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A snort of laughter startled Josiah.

“But I suppose I am married to a real prince. That was one of my childhood dreams. My sister is a future queen. I mean that part wasn’t in my dreams, but means I get to hang out in palaces from time to time.”

“Do they know?” he asked quietly. “I believe someone told them you’d fallen in the lake and were being cared for, but I don’t know if they mentioned the pregnancy. They may even be on their way already.”

Bekah shook her head. “I haven’t told them yet. I wanted to wait until after I got home from Athmetis, but that went all kinds of sideways.”

Josiah pulled his phone out to text his brother, only to discover a series of missed messages. “It looks like they’re on their way. They should be here before long. The flight from Øyanord is about four hours then about two hours to get here.”

“Has it really been that long?” She struggled to sit up.

Josiah helped her sit up and moved behind her to give her something to brace against if she needed to. “Almost. They couldn’t leave immediately, but by the time they get their things together and made it to the airport, it’ll take seven or eight hours in all.”

She leaned back slightly so her back rested against his chest. “I should probably get dressed into something more fitting.”

He wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her to him. “I don’t think they’ll care. I know my family won’t. You should be comfortable and rest.”

She twisted and looked up at him, tears shimmering in her eyes. “Thank you for taking care of me, ‘Siah,” she whispered.

“My pleasure,” he whispered back. As he looked into her eyes, Josiah could only think one thing.

What it might be like to kiss her.

* * *

The lookon Josiah’s face made Bekah’s breath catch in her throat.

Was he going to kiss her?

Instead, he moved back, away from his support of her. She leaned forward a bit to steady herself.

“Do...” He cleared his throat. “Do you want me to help you find something else to wear or just stay in your comfortable pajamas?”

Her family had seen her looking far worse, and, if Josiah’s family was going to judge her for it, then so be it. It was a good test of sorts to see how she’d fit in to their daily lives.

Not the fancy royal lives. She’d likely never fit in there. But if she was going to be with Josiah for a little while even, she needed to know if they could get along behind closed doors.

“I think I’ll just stay like this, if that’s really okay.” If it was a totalfaux passhe wouldn’t, but staying comfortable appealed to her.

“It is.” He squeezed her shoulder as he stood. “I’ll check and see how long we have. Are you hungry?”

Bekah turned that over in her head. “Maybe a snack? Not too much.”

He tapped on his phone then reached for the handset on the side table. “What would you like?”

She shrugged. “Whatever is easy.”

After talking quietly to whoever was on the other end of the phone, Josiah hung up. “It’ll be up in a few minutes.”

“What did you ask for?”

“Something easy. They’ll send up something good.”

Her eyes closed as she leaned back against the pillows again. That was easier than looking at him and trying to figure out if she’d wanted him to kiss her or not.

“We have about an hour before your family gets here. Anything in particular you need, or even just want, to do until they arrive?” He seemed to sit in a chair across the room. She still didn’t look.

“Just rest.” That seemed like as good a plan as any.