Almost Lovers

by Cassidy Raindance

  "How do you know that? Why her?" I asked.

  There was no way that a human could be so important.

  "I don't have all the answers yet. I need you to focus on your task while I find those answers," said the Queen.

  She came around the desk and sat on the edge of the desk in front of my chair.

  "Prussia is much more than just a human," said the Queen, "She holds all the answers and right now I need time,"

  "Because she's human and has the life span of a fruit fly compared to us?" I asked.

  I couldn't wrap my head around the idea that the fate of our species, superior and evolved, rested on a simple human that worked in a grocery store, or at least used to.

  "If you can't protect her, tell me now," said the Queen, her tone denoting that her tolerance for skepticism was waning, "I can cut you loose. You can run wild with Lydia and I'll find another way to keep her safe, against her will if need be,"

  "No need for dramatics," I said, "If our fate rests on her, I will be there every moment of the day from now on. I will be her unseen shadow,"

  I wasn’t exactly leaping at the idea of ‘running wild with Lydia’ as it were. Besides, this sounded interesting and it sounded like Victoria needed me. What fascinating stories could my great grandmother tell me after keeping this secret for so long – if it was all really true.

  "I'd prefer if you were seen," said the Queen, "It would make things a lot easier if you could make sure she developed…an interest in you. I know you have that irresistible charm when you really need it and right now, it would make things easier,"

  "I can take a hint," I said.

  "And with Lydia out of the way it should be smooth sailing," said the Queen, "When she comes for dinner tonight be sure to mention that we had a consultation position just open up,"

  "Why?" I asked.

  "Because," said the Queen, "I didn’t get her fired from her job so she could work a string of fast food positions next. I want her in this castle as often as possible. Make it happen."

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN - Prussia

  "What are you doing here?" I asked, "I thought you said you would call?" reminding him of our less-than conventional conversation about my guilt and his blackmail.

  "I was in the area. I thought I would just stop by your work but they said you don't work there anymore," said Sebastian, "Everything okay?"

  "Everything is great," I said, sarcasm dripping from every word, "Except the part where I got fired for being late, again."

  "You've been fired for being late before?" asked Sebastian.

  "No, I was late again, not fired again," I said, but it gave me an idea, "Do you think there is a chance I could get my job back? Maybe give Tom a chance to calm down?"

  "I guess you could try," said Sebastian, "But isn't there anything else you would rather do? I can't imagine you as a cashier the rest of your life..."

  And that hurt. A lot. Mostly because I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. But to have him point it out...It just hurt.

  "Do you have any brilliant ideas on what I might be qualified for," I asked, defensive, "you know, with all my cashier experience and all of that?"

  He looked at me and for once I knew an expression of his, because it was obvious. His face looked as if he thought he had just stepped on and triggered a land-mine. Keep walking on the off chance that it's not lethal or tread carefully to avoid explosion? He picked up a piece of fruit from the fruit basket on the kitchen counter and began tossing it as one would absentmindedly toss a baseball, a gentle toss and catch.

  "Now that you mention it, I think you're great with Victoria," he said, taking a cautious side-ways peek at me as he continued playing catch with the fruit.

  "But friendship isn't paying rent this week, now, is it?" I asked.

  I laughed at the absurd suggestion that listening to an old woman was a skill set of some sort in the workplace.

  "Actually," Sebastian stopped tossing the piece of fruit and looked at me with a bit of surprise on his face, "This week it is."

  It was my turn to look as though I had stepped on a possible land mine.

  "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard you say," I said.

  "We just had a consultation position for Victoria open up," said Sebastian, who started tossing the piece of fruit again, "She put me in charge of finding someone for her just this morning. I think my work is already done. I like it," He smiled at me then.

  "Consultation?" I asked, "What does that even mean? And how is it that it just happened to open up all of a sudden?"

  For a moment I wondered if he planned to actually eat the apple he kept tossing around or just continue to bruise it. I could hear a resounding thwack every time his giant hands caught it and flung it back up overhead.

  He gave a sigh and stopped tossing the fruit to give me a look that said he didn't understand how I didn't understand.

  "It's a fancy way of saying friend," said Sebastian, "Elizabeth had been her consultant but she left for a much better place and Victoria has been lost without her company,"

  "A much better place?" I asked, "Is she some kind of a hard-assed dragon lady of a boss or something?"

  Sebastian burst out in laughter.

  "Dragon lady?" asked Sebastian, "Oh my goodness, Victoria will think that's a hoot! I don't think she's ever been called a dragon lady,"

  I felt bad for referring to a kind-hearted woman like Victoria as a dragon lady and regretted that she would know that I had called her that. She really was a sweet old woman. A bit pushy as old women can be and kind of meddlesome but sweet.

  "I didn't mean it like that. You just made it sound like-" I said, Sebastian cutting me off.

  "Like she’s a slave driver?" Sebastian continued to smile, "No, she's reasonable to work for and she likes you. I think the only thing that would make me more of a favorite than you at the moment is if I manage to persuade you to consider this job. I would be in her good graces for a long time," he continued to smile at me, looking pleased with himself.

  "I think I'll stick with trying to get my job back first," I said, feeling that maybe I needed to be more cautious.

  Something just felt too good to be true about the whole situation. It bordered between unexpected lottery and charity. I didn't trust it.

  "Well now you're just being stubborn," he said, "I’m not going to catch you running in the park at 1 a.m. again, am I?"

  That had me raise my chin up higher. It felt like an insult in every way possible. I could tell that he knew I was offended.

  "I'm sorry," he said, "Look, just give it a try until you find out if your old boss gives you your job back," he shrugged, "Worst case scenario, Victoria asks your advice on random old lady things and pays you a neat six figures,"

  "Six figures?" I blurted out, "You've got to be kidding."

  Now his face matched mine with surprise.

  "No..." he said, he looked at me and stopped moving around, apparently not sure why I had been so surprised at how much Victoria paid for consulting.

  "That's what Elizabeth was paid. I'm sure Victoria would just assume pay you the same," he said, "Not high six figures, but with perks , benefits and other boring stuff,"

  It didn't take me long to figure out that Victoria, bless her heart, was kind and generous. And if she wanted to talk my ear off about her days in the 40s while I tried to get my old job back then I was all for that...as long as it pays, I'll sit all day and listen.

  "I'll take it," I blurted out as he bit into the apple, "I'll do it. When do I start?"

  He was mid-bite when I said it and he froze when he realized I wanted the job after all. He didn't finish taking the bite. He took his mouth off of the apple and pointed at me with it.

  "You won't consider the position because you pretty much say you don't have any skills but I say it pays more than your cashier wage and now you're all over it?" he asked, confused.

  "Money talks," I said, feeling stupid the moment I said it, "But I'm still
going to try to get my old job back. This is just..."

  I couldn't think of what this was. Last time I couldn't think of what something was, it ended up being called cheating. What did that make this?

  "A trial," offered Sebastian, "Well that's fantastic. It saves me time sorting through finding someone and Victoria is going to be thrilled, really."

  "When do I start?" I asked, ringing my hands, still feeling awkward as if taking advantage of a kind old woman's heart, "Tomorrow?"

  "Tonight," he said, picking up my keys next to the front door and holding them out to me.

  I took a step back, not understanding what he meant. What in the world could be so important that I was needed the moment I was hired unless it was some sort of trick? He must have sensed my hesitation.

  "It's perfect. Victoria wanted you to join us for dinner anyway," said Sebastian, trying to coax me out the door, "She's expecting us,"

  "I'm actually waiting for Robert," I said in a quiet voice with a bit of a wince.

  I knew that Sebastian still sought my affection but he also knew that I still wanted to try to win Robert back. I felt bad because I had put us both in this situation and even after everything Sebastian had said, the blackmail, everything - I still felt guilty.

  Sebastian looked around and then finished taking the bite out of the apple that he had started before. I watched as he moved the piece of apple to the side of his cheek and talked with his cheek full of apple.

  "When is he supposed to be here?" asked Sebastian.

  "I'm not sure," I said, trying not to make eye contact.

  "Well, what time does he normally get in?" Sebastian asked, "I mean…do you have plans or something?"

  "No," I said, trying to choose my words carefully, "No plans. But I told you I'm still trying to work things out with Robert and I can't exactly do that if I'm off with you,"

  I looked at him then, hopeful that he wouldn't bring up the whole 'you did this to both of us' fact. He didn't look angry though. He looked thoughtful and puzzled.

  "Well, has he agreed to work on things?" he asked, his words seemed chosen with the same care as mine had been.

  "Not exactly," I said.

  "Prussia, I'm not trying to be pushy, I'm not," he said, "But I don’t understand..."

  "I don't see him," I said, "He never comes home. And when I do see him, he's usually already in bed sleeping and we don't talk...we leave notes instead of talking," I wanted to cry as I said the last part.

  "I see," he said.

  I waited for him to say more but he just sat there chewing on that stupid apple. My eyebrows went up and my eyes got big, expecting him to say more. He must have taken my hint because he spoke up again.

  "I just mean," he said, pausing and thinking for a moment again, "absence makes the heart grow fonder?"

  I could tell that he was trying to suppress his laughter. I couldn't blame him entirely. I knew he wanted Robert out of the way. I'm sure he wasn't devastated to hear that Robert was not at all upset about our accidental breakup.

  "Thanks," I said, "Not helpful,"

  I walked over to the sofa and plunked down, wishing I could build another fort out of blankets and just barricade inside of them forever. Sebastian walked over to the sofa and I scooted over so he could sit next to me, which he did. He placed a friendly arm around me and gave me a gentle hug.

  "I'm not sad that he's ignoring you," he said to which I rolled my eyes, "But maybe you need to start doing to him what he's been doing to you. You're the only one waiting around on him. I don't see him waiting around on you. If you get up and go do stuff then maybe he'll start to notice you're not going to wait around forever. I know I wouldn't ever keep you waiting,"

  I looked up at him and immediately realized that had been a risky move. His face was close to mine and I looked up right into those gorgeous eyes that had nothing but kindness and care in them. I forgot what I had wanted to say and my mouth parted ever so slightly.

  His eyes had the smallest flecks in them that were mesmerizing. The colors contrasted beautifully and made his eyes look like something you would only see deep in the heart of the ocean. His lips brushed mine gently and I could feel his hand sweeping my hair away from my cheek and pulling me closer.

  My heart melted and for just a moment I forgot about Robert. I wished we were both barricaded onto the sofa with mountains of blankets and pillows but for a whole lot more than sulking. When he finally pulled away from me, my lips tried to follow and then I remembered.

  I remembered where we were, who I had been waiting for and that I wasn’t supposed to be encouraging Sebastian. Sebastian stood up from the sofa and offered a hand to help me up.

  "Are you ready, then?" he asked.

  "Ready?" I asked.

  "To go to dinner," said Sebastian, "Victoria will be thrilled to hear that you will be her new consultant,"

  My cheeks flushed with where my mind had thought the conversation would go and I looked away from him to gain some composure. I smoothed out my clothes and took his outstretched hand briefly to help me up from the sofa.

  "Of course," I said, "Yes, I'm ready when you are,"

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN - Prussia

  “Did you get a new car?” I asked, noticing that the sleek luxury automobile was different this time.

  The paint is what gave it away mostly. I could tell it was a luxury car and that it was red whereas his other had been black, but if you wanted anything more specific, you were grasping at straws.

  “Yes,” he said, visibly tensing as he opened the car door for me.

  We had a dinner date. But it was with his grandmother so I tried to think of it as a work function since I would be working for Victoria from now on. And I wasn’t exactly in a position to decline considering Sebastian wanted to forever hold my lies and mistakes over my head.

  "What happened to your other car?" I asked.

  I didn’t get in the car. I just waited for an answer since it looked like he wasn’t going to give one. Eventually, he gave in and answered.

  "It's in the shop," said Sebastian, irritated now.

  I couldn’t tell if the irritation was a result of my questions or his car being in the shop. I didn’t care. I wished I hadn’t even brought it up. It had been a casual observation that had popped out of my mouth. I wasn’t all here. I was wondering where Robert had been spending his nights…and days, too.

  "Well, I like this one more. It suits you," I said. I had no idea what kind of car suited a person. To me this one looked exactly like the other. But perhaps it would smooth his ruffled feathers.

  I gave him a sideways look as I got into the low sitting luxury car. Whatever had happened to his car must have angered him. I didn’t pry, mostly because each question had him angrier. I tried talking about the weather until we got to Victoria’s for dinner. By the time we got to the house he was his normal charming self. Now I just wondered how the charming and warm Sebastian I was used to could be so upset over a car. Throwing fits over toys was not at all sexy in my eyes. What had happened?

  Victoria was all hugs and kisses when we finally got to her mansion. She really was expecting me. She made me feel like a favorite grandchild. She rushed me away from Sebastian and into the dining room as soon as she had her hand around my wrist. I couldn’t say I really minded. Sebastian seemed distracted.