I just stabbed this dessert like it was Dominic. Now I feel a little better.” She handed Katy a fork. “Picture Al when you stab your slice.”
Katy laughed, but she still felt pensive. “But that’s just it. I don’t even want to think of Al. I want to put all of that behind me and focus on David. I don’t want it to mess up a good thing with him.” Katy cut herself a slice and found herself staring contemplatively down at her plate.
“Well, you won’t be the only one Al leaves a scar on,” Cassie replied. “I heard that he’s already cheating on his Italian bride. At least you didn’t marry him.”
Cassie was right about that. Things would’ve been so much worse if Katy had caught Alexei with his pants down after a wedding and a couple of kids. She’d dodged a speeding bullet with him. But Al was the past. David was the present . . . and maybe, she dared to think, even the future.
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