Page 14 of Reign or Shine

“Umm, I actually don’t know.”

“What does that mean? How do you not know where they are?”

Usually, this is the point I change the subject. Hell, when someone asks me about my family I often pretend like I don’t hear them and continue talking like the question was never brought up.

Yet, I find myself clearing my throat and confiding in Henry. I trust him.

“Well, I know my sister still lives out there, but when I gave up my engineering job and moved out here, my parents didn’t…well, they didn’t approve. They didn’t understand why I would throw away the privileged life I had worked so hard to achieve just to walk in nature all day. Their words, not mine.”

He’s quiet, taking in what I’ve said. Turning my head, I see he’s looking at me with that little tilt to his head again. There’s something in his eyes I can’t make out. Is it admiration?

The trail opens up and he catches up to walk beside me.

“That must have been very hard,” he finally says, his hand brushing mine. I think it’s an accident, a wayward swing of his arm, but when his pinky intertwines with mine my heart skips a beat. He’s done it on purpose.

“I know the pressure you speak of. I love my family and the good change my title allows me to create in the world and for my country. But sometimes…” His voice goes soft, almost wishful. “Sometimes I think about what else I could be doing. What my life would have been like if I hadn’t been born into my title.”

That was…a lot to take in. And he was sharing this with me? That thought alone made me glow from the inside out.

He trusted me.

“That does sound like a lot. But you said you were taking more time now for the things that were important to you. I’m sure you’ll find the balance between duty and what sparks joy.”

“And is that what this job is for you? Your spark of joy?”

“The job is definitely awesome,” I laugh, skipping over the bumpy ground of a tight corner. “But I think it’s more about being outside for me. I could do a job like this anywhere in the world and be happy.”

He gives a little grunt. I can’t tell if it’s a grunt of acceptance or if he’s concentrating on his footwork.

For the next hour and a half, we steadily climb the mountain, sharing pieces of our lives and our innermost feelings like it’s the most natural thing in the world. With Henry, the words tumble out of my mouth, like we’ve been friends forever.

There’s no hesitation as I tell him more about my family and my reasons for needing a break from the city. I feel no shame when I admit that after days of back-to-back group hikes, I need to time to recover and hide out on my apartment balcony.

Henry opens up to me too, sharing with me the side of his family that the public isn’t privy to. He tells me wild stories about the mischief he and his cousins—actual princes!—got up to when they were young and how they’re like brothers to him.

I learn that although the title of earl comes with many responsibilities and high stress, he doesn’t take his privilege for granted.

He has such a big heart. And the higher we climb, the more my heart fills with admiration for him. I won’t dare call it anything else.

I can’t let myself dream like that.

As we make it to the first peak, stopping to bask in the breath-taking view, a gentle mist of rain begins to fall. The spring shower comes out of nowhere—it definitely wasn’t in the weather report I looked at early this morning.

It’s not enough precipitation to have us running for cover and grabbing the tarp from my backpack, but it dampens my hair. My gaze turns to Henry and I lose all logic.

His head is tipped up to the sun, arms open with his palms facing the sky. The serene grin on his face makes my stomach flip. He looks so happy. So at peace.

He must feel my eyes on him because Henry extends his hand to me, his head rolling to the side to encourage at me. Without hesitation, I take his hand and go willingly.

With his arm wrapped tight around me, we stand like that, basking in the warm sun and the cool rain. It’s a perfect moment.

My heart takes a running leap off the cliff and begins its fall. There’s no stopping my growing feelings for Henry now.

Chapter Seven

Henry

Inever contemplated that a simple hike could be so life changing.

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