Page 10 of Tech Prince Troubles (Runaway Prince Hotel #6)

Chapter Ten

SAM

not exactly plug-and-play

S undays were the only days I had trouble getting out of bed.

When I woke, the pungent scent of the menthol balm I’d used on my sore muscles after our weekly kayak day still lingered in the bedroom.

Cycling to the café took more energy than usual, and I needed at least one espresso before I could face my shift.

It wasn’t, however, the quietest day of the week.

Despite the lack of weekday regulars, there were plenty of travelers, walkers, and shoppers to fill our morning.

By six, the café and the patio were already filled with customers.

With a path to the park next door, Café Magnifique had long been one of the go-to meeting places for those who enjoyed their early morning walks and runs.

My arm and leg muscles got little rest as I worked my way through the morning, longing for a relaxing bath.

Still, we had an extra barista on shift, and the customers’ cheer made the hectic atmosphere enjoyable.

Besides, after all these years, I was used to this.

Kayaking—and canoeing—Saturdays equaled family day.

On top of Evan’s competition kayak, we’d invested in two tandem kayaks years ago when the twins were old enough to take with us. When our foursome grew into nine, we’d started renting a canoe so we wouldn’t have to take turns.

Julian and Evan were the most competitive, while Tammy could beat both of them if she was so inclined.

But she and Bethany preferred sharing a tandem for some chitchat instead of proving how good they were.

I loved canoeing with the little ones, though we all took turns with them, so every adult—and the twins—got a proper workout.

Saturdays were my favorite days, and it had been a great but exhausting one, filled with sunshine and banter that took my mind off Adri. If that meant running a hectic shift while suffering muscle aches, then so be it. At least no one got sunburned this time.

Speaking of… Adri came in through the side door just before seven—no doubt to avoid the posse on the patio—carrying his tablet. No Riley, but she’d been spending a lot of extra time in the ballroom for her chandelier project.

“Good morning, Adri.” I typed in his order and held the card reader up to him, enjoying the way his gaze trailed from the reader to my face. “Go claim your spot while it’s still free, and I’ll get you your espresso in a minute.”

“Good morning.” He tapped it with his card, his finger again touching the device, his eyes still fixed on mine. “Thank you.”

“No problem.”

Gandalf gurgled happily as I made the espresso, as if it knew it was meant for an espresso purist. Especially one I’d enjoyed talking to, however short, when he came in every morning.

One who kept me wondering why he’d left so abruptly that day at the fountain.

I zigzagged through waiting customers and set Adri’s coffee in front of him.

The schematics on his tablet seemed familiar. “Is that a rotary phone?”

Adri blinked. “Yes. Have you owned one? ”

“My grandparents did. I remember playing with them at theirs. They had a toy version that all of us kids dragged around their house.”

I didn’t expect him to work with such ancient technology. They weren’t exactly plug-and-play.

“They’re heavy, these Bakelite phones. There’s one in all the renovated rooms. For decoration. I was studying this ancient technology,” he paused, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, “to understand how to make them work.”

“Oh. The guests would love calling room service with them. So can you?”

Adri nodded. “I’d probably have to replace all the components, but it has potential.”

I’d have loved to talk longer, but the expression in his bright eyes made it clear his mind was on the phones. “I’ll let you get on, then. Enjoy your coffee.”

“Thank you.”

As I cleared cups from the tables, Zane called my name.

“Sam, kid alert.”

I glanced outside. Quinn was parking their bike against the wall.

They waved when they noticed me staring, and made their way through the patio crowd, wearing their noise-reduction headphones and shoulder bag.

They joined the line inside and waited as the crowd thinned—most of them taking their coffees to go.

I met them at the counter after putting the cups in the dishwasher. “Morning, kiddo. Couldn’t sleep any longer?”

Quinn shook their head. “Told Mom I was coming here.”

I pretended I wasn’t going to ask. “What can I make for you?”

“Hot chocolate with whipped cream.”

“Are you sure? It’s going to be hot out.”

They shrugged. “Yeah, I’m sure.” They frowned at the filled seats. Not a single free table left. “Forgot about your Sunday shifts. Should have waited half an hour.”

I was about to suggest sitting at the fountain, but then I glimpsed Adri in the corner booth. Could I introduce my kid to him? Sure, they both liked drawing, but I hadn’t even told him I had kids.

I rounded the counter. All I could do was hope that meeting Quinn wouldn’t chase him off. “I’m going to ask Adri if he minds you sitting with him. I mentioned him yesterday. He’s new at the hotel’s Tech Hub, and he enjoys drawing.”

“Birds. I remember. He’s Niren, right?” Their eyes lit up with enthusiasm.

“Yes, to both. Though we’ve only talked a few times. He doesn’t know I have kids yet.”

Quinn straightened their shoulders and winked at me. “Introducing your quietest child first to make a good impression. I can do that.”

I almost snorted as I followed them to Adri’s booth, carrying the hot chocolate and hoping neither would notice my shaking hands. Adri seemed to sense us approaching and gazed up.

“Sorry. Adri, this is my kid, Quinn. Do you mind if they sit here?”

Adri frowned and mouthed the word “kid” as he glanced from me to Quinn. Then he gestured for them to sit. “Please. Sit.”

Quinn slid into the booth with a bright smile as if they met Niren every day. “Thank you. Pop says you draw birds.”

Adri turned his head toward me with a subtle dip of his chin, reminding me of that dip in his voice that meant he was surprised. His twitching shoulders, however, betrayed nervousness as well.

“Quinn loves drawing, too. I hope it was okay for me to tell them.”

“It’s not a secret.” But his tone seemed hesitant .

I’d been so worried about telling him Quinn was my kid that I’d forgotten he rarely showed his work to others. Damn . “If it’s not convenient…” I pointed at his tablet, giving him an out.

He shook his head. “No, it’s okay.” He turned to Quinn. “I’d love to see what you draw, Quinn. What are your pronouns?”

“They/them. What are yours?”

“He/him. I’m Adri.” He held out his two-finger-one-thumb hand.

Quinn beamed as they shook hands. It always made them happy when someone asked for their pronouns.

I left them to it and returned to the counter, losing myself in serving coffee after coffee, and the very occasional hot chocolate.

No baristas needed scolding for dripping steam pipes or improper tamping.

It was a tiring but good morning rush, even if it was impossible to keep a proper eye on Adri and Quinn, with the continuous slew of customers coming in.

I wanted them to get along because that gave me hope that having children wouldn’t scare Adri off.

Time flew by with only the barest glimpses, until Quinn and Adri threw me for a loop by showing up at the counter.

“Did you want another hot chocolate, Quinn?”

They shook their head.

“We wanted to sit at the fountain,” Adri said, his blue eyes betraying his nerves. “I thought we’d better ask your permission first. It’s becoming too loud for both of us.”

That made me smile. Such a thoughtful gesture. “Of course. Thank you for checking in with me.”

Adri nodded. Though he was wearing long sleeves again, I bet blue lines shimmered across his skin.

“Let me know before you go home, okay, Quinn?”

“And I’ll message Mom or Dad when I leave. Got it, Pop. We’re going to draw. ”

“Okay. I have a break in…” I checked the time. “Half an hour. I’ll join you for a bit, then.”

The crowd swallowed them as I went back to serving coffees until Zane tapped me on the shoulder.

“Come on, out with you. Take your break. We’ll manage here.” He pushed an espresso into my hands. “And don’t complain. I treated Gandalf with respect. You can make yourself a proper one another day.”

I couldn’t hide my skepticism, but I wasn’t about to throw away a gifted espresso. “Fair enough. Holler if it gets too busy.”

Adri and Quinn sat close together, staring at the fountain as I approached them. Quinn still had their headphones on. Not wanting to disturb them, I sat on the next bench and watched them draw until Quinn noticed me.

“Hey, Pop. Do you want to see what we’ve drawn?”

“Of course, kiddo. Hello, Adri. Thank you.”

Adri seemed puzzled. “For what?”

“For watching my kid.”

“Oh, they’re no bother. They make wonderful art.”

“So do you.”

He hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, I think I see that now.”

Out of the mouths of babes. I didn’t say it out loud, but I thought it was sad that Adri had never considered what he was doing as art, just a way to pass the time.

Seeing Quinn’s drawings made me smile and filled me with pride.

Their soft lines were so different from Adri’s work, but no less wonderful.

“That’s good, kiddo. That’s really good.”

“Adri told me how to make the water look like it flowed.”

I smiled at Adri and mouthed, “Thank you.”

He smiled back.

“I wish I could stay longer, but I’ve got to get back to work soon,” I said, though the rush had finally calmed down.

Quinn put their tablet away. “Then I’ll go now, so I don’t have to come back in later.”

“You can stay and draw as long as you want.”

“No, I’ve taken up more than enough of Adri’s time.”

Adri shook his head, but Quinn didn’t back down and just smiled.

“Thank you, really. I hope you can make that phone work. Maybe send Pop a video when it does.”

“I can do that.”

His voice did that dippy thing again, but Quinn didn’t notice.

“And thank you for letting me go on about Kaia and Frank’s podcast.”

The color on Adri’s cheeks darkened as if he was blushing, which didn’t fit the shuttered look in his eyes.

“It’s a good podcast.”

“Facts. It’s so real. Well, bye, Adri. Thank you.” Quinn tucked their notebook into their bag and gave me a hug. “He’s nice, Pop. Thank you.” They skipped off to their bike. I sat with Adri in silence until Quinn disappeared toward the park.

“How many kids do you have?” Adri said into the silence.

“It’s complicated, but five.”

“‘Complicated’?”

“They’re not all… well, they’re not all my biological children. But Quinn’s dad, his wife, and I, we’re raising them all together.”

“But Quinn is… your biological child?”

“Yes. As is Julian. They’re twins.” I could see confusion in Adri’s eyes, but I wasn’t ready to explain being trans to him, on top of this family dynamics 101 lesson. “Like I said, it’s complicated. Few people understand the dynamics of our family, and it’s hard, you know…” No. Too soon.

My heart raced. I wasn’t even sure… Oh. Who was I kidding? Denying it wouldn’t make it go away. “It’s hard deciding when and what to disclose to someone…” I couldn’t get the words out. I cl eared my throat and tried again. “To someone I’m interested in.”

I took a shuddering breath, crossing my fingers that telling him that wouldn’t scare him off.

Not when he seemed to take my having kids in stride.

I didn’t dare look at him as I continued, “Evan. He’s my ex, and the twins’ dad.

He and I decided from the beginning that when we split, we were going to raise our kids together.

That we’d make it work, no matter what. And then when he and Bethany had three more, well, they became mine too, in a way that we could make it as official as possible.

” It seemed only logical to explain Tammy to him as well, even though I didn’t want to heap more onto him.

But she was as much a part of my life as Evan and Bethany were.

Adri stayed quiet for a long time when I was done.

“It’s too much, isn’t it?” Of course it was. Maybe he wasn’t interested in me in that way. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you if Quinn could sit with you.”

“No.” His shoulders tensed, then relaxed as he glanced at his tablet. “They were no bother. If anything, they remind me of… me. The drawing, and… I don’t like noise very much either.”

“I know.” I’d seen him twitch at loud conversations. “You don’t seem to mind the coffee machines, though.”

Adri’s sudden smile took my breath away. It softened his face and made his blue eyes shine even brighter.

“They’re soothing.” He seemed to zone out for a moment, then rose. “Sorry. I’ve got to go now. I need to rest before work. Thank you for telling me about your family.”

He was gone before I could reply.

That was twice now that he’d left so abruptly. He’d sounded sincere, but I couldn’t help but wonder if I had scared him away. Not just by telling him about my family, but by confessing I was interested in him.