Page 51 of Roaming Holiday

“Are you sure—” Dad cuts himself off after a glare from my stepmother. “Okay. What about—your security will be with you, right?”

“Yes, Wes—Beck will be there. He’ll probably be more overbearing than you.”

“Good.” He hesitates as if searching for the right words. “I know we don’t see eye to eye right now, but I love you, Nina. So much.”

“I know. I love you, too.”

He pulls me into another hug, his arms low this time. I let my head fall into the crook of his neck.

“My baby girl,” he mutters, pressing a kiss to my temple. I’m still so upset with him. I expected more from Dad—more of everything. And I realize now that it’s not simply because he’s my father, but because I love and want him to be a better person.

It’s ten o’clock by the time I’m done packing, which means Wesley had almost six hours of sleep. I tiptoe into the room to see him fast asleep on his back, his face soft and unguarded. Typically, his expression is irritatingly neutral. Nothing fazes him. I could stare at this peaceful version of him forever, but I don’t have the time nor patience. I nudge his shoulder with my palm.

“Wesl—”

He snatches my wrist before I can finish, his iron grip softening as soon as he sees me. It happens so fast that I don’t have the chance to be frightened. So much for being in a deep slumber.

“Nina,” he whispers with a huff, almost relieved as his thumb brushes the inside of my wrist. “Are you all right?”

My stomach flips from the way he whispers my name in a husky morning voice. It rattles me enough that I forget to answer at first. “Oh—I-I’m fine.”

Wesley blinks himself awake and I regret not waiting another hour for him to rest. I rake my gaze over his messy hair and hunched shoulders and my belly churns from the thought of shoving him back against the bed and crawling on top of him. He runs his hands over his face.

“What time is it? Where’s Silas? He was supposed to take over.”

“It’s ten o’clock?—”

“Ten?”

“I told him to let you sleep.”

He shakes his head, snatching his watch from the nightstand. “He shouldn’t hav?—”

“I threatened him,” I blurt.

He recoils as he fastens the watch. “You… threatened him.”

I interlace my fingers in front of me. “I sort of told him I would make his life a living hell if he woke you up.”

“Sort of?”

I whack his shoulder. “Stop repeating everything I’m saying and pack a bag.” I can’t help but smile in excitement. “We’re going to Antina.”

25

NINA

It takes a lot longer for us to prepare for the trip because of protocols.

Vanessa sends my sister and me a group text explaining the preparations that need to be made to ensure our safety and that we’ll be picked for another two hours. Yay for being princess.

In the meantime, I get dressed and put makeup on. As I apply eyeliner, I spot Maia through the mirror as she plops onto the divan. She opens the same photo album we’ve gone through a dozen times since Aunt Beverly gave it to us.

“All this security stuff is annoying,” she whines. “With Mason, it’s like having a dad around all the time.” I chuckle at the memory of her bodyguard chasing off that boy on our first day. “Don’t do this, that’s dangerous, don’t swim too far,” she mocks, lazily flipping through pages. “At least yours doesn’t talk and is boring as hell.”

I stop my eyeliner mid-brush as a knot of agitation flies up my core. “Wesley isn’t boring!” I shut an eyeshadow palette and toss it into my bag with a clank. My sister’s jab at him shows me the impact he has on my day. “He’s just… calm.” I re-dip my eyeliner brush. With a sigh, I add, “The only calm part of this trip.”

I have no idea what the future would look like if I accepted the crown. But if I don’t, I wouldn’t see Wesley anymore. And the thought of that slices my chest with dread. I shouldn’t become queen just to see him more, although it’s certainly a perk.

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