It fit there relatively well, even if it didn’t match anything at all in this house. If my designer saw this, he’d likely have a coronary.
I thought it was perfect.
Spider-Man was crouched in his signature pose, holding out one arm wrist up, ready to shoot a web.
“Do you like it?” I asked.
Fletcher flung himself into my body, arms and legs looping around me. “I love it so much! Thank you, Ethan! Thank you!”
I laughed as he peppered kisses on the underside of my jaw.
Fletcher pulled back, arms looped around my neck, and looked up with Bambi eyes. “Do you think he’s offended we had sex on there?”
I threw back my head and laughed.
“I’m serious,” Fletch muttered.
There was a knock on the front door, making both of us turn to stare. “You expecting someone?” I asked him.
“No. Are you?”
“No.”
I went to the door, pulling it open.
Henry and Samantha stood nervously on the other side. I pulled the door a little wider so Fletcher could see them.
“We’re so sorry to drop by unannounced.” Samantha began, eyes going straight to her son.
“It’s okay,” Fletch said. “We said you could come by whenever you want.”
The DNA test confirmed everything we’d suspected. Fletcher officially became Alexander Graham Cossgrove, the missing prince of the Upper East Side, and Henry and Samantha finally found their son.
Fletcher, who still went by the name he preferred, had taken the news well but was still cautious with his usually easy affection. Who could blame him, though, after everything he’d gone through?
The Cossgroves were slightly nervous, but I knew he’d come around, and once he did, my second parents would be bombarded with so much innocent love they wouldn’t know how to act.
“Is now a good time?” Henry asked, eyes raking over the box and all the mess Fletcher had thrown on the floor.
“Ethan just gave me a present,” Fletcher announced. “Come in and see it!”
The couple stepped inside, and Fletcher held his hands out, presenting the large statue of Spider-Man.
“Oh my goodness!” Samantha exclaimed. “That’s a very interesting piece.”
“Spider-Man,” Henry said approvingly. “The best superhero there is.”
“That’s what I think too!” Fletcher exclaimed. “It’s a lot better than the guy who died.”
Henry and Samantha turned alarmed eyes to me, and I chuckled. “Julius Caesar.”
Realization dawned. “Yes, well, he was a dreadful man.” Samantha agreed.
“Ethan, we should get them a statue for their house!”
Samantha’s eyes welled with tears. “I would love that. It would match nothing, but I would love it.”
Ahh, she and I understood each other well. I made a mental note to order another statue.
“I actually brought something for you as well,” Henry said, holding up a familiar-looking case.
We moved into the living room where everyone could sit down. Fletcher had turned quiet and was staring at the case.
He’d refused to let me replace his violin, saying he wasn’t ready yet. Sometimes I would find him staring out over the city in an eerily quiet room. I would ask him what he was doing, and he would say he was remembering his violin.
I told him when he was ready, I would buy him a new one, any one he chose.
“It’s not the same,” he’d say and then change the subject.
I knew it couldn’t go on like this forever. Music and violin was as much a part of him as his soul, and without it, he would be incomplete. I was afraid to push too much too fast, though. Having his entire world turned upside down and meeting new parents was enough.
“Since we are both violinists, I wanted to share something with you. I thought you might appreciate it.” Henry began, turning the old, worn case to its side to undo the clasps.
Fletcher’s head bobbed, his Adam’s apple doing the same in his throat.
“I know she destroyed your violin that night,” Henry told him, looking up. “And I also know that it likely felt like a death to you.”
“It’s been really hard,” Fletcher whispered. “I miss her a lot.”
“I know, son.” Henry empathized.
Samantha and I shared a look, noticing that neither of them realized what Henry had called him. It just was natural in the moment.
Samantha’s eyes filled with tears, and she blinked them back while pressing her fingers against her lips.
“Remember when I told you I had an old violin that was my favorite?”
“Is that it?” Fletcher asked, eyes widening.
“Sure is,” Henry replied, opening the case to reveal the worn instrument.
Fletcher made a sound, his face mirroring awe. He went around the table to stand close to Henry, dropping to his knees to peer into the case.
Honestly, I thought it just looked like an old violin, but the way Fletcher’s eyes shined made me realize the closest I would ever get to experiencing what he saw as he stared lovingly and longingly at that instrument would be secondhand through his expression.
And even that was overwhelming.
“It’s so beautiful,” Fletcher whispered, lightly running a finger over the wood. “She’s an old soul, isn’t she? Wise and strong.”
“Yes.” Henry agreed, emotion ringing in the word. “We’ve been through a lot, this old girl and I.” Henry went on, throat bobbing. “And now I thought perhaps you’d like to have her.”
Fletcher’s breath caught, and his hand pulled away from the instrument as though it were suddenly on fire. “Me?”
“Well, yes. You need a violin, and this one is very special. I think you two would bond quite well.”
“B-but why?”
“That song you know? The one I wrote and played for you as a baby? I wrote it on this girl. She knows the music in your heart quite well.”
A new glimmer came into Fletcher’s eyes, one that hit me right in the feels. He stared down once more at the violin, pure longing in his face. “Thank you, but I can’t.”
“Perhaps you might reconsider?” Henry said without heat. “I never imagined that my son would be a prodigy, my intense love for the violin passed down to him. It would make me so proud to have you play with this. So proud.”
“You want me to play her?”
“Oh yes.”
“Perhaps you could try her out now,” Samantha suggested. “Play something for us.”
“You want to hear me play?”
“Oh, honey, we would love nothing more.”
Fletcher turned to me. “Is it okay?”
What was it about this man who turned everyone around him into an emotional mess? One simple question, one request for reassurance, and I was near putty at his feet.
“Yes, puppy,” I said, trying to hide the emotion welling up my throat and thickening my tongue. “It’s okay.”
He picked up the instrument slowly, holding it reverently. I honestly felt a little jealous watching how he handled her, the way his eyes scanned every inch and his fingers caressed every curve.
As he explored her, a small smile bloomed on his lips, and a brightness I hadn’t seen in a while lit up his face.
And then he started to play.
To say that he played beautifully was a massive understatement. He basically stood there before us and laid bare his soul.
Every single note was perfect as if he were in fact somehow bonded with that instrument, as if it really did understand the music in his heart.
I didn’t know how long he played, but even after he finished, my cells vibrated with the echoes of the music and tears wet my eyes.
Samantha and Henry were both openly crying, and when Fletcher finally looked up, he radiated with pure peace.
“You, my son, are far more talented than I will ever be. And that is no longer my violin. It could only be yours.”
He nodded once as if he, too, realized that she chose him and they were already tethered together.
I glanced across the room, catching Henry’s eye.
Thank you.
The pleasure is entirely mine.
After that day, the Cossgroves were bonded, and the curse brought on by a woman scorned was broken, for the king and queen’s castle was no longer empty but filled to the brim with love.
And of course, we all lived…
Happily Ever After
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Once upon a time… There was a writer who loosely planned some of her book and sat down to write. Then from the very first chapter, her characters, whom she loved so much, laughed in her face and said, “We do what we want here.”
That writer is me.
Those characters are Ethan and Fletcher.
I’m actually not much of a plotter, but going into any book, you need to have sort of a grasp of the plot and the characters and where you want to go. I usually also have random scenes floating in my head that the characters have already shown me that I need to work in somehow. I had all of that, and basically, these boys were like, “Hold my Kismet hot chocolate,” and did whatever they pleased.
When I wrote Ivory White, I fell in love with Fletcher. He was my most favorite character in the book. I loved his innocence and his acceptance of everyone. I loved how “soft” he was in such a hard world. I couldn’t wait to write his story, and when he pretty much swooned seeing Ethan on TV that first time, I was hooked on these two.
Going into Prince, I was nervous. I was unsure because Ethan wasn’t all that loud in my head. I wasn’t really sure who he was other than a “prince” of the Upper East Side, very fashionable, and very rich. But I wanted him to be more than that. I wanted him to have his own personality… so I started writing and was so worried he would come out stiff and proper and wooden. And frankly… boring. But in that very first chapter, he was like, “I get migraines,” which took me by surprise. And so did his derision of his father’s elitist attitude. AND THEN he went to the forest, aka Central Park, and he basically fell in love with Fletcher at first note. I did not expect him to fall so hard so fast. I did not expect him to be putty in Fletcher’s hands. He practically melted in that park, and it gave me butterflies and surprised me so much. I was like, Holy crap, this guy is besotted with him. And then his inner alpha came out. I love how he is SO protective of Fletcher. He accepts Fletcher the way he always wanted to be but never felt like he was. Ethan suddenly loved Fletcher the way he wanted someone to love him. I love how strong he is but also vulnerable at times, and I especially love how he basically spoils Fletcher rotten.
And Fletcher, he was everything I expected him to be, but he was also more. He surprised me with some of his crazy comments, like all of his thoughts about Julius Caesar and how he thinks waffles are very considerate pancakes. I love how he never lost the light in him, the innocence he was born with despite his horrible mistreatment. I think many think Fletcher as weak, but really, he is one of the strongest. He kept himself alive; he kept himself from turning bitter and villainous. In a world where he had every reason to hate and rage, he remained loving and sweet. I love how he was just himself. How he would cry when he was sad, hurt when he was hurt, and be angry when he was angry. I think in today’s society, men often feel like they can’t show all their emotions like that, and it’s nice to see someone who does. I won’t lie. I worried a bit that people would dislike Fletch because of that innocence, how he tends to run and basically “submits” to Ethan in a lot of ways. But then I decided I wouldn’t change him to fit a mold of how people think a man should act. Fletcher—just like all of these misfits (even Ivory and Ethan)—is a products of his environment. And that’s okay.
I hope there is a clear message in this book that you can be whoever you want. It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor. Accepted or not accepted. It doesn’t matter if you’re gay or bi or straight. Everyone has value, and everyone deserves a happily ever after.
I do believe this is the longest book I’ve written to date, and to be honest, I probably could have written more. I truly love these two. I feel like I wrote this book for me, and I haven’t written a book that way in a long time. Saying that, it still was not an easy book to write. As I said, these boys did what they wanted all the time. I’d be like, Okay, today we will do this, this, and this. And they were like, “Nope, nope, and nope.” Instead, they were kissing on the couch, sharing shoes, and eating pancakes. I’m like, Excuse me. Can we get on plot here? They kissed way sooner than I planned, they had sex way sooner than I planned, and Ethan just blurted out the L-word when I wasn’t expecting it. I learned fast that fighting their plot was detrimental to my mental well-being. I do realize I’m speaking about being mentally sound and, at the same time, telling you all that the people in my head were making me write things. Ironic.
I ended up rewriting a big section of the book and altering it a bit because it felt off. And then I felt as though I’d written myself into corners for the rest. I just followed what they said and then lay in bed at night and worried I would never be able to resolve the plot or that it was too much to work out. And then Ethan would do something that would make me sit back and be like, Oh, so that’s how it is. LOL. I would think, How you gonna get out of this, Ethan? Then he’d respond, “Watch me,” and then kiss Fletcher in the middle of the ball. He called a private detective and found out about Milly. He sent Sienna packing after insulting her boob job. Great gods! LOL. That’s another thing… What’s up with the great gods saying? Ha-ha. He’s just a richie.
Anyway, all in all, I am happy with how this one tied up and still a little surprised I managed to tie it up. I do also think that some of the things in this book need to be inferred. As in the reader must realize things, know things by what they are seeing and hearing. You know? I feel like I didn’t spell out everything Fletcher survived as a child, but he painted a pretty clear picture of the abuse he endured. I also kinda liked how he never quite told Ethan everything he went through, because, for Fletcher, living through it once was enough and he didn’t want to relive it by talking about it all. I used to sit and worry that I needed to explain things down to a T. But then I thought to myself, My readers are smart. They’ll know.
I hope it feels “fairy tale-ish” to you in a modern world. Unlike Ivory White, this is not a retelling. I was inspired by Sleeping Beauty for this one, but instead of the baby being sent away with fairy godmothers to be kept safe, he was kidnapped by the villain. I owe that gem of inspiration to my friend, Amber, who honestly helped me so much with this book. We would bounce ideas around and talk about the characters. She actually had some good ideas I didn’t get to use because Ethan wouldn’t let me, lol. So a moment of thanks to Amber for all her pep talks, readings, and listening to me go on about the boys in my head.
I hope you enjoyed this one, my first male/male romance that is not set in the GearShark world. I didn’t realize this until after I was done writing, and I’m glad because that thought is very intimidating. I think Prince is different, but I hope their chemistry speaks for itself and that these boys have burrowed a place in your heart like they have mine.
Thank you so much for reading this one. I hope you will enjoy the rest of the House of Misfits books I will be releasing. As always, thank you so much for your support and encouragement. See you next book!
~XOXO~
Cambria
ABOUT CAMBRIA HEBERT
Cambria Hebert is a bestselling novelist of more than fifty titles. She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair.
Besides writing, Cambria loves a pumpkin spice latte, staying up late, sleeping in, and watching K drama until her eyes won’t stay open. She considers math human torture and has an irrational fear of chickens (yes, chickens). You can often find her running on the treadmill (she’d
rather be eating a donut), painting her toenails (because she bites her fingernails), or walking her chihuahuas (the real bosses of the house).
Cambria has written in many genres, including new adult, sports romance, male/male romance, sci-fi, thriller, suspense, contemporary romance, and young adult. Many of her titles have been translated into foreign languages and have been the recipients of multiple awards.
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Awards Cambria has received include:
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Author of the Year 2016 (UtopiaCon2016)
The Hashtag Series: Best Contemporary Series of 2015 (UtopiaCon 2015)
#Nerd: Best Contemporary Book Cover of 2015 (UtopiaCon 2015)
Romeo from the Hashtag Series: Best Contemporary Lead (UtopiaCon 2015)
#Nerd: Top 50 Summer Reads (Buzzfeed.com 2015)
The Hashtag Series: Best Contemporary Series of 2016 (UtopiaCon 2016)
#NERD Book Trailer: Best Book Trailer of 2016 (UtopiaCon 2016)
#Nerd Book Trailer: Top 50 Most Cinematic Book Trailers of All Time (film-14.com)
#Nerd: Book Most Wanted to be Adapted to Screen: (2018)
Amnesia: Mystery Book of the Year (2018)
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Cambria Hebert owns and operates Cambria Hebert Books, LLC.
You can find out more about Cambria and her titles by visiting her website:
http://www.cambriahebert.com
Also by Cambria Hebert
The Heven & Hell series
The Death Escorts series
The Take It Off Series
The Hashtag Series
The GearShark Series
The Amnesia Duet
The Public Enemy Series
The BearPaw Resort Series
The House of Misfits Series
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Standalone Titles:
Moth To A Flame
Prince Page 45