by Vivian Wood
"Don't you want to check out the downstairs? I think there is some new furniture outside…"
I frown at her. "I just want to go lie down. I'm sorry that I'm not psyched up for this mini vacation. I just feel like I am better off being by myself. You can't make anybody depressed if you don't hang out with them."
Kal comes up behind me, putting her arm around my shoulders. She pushes the bag off my shoulder and gives me a little squeeze. "Come outside. Just for a minute. And then you can go upstairs and hide if you really want to."
I roll my eyes but put my bag to the side near the wall. "Okay, okay. Five minutes. Then I can hang out by myself all I want to. Deal?"
Kal shakes her head at me. "Deal, I guess."
Pippa and Kal put their bags beside mine and we all trail toward the back of the house, making our way to the back door. From here, I can see through the plate glass windows that a white tent has been erected over the whole patio area. I squint at it, seeing a flash of movement inside the tent.
I look suspiciously at Pippa. "What is this? Please tell me that you guys didn't do anything foolish. There isn’t a party out there, is there?"
Pivot shoots me a sneaky grin. "Nope. Come on, we want to see your face when you see what is in store for you."
Rolling my eyes like it's going out of style, I open the sliding door and step outside. It's only about forty paces from the back door of the house to the back of the tent. Glancing over my shoulder at Kal, I shake my head and take a deep breath. Then I plunge inside.
My eyes widen. My jaw drops.
I look around at the scene before me, disbelieving. It’s noisy in here, lots of electronic beeping sounds. The walls and ceiling are painted to look like an arcade, complete with brick façade and glowing neon electric signs. On the floor around me I see tons of machines, the cabinets of video games, an air hockey table, and a whole bank of nothing but Skee-Ball machines.
At the far end of the tent, there is a whole bar set up, bar taps and everything. Behind it, a whole tower of shelves holding liquor bottles sits, lit by glowing neon lights from beneath each shelf.
I take a few steps forward, looking at a small table that has been placed amongst the machines. It has several kinds of junk food, pizza rolls and popcorn and dishes of sugar free toffees. I look around and realize that there are several such tables sprinkled throughout the machines, all throughout the place.
Everywhere I look, it is bright color and flashing lights. The Skee-Ball machines make a raucous dinging.
I turn to look at Pippa and Kal, extremely surprised. This is my private fantasy, not exactly something that the public knows about. It's a dirty little secret of mine. "How did you guys know that I loved the arcade? I can't ever remember sharing that with either of you…"
Kal steps forward, gently turning me around. "You didn't tell us. You told Erik."
I look up and see Erik himself, wearing dark jeans and a white T-shirt. He has an anxious expression on his face, like he is not sure whether I would want to see him or not.
Instantly, my heartbeat starts pounding in my ears. I catch his eye and swallow, not sure what is happening. I feel Kal and Pippa take couple of steps back, receding into the background.
There is only Erik in this room as far as I am concerned. But do I even want to see him?
He runs his fingers through his hair and swallows. I take a step forward, uncertain. He beckons to me, inviting me to come closer.
Taking a deep breath, I take five steps towards him. When I am close enough almost to touch, I stop and look up at him, licking my lips nervously. "What are you doing here, Erik?"
He smiles at me, a dimple flashing in his cheek. "You said to me once that if you could stay in the arcade forever, you would. So, I thought that bringing the arcade to you wouldn't hurt anything." He reaches out, taking my hand. The feel of his hot fingers against my cool ones makes me shiver.
I gaze up at him, not really understanding what's happening. "That doesn't really answer my question, does it?"
He smiles again and shakes his head. "I was trying to think of the best way to beg you to come back to me. And I figured that using a place that we were so happy once could only help my circumstances." He tugs me closer, using his free hand to brush a lock of my hair back and cup my cheek. My eyes fill with tears as I scan his face. He seems so earnest.
"What about the future?" I whisper.
He pulls me against his big body. I lean my head back, not sure that this is even real. Ever so slowly, he starts talking. "I have realized a few things since you left. I realize I don't have any control over what may happen. I can't predict the future. But one thing I can do is be with you, be whatever you need, for as long as you will let me. And I realized how foolish I've been to push you away for something that's completely out of your control. I'm sorry, Annika."
I bite my lip. "That doesn't really solve any of the things you were really worried about though, does it?"
He laces our fingers together, his eyes burning into mine. "None of that really matters though. Does it? I mean, there is an income disparity between us. There is no denying that. And you are much too young for me. But I can't help the way I feel."
He hesitates. "I love you, Annika. So much that it hurts. And if you are willing to set aside all of these shortcomings that I have, I will promise that you will have me for as long as you want me."
My breath leaves my lungs. It takes a second to get my bearings. "What are you saying, Erik?"
He smiles at me softly, that dimple flashing in his cheek again. "If you're asking whether I brought a ring with me, the answer is yes. I don't know if you want that though." He tilts his head, his gaze dropping to my lips. "I love you, Nika. I'm crazy about you. And I'll do whatever I have to do to have you by my side. Even if that means appearing at public functions as nothing more than your boyfriend."
My brow furrows. "Oh, Erik. I was so destroyed when we broke up. I don't know if I can do that again. I don't know that I will survive."
He meets my eye again, stepping back for a second. Then he pulls a ring box out of his pocket, dropping to one knee. My hands fly up, covering my mouth. My eyes widen. "You're going to do this right now?"
He opens the ring box. I’m expecting a gorgeous, dazzling platinum and diamond ring. But instead of that, the ring he won me at the arcade sits nestled amongst the velvet. I start crying at that, the fact that he managed to keep that ring.
It means more to me than I can say.
“See, Annika? I do know you,” he says, grinning. “And I would gladly pledge my life to you rather than see you walk away from me again. Give me your hand.”
I hesitate for a moment, wiping my eyes. Then I take a deep breath and extend my shaking hand towards him.
His fingers are warm when he takes my hand.
"Ready?"
I manage a nod. "Yes, Erik. You have to know that my answer is yes."
He grins. "Let me get through my speech, woman."
Shaking my head, I grin. "Okay."
He takes a deep breath. Looking at me, his gaze fears me. "Nika, you are wise and funny and brave and extremely compassionate. I would be lucky to spend my life with you. Will you do me the honor of becoming my bride?"
Tears overwhelm me, making it almost impossible to speak. I nod enthusiastically, forcing out the word. "Yes…"
He slides the ring up my fourth finger, a grin on his lips. "I'm a lucky man."
He stands up and pulls me close, bending me back before kissing me so totally and completely that I am left breathless. I raise my hand to his cheek, cupping his face and feeling so overjoyed that I can't even speak.
That's when Kal and Pippa stepped back into my line of sight, both of them looking pleased as punch. Kal reaches out a hand, touching my arm gently. "We're so happy for you. And I will just assume that you forgive us for our little deception…"
I sniffle. “I think so, this time.”
I hug Kal and Pippa, struggling just to breathe
. Erik stands back and lets us have a moment. Then he pulls at my hand.
“Come on. I got four Skee-Ball machines. I think that this calls for some champagne and an epic Skee-Ball showdown.”
I grin at him, kissing him on the lips. I swear, my heart is so full just from looking at him that I’m on the cusp of crying again. “That sounds perfect.”
He grabs me by the waist and lifts me in the air. “I love you, Nika.”
Tears gather at the corners of my eyes. “I love you too, Erik.”
He squeezes my hand then starts toward the back corner of the tent, a smile on his lips.
37
Erik
My grip tightens on Nika’s waist as I look around the crowded room. She’s in her finest, wearing a gown of gold lamé that looks like it was painted on. And I am hovering beside her, an anxious man in a tux. I feel like at any moment, I could be replaced by any decent looking man my age.
Annika reaches over and takes my hand, squeezing it as she looks at me. “We are almost done. Really. This is a pretty fair exchange for stepping away from royal duty.”
I look down into her beautiful face and I can’t help but smile. “I know. The royal family has to make a big deal over our engagement. I get that. I just… I haven’t seen Stellan and I am sort of…” I trail off, shrugging.
My gaze wanders up, taking in everyone in the ballroom again. Nika gets drawn into yet another conversation about her ring. We did the proper thing and went to an actual jeweler, spending a fuck ton of money to nab the perfect princess cut platinum and diamond ring.
She still wears the other ring on a little chain around her neck, refusing to take it off. And I have to say, part of me loves her for that.
I fidget with the coins in my pants pockets, resisting the urge to check my watch for the five millionth time. Nika is right; this is a small price to pay for the relative anonymity that we asked for. In exchange, we’ve worked out a much stepped down plan with the royal press office. They get her one weekend a month.
The rest of the time, Annika and I can roll around like two happy clams at the royal beach house. Since I purchased the house outright, I will never have to worry about following the royal rules. With the purchase of my second property, my stable of homes has begun to look quite comfortable.
I spot Mr. Earl, his rumpled tux and his graying hair unmistakable. He's one of King Stellan's advisors and he corners me, clapping me on the shoulder and wishing me good luck. "I have to say, we will miss you around here. I know that the rumors about you stealing off with our own Princess Annika are rampant around here… But I still think you are a great fellow."
“Thank you. I have already branched out and started my own venture capital firm. I think Princess Annika and I will be just fine.”
Mr. Earl looks puzzled. “Venture capital? Isn’t that a little out of your wheelhouse? I would think that you would just apply for a similar position with another high profile person.”
I struggle to maintain a blank expression. "Yeah, well. I'm going to miss working at the palace. But I am sure you will be glad to know that I will be working to make the princess happy. And what makes her happy is not being in the spotlight." A little lie, but this is politics, after all. If Mr. Earl were being truthful with me or anyone else here, he would have come out of the closet a long time ago.
Mr. Earl smiles. "So, there's no truth to the fact that you were unceremoniously fired, then?"
I arch a brow. "Nope. I don't know where you heard that."
I see Nika moving away, turning her head back for just a second to make sure that I'm okay. I bow to Mr. Earl, excusing myself.
One of the palace employees manages to step between me and Nika, bringing me up short. I looked down into his dark features with a frown. He smiles nervously.
"If you don't mind, there is a phone call for you, sir."
I take a deep breath and nod. "Lead the way."
I touch Nika shoulder as I go by her, smiling faintly. The employee leads me out of the grand ballroom and across the hall to an empty office. There's nothing in the room except for a desk and an old, gold-plated telephone. I look at the landline, a little surprised. But the palace employee merely bows, letting himself out of the room and closing the door. I sigh, picking up the phone.
"Hello?"
"It's your father."
He coughs loudly, clearing his throat. I narrow my eyes at the phone.
"So… what, now we are in fact related? Because I can definitely give you the name of at least five nurses that will swear up and down that we are not blood relations, according to you."
He coughs again. "You think that you can just get married to one of them royals without even so much as telling your father about it? You’re spoiled. That's one of the reasons why I didn't need you or anyone else hanging about my bedside, wringing your hands."
I pinch the bridge of my nose. If I had been told that my father was the one on the phone, I might have just skipped this conversation altogether. "Have you called to wish your son congratulations, then?"
He guffaws. "You think you're so great and so smart. You'll see. You’re not any better than me. When the little princess figures out that you are just a haircut in a suit, she will be done with you. And when that happens, don't come crying…"
I grit my teeth. "Shut up! I should've said that to you years ago. Just shut up! If you have anything else to say about Annika or our relationship, about which you know nothing at all, you can just keep it to yourself. You’re a hateful old man. And I fully expect an apology the next time that you decide to call me. Otherwise? Don't call me."
I slam the phone down, running my hands down my sleeves and pulling out my cuffs. I'm furious, of course.
But it feels good to have said what I wanted to say for so long to my father. There are some people that just can't change or be helped. I guess my father is just one of them. And I will do my best to do better than he did, if Annika and I ever have kids.
That's years down the road, anyway.
I take a deep, calming breath and center myself. And then I pull the door open, striding out into the hallway.
A tall, dark-haired man dressed in a tuxedo stands by the doorway to the ballroom, looking on quietly. When I get closer, he turns his head and I see that it is Stellan.
I feel like he punches me in the gut just by looking at me. I don’t see Margot anywhere. He clenches his fists when he sees me, his gaze narrowing.
My expression hardens. I guess it's going to be one of those days where I get a lot of things off my chest, all at once. So be it.
I stalk up to him, keeping an imperious expression on my face. He watches me warily, holding a hand up to preempt me.
“I come in peace,” he says, frowning.
I fold my arms across my chest, unamused. “What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be on your honeymoon.”
He jerks his head inside the ballroom. I look inside and see a tiny woman with pink hair hugging my fiancée. Margot looks like a pixie, beaming up at Annika. The hard knot in my stomach unclenches just a tiny bit.
Stellan sighs. “I didn’t realize that you two were in love,” he comments. He looks over at me, pursing his lips. “It seems awfully fast though.”
I arch a brow at him. “I think my courtship with Nika actually lasted longer than yours. How long did you and Margot make it before your engagement was announced?”
His lips thin. “Don’t.”
I just shrug. “I won’t apologize for doing exactly what you did.”
“The difference is my baby sister. Why did you have to choose her, of all the fucking women in the world?”
My gaze narrows on his face. “It wasn’t a choice. You don’t fall in love because you want to, in my experience. It just happened. And I’m fucking lucky that I fell for Nika.” My lips twitch and my gaze is pulled back to her. “You might not know this, but she’s the best person I know. While you guys weren’t looking, she was growing one hell of a
feisty, funny personality.”
Stellan is silent for half a minute. “It’s nice to hear someone stick up for her.”
I slide him a careful look. “I told you. I love Annika.”
He drags in a deep breath, pinning me with that eerie gaze of his. That look wouldn’t have been out of place on Nika’s face.
“I’m not just going to forgive you.”
“Did I ask for your forgiveness?”
He purses his lips. “No.”
Brushing the front of my suit jacket off, I give him a look. “As far as I’m concerned, we aren’t even friends anymore. You called me garbage. Friends don’t do that, especially not when they know that word has been used against me by my father.”
Stellan appears taken aback by that. “Ah.” He scrunches up his face. “I’m sorry. I was angry.”
“You were a douche.”
He gives me a flat look. “You slept with my little sister!”
I roll my eyes. “Your friendship has been very important to me, Stellan. When you kicked me out of your wedding and Nika wouldn’t talk to me, I realized how much my life and yours were intertwined.” I frown a little. “But I think I have to draw a line in the sand. If I have to choose between you or Annika, I choose her. I would choose her a thousand times over.”
One corner of his mouth lifts briefly. “As much as it pains me to say this, I understand. If I were put in the same position, I would choose my wife over you.” He scrunches up his face. “I don’t want to have to choose, though.”
“Well, neither do I.”
We look at each other for a long moment. Then he glances away.
“We have extended our honeymoon for two more weeks. After we get back, maybe we should talk. We can even talk about you coming back to work for the family.”
I hesitate. “I would like to figure things out between us. But… I won’t be returning to the palace as an employee. I’ve devoted my life to you and the royal family. Now it’s time to do something different.”
Stellan gives me a long look. “You’re a part of the royal family now, don’t forget.”