Page 113
Story: Royal Reluctance
“And he does make her happy,” she admits. “It’s just strange that after living through eight years of angst, they finally have their happily ever after.”
“They deserve it.”
“So do you.”
I shrug as the waiter arrives with a tray of glasses. “Thank you.” I take two, handing one to Abigail. “How are you doing with your own happy ever after?”
“It’s off to a good start,” she says lightly.
“What is?”
We turn in unison. Lyra, with my half-sister Sophie, stands behind us. “Is that for me?” She gestures to the glass I’m holding.
“Actually, it’s for me.”
With a lift of her shoulder, Lyra steps around me to the tray and grabs a single glass. “Wait, please,” she instructs and downs the champagne without taking a breath.
What Bo can do with beer, his sister can with champagne.
Setting the empty glass down, she takes two more, giving the waiter a winning smile.
“She’s a bit…unsettled… being back,” Sophie tells me quietly. “Seeing certain people.”
Me. She means me.
Why does that make my stomach tighten like someone’s grabbed hold of it?
“Nice wedding,” Lyra says handing a glass to Sophie. “I’m glad we got to share in this one.”
“I didn’t think you were staying.” Lyra has been back and forth three times, usually only staying a few days at a time, and never giving a good answer to why she can’t stay longer. Events, obligations, and parties keep her busy.
I haven’t heard if there’s a certain someone who is also taking up her time. I know there aresomeones, but none of them seem to last.
“And miss Bo’s weddingagain?” Lyra arches her eyebrows, her smile tight and just a little bitter.
“I wasn’t in charge of the guest list the first time,” I tell her. Lyra has always had the worst case of FOMO of anyone I know, and when she does miss out, she takes it hard and holds grudges.
“No.” Lyra’s gaze drifts over Abigail. “Nice dress.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Lyra smiles without it reaching her eyes. She’s the only one in the family who never corrects when someone calls her that.
“Abigail, I think Hettie is waving at you,” Sophie says.
“She is. I better go check.” She gives me a smile as she moves off, Sophie following in her wake.
“Spencer.” Lyra hooks my gaze over the rim of her glass. I can’t take my eyes off her. It’s always been like that. She drives me crazy but I can’t stop watching her. “What’s going on?”
I gesture to the crowd around us, standing close but giving us a little space, like there’s a pocket of me-and-Lyra in the midst of everything. “Wedding stuff.”
“I meant with you and Abigail.”
Did she actually come right out and ask that? “She’s my friend.”
“Is that all?”
“Feel like telling me what business that is of yours?” I hold my breath in the hope that maybe this time…
“They deserve it.”
“So do you.”
I shrug as the waiter arrives with a tray of glasses. “Thank you.” I take two, handing one to Abigail. “How are you doing with your own happy ever after?”
“It’s off to a good start,” she says lightly.
“What is?”
We turn in unison. Lyra, with my half-sister Sophie, stands behind us. “Is that for me?” She gestures to the glass I’m holding.
“Actually, it’s for me.”
With a lift of her shoulder, Lyra steps around me to the tray and grabs a single glass. “Wait, please,” she instructs and downs the champagne without taking a breath.
What Bo can do with beer, his sister can with champagne.
Setting the empty glass down, she takes two more, giving the waiter a winning smile.
“She’s a bit…unsettled… being back,” Sophie tells me quietly. “Seeing certain people.”
Me. She means me.
Why does that make my stomach tighten like someone’s grabbed hold of it?
“Nice wedding,” Lyra says handing a glass to Sophie. “I’m glad we got to share in this one.”
“I didn’t think you were staying.” Lyra has been back and forth three times, usually only staying a few days at a time, and never giving a good answer to why she can’t stay longer. Events, obligations, and parties keep her busy.
I haven’t heard if there’s a certain someone who is also taking up her time. I know there aresomeones, but none of them seem to last.
“And miss Bo’s weddingagain?” Lyra arches her eyebrows, her smile tight and just a little bitter.
“I wasn’t in charge of the guest list the first time,” I tell her. Lyra has always had the worst case of FOMO of anyone I know, and when she does miss out, she takes it hard and holds grudges.
“No.” Lyra’s gaze drifts over Abigail. “Nice dress.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Lyra smiles without it reaching her eyes. She’s the only one in the family who never corrects when someone calls her that.
“Abigail, I think Hettie is waving at you,” Sophie says.
“She is. I better go check.” She gives me a smile as she moves off, Sophie following in her wake.
“Spencer.” Lyra hooks my gaze over the rim of her glass. I can’t take my eyes off her. It’s always been like that. She drives me crazy but I can’t stop watching her. “What’s going on?”
I gesture to the crowd around us, standing close but giving us a little space, like there’s a pocket of me-and-Lyra in the midst of everything. “Wedding stuff.”
“I meant with you and Abigail.”
Did she actually come right out and ask that? “She’s my friend.”
“Is that all?”
“Feel like telling me what business that is of yours?” I hold my breath in the hope that maybe this time…
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114