Page 34 of Teasing a King

Her honey gaze shoots up to my face and I see her eyes widen. "What?"

"Put these on and we'll go eat," I say.

She shakes her head. "We can't wear pajamas out to a restaurant," she says. "People will think we're crazy."

I shrug again. "I don't care what people think." And I realize that I don't. Let people stare. I don't care if they all think I'm insane. If it will keep Mya's tears at bay, I'll wear pajamas in public for the rest of my life.

"You'd really wear that?" she asks. "For me?"

I'd do anything for you,I think.But I don't say that.

"Of course," I say instead. "Why wouldn't I?"

Her mouth curves up into a small smile and she looks back to the clothes I'm holding. "That shirt is hideous."

I feel relief wash through me at the sight of Mya’s smile. I look down at my shirt. It has an image of a pinata and the words ‘I’d hit that’ printed on it. I nod. "Claire. For my birthday, she likes to buy me ridiculous shirts she knows I'll never wear. She likes to try and embarrass me. Thinks it's funny."

Mya's gaze meets mine. "But you're wearing it now? For me?"

I shrug. "Well, yeah."

"Why?"

"I told you,” I say. “We’re in this together. And I hate seeing you upset.” After a moment, I add in a softer voice, “I like to see you smile."

Her lips twitch. It's not quite a smile, but it's a start. After a moment, she says, "No restaurant is going to let us in dressed like this."

"Have youbeento Waffle House?" I ask. "There is no dress code. It’s a lawless place. Total chaos. Plus, the waffles are delicious. There's a reason they have that name, you know."

Mya laughs. She laughs. And my heart trips in my chest. For a long moment, I just stare at her, struck by how gorgeous she is. To cover it up, I clear my throat and start babbling.

"We don't have to go anywhere," I say. "I'm happy to order a pizza and sit on the couch. I just want to spend time with you. I want to get to know you better."I want to be with you,I think. But I don’t say that part out loud.

A few moments pass in silence, and I think she might retreat back into her shell. But she surprises me.

"Pizza sounds nice," she says softly, looking up at me with those liquid honey eyes.

"What's your favorite pizza?" I ask, seizing my chance to find out more about her. Anything to keep her talking.

She narrows her eyes at me. "What if I say pineapple?"

I grimace, making a show of clutching my chest as if I've been shot. "Oh, ouch," I say. "That hurts."

She laughs again, making me smile.

"If that's what you truly desire," I say with a long-suffering sigh, "I'll order it. But I will lose a little bit of respect for you."

Mya shakes her head and wrinkles her nose, still smiling. "That was a test. Pineapple is delicious, but not on a pizza. Pepperoni and mushrooms, please."

I grin, relieved. "Now that is a respectable pizza. How do you feel about bell peppers?"

She lets out a deep sigh. "I love them, but this baby doesn't. Heartburn."

I shrug. "No bell peppers, then."

"You can get them on your half," Mya suggests.

I shake my head. "Nope. If you can't have them, neither can I."

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