Page 33 of Coffee Break with the Billionaire

I ready a plate for myself and sit down across from Edie.

She and Kalle are now more than friends, i.e. engaged to be married—and a real engagement unlike the half-assed one I had with Tiger—and I can’t notice much of a change. Edie is still uber-casual, wearing jeans and a sweatshirt that’s seen better days. I’d be alarmed at her wardrobe, since by all accounts, she’s going to be the next queen of Laandia, but King Magnus dresses worse than she does.

Would I have wanted to be queen of Laandia if things worked out with Kalle? It might have been fun… for a while. But I can’t see it happening.

“Is Kalle joining you?” I ask Edie, then kick myself. Is she going to think I’m looking forward to seeing him?

This is why I don’t keep in touch with my exes. Gunnar and I figured out how to stay friends, but Kalle and I weren’t enough to even call him an ex.

I’m really making it awkward, and I rarely make anything awkward.

Edie shakes her head. “He has an early meeting, which is why we were here last night. It’s easier to stay in town when I have to close the pub.”

“I’m glad the two of you got together.”

“I’m glad it didn’t work out with the two of you.” Her smile takes any sting out of the words.

“It wouldn’t have. I’m not queen material.”

Edie raises her cup. “Sometimes I wonder if I am,” she says ruefully.

I studyEdie across the table. The polite thing would be to reassure her that yes, she’ll make a great queen. And she probably will. But if I know anything, it’s how important public perception is. And if Edie keeps looking like a contestant from a bag lady competition, no one will think much of her other qualities.

“If you ever need some advice—” I tread carefully. “About dealing with the public or fashion or style, let me know.”

“Yeah.” Edie winces. “Mrs. Theissen has been trying to work on my image before the wedding. The only problem is I don’t like the image she’s trying to make. I see Magnus and—”

“Men can look however they want,” I point out. “Women are criticized for everything.”

“True.” She looks down at her sweatshirt. “I need something in between stuffy and just rolled out of bed.”

“We could go shopping while I’m here,” I offer. “If it’s not too weird for you.”

Making plans to go shopping with the future queen of Laandia while dining at a castle. This is my life.

“It wouldn’t be too weird forme,” Edie says with the confidence of winning the heir to the Laandian throne. “But, sure. That would be… maybe notfunbecause I’m not much for shopping… but helpful.”

“Let me know when. My schedule is open.”

“How long are you staying?”

I sigh. Yesterday’s text to my father asking that same question came back withat least another week, still showing up in thefeeds. But that didn’t upset me as much as I thought it would. “I’m not sure,” I admit. “Hiding out might take longer than expected.”

“That’s what you’re doing? Hiding out?”

“The board of my father’s company sees my actions as an embarrassment,” I tell Edie in a cool voice. “And since I’m trying to get on their good side, the less they see of me, the better.”

“But you didn’t do anything wrong. From what I heard, that Cougar guy cheated on you.”

“Tiger,” I correct with a smile. “But no one seems to realize that. They see my temper tantrum and that’s it.”

Edie snorts. “That was no temper tantrum. If Kalle pulled anything like that, I wouldn’t throw something at him, I’d throw him out a window of his precious pub.”

I’ve seen firsthand how Edie deals with obnoxious drunks and despite the fact all of the Laandian princes are built like trees, she could do it. “The daughter of the president and CEO of Carrington Toys needs to keep up appearances. Apparently,” I say wryly.

“That’s bull—a lot of bull stuff. But I guess I need to get used to that. Appearances and all that.”

“I think you’ll have an easier time. Laandia is a lot more forgiving than the board of Carrington.”

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