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“It all sounds ridiculous, I know. But what if leaving during a difficult time is a genetic thing? My grandfather did it as well. I don’t want to wake up one day and realize my life is not what I wanted, and then bolt, you know?”

“You’re not your father, Colton. Anyone can see you’re a good guy. You stuck around and helped your mom and Maggie, right? Besides, you’re aware of all that was wrong with the way your dad behaved, which means you can tell right from wrong.”

“Thanks. I needed to hear that.” He smiles at me. “You’re the best girlfriend a guy could wish for, do you know that?”

My heart skips a few beats. “Girlfriend?”

“If you still want to be,” he says with a grin, knowing all too well there’s nothing I want more.

I smile back at him and give him my answer with a tantalizing kiss while I try out the words Colton is my boyfriend in my mind. Gah, this is it. This is what heaven is made of.

Chapter Sixteen

Colton

My eyes dart across the cream-colored hallway outside the costume department. Only when I have confirmed that it’s safe do I plant a kiss on Elle’s lips. Even though she and I officially decided to be a couple last week, we still need to sneak around. Need might be a strong word, though. It’s not like someone threatened to end us if we share that we’re in a committed relationship. It’s just that neither Elle nor I want to deal with the pressure and questions everyone will put on us. When a relationship progresses, people except it to go at their pace—date, marry, get a dog, then two kids—and I don’t want to feed into that ridiculous notion. I’m also still thinking up ways of breaking the news to my sister.

“Are you ready?” I ask Elle, my hand on the doorknob.

She nods. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

A few days ago Frank called Elle into his office to ask if she wants to fill in for Sarah, who’s suffering pregnancy complications. Both she and the baby are fine, thank God, but her doctor put her on bed rest for the foreseeable future. It didn’t take Elle long to say yes, and now she’s going to be my princess. Well, Prince Charming’s princess, I mean. To me personally, she already is.

I push the door open, and Macy walks toward us with a big smile on her face. “Hello, you two. Ready for your first day as Princess Charlotte?” she asks Elle.

“Absolutely. This is like a dream come true.”

“I can imagine. No more buns and ketchup hats,” she says. Then, when she thinks I can’t hear her, she whispers, “And working with Colton isn’t bad either, am I right? You’ll never get tired of looking into those blue eyes of his.”

Elle flicks me a look. “It’s definitely a nice perk of the job.”

Macy grabs Elle’s dress and holds it up so that the big skirt hangs right above the ground. I already know she’s going to look stunning in it.

“Do you want me to wait outside while you put it on?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “That’s okay. There’s a dressing room here, right? I’ll just use that one.”

I give her a thumbs-up. She slips into the dressing room and pulls the curtain closed.

Macy busies herself folding freshly washed shirts while we wait for Elle. “Have you heard from Sarah?” she asks.

“She’s relieved the baby is doing okay, but she says she’s bored to death. I’m having some books delivered to her house this week.”

Macy lets out a content sigh. “See? That’s why you truly are Prince Charming. You’re so kind.”

“It’s the least I can do for her. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to first live through the fear that your baby is in trouble, and then you’re not even allowed to work or go shopping to decorate the baby’s room.”

“I know, it’s horrible. My pregnancies were all smooth sailing and I still lived in fear that something might be wrong. I’m going to call her later and see if I can offer up any help.”

“Uhm, guys?” Elle calls from behind the curtain. “Can someone help me wrangle this dress? I can’t get it on properly.”

“Of course.” Macy opens the curtain, and Elle walks out.

I bite my lip to prevent myself from drooling or letting out a weird sound. She looks amazing. Never mind the straps that hang halfway down her arms or the skirt pooling on the ground because she didn’t pull the dress all the way up. It doesn’t matter. She looks like a true princess.

“I think there’s got to be a hidden zipper somewhere, because I can’t get the dress far enough over my hips,” she says, her face flustered.

Macy inspects the back of the dress and sucks in the air between her teeth. “Oh.”