Page 11 of Royally Drawn

“So, you think I’m ugly?” She asked, hopping up.

I contemplated my options. I spied Lars distracted. Everyone now cringed over an argument between the Swedes and Leah about whether she lost her virginity at sixteen or eighteen, depending on how you sliced it. I needed to apologise to Ingrid. Leah had a point. I objectified her, and that wasn’t fair. I appreciated her for more than that.

I found her back in the bar, staring at the fixings for another mojito, confused.

I approached her gently, “I don’t think you’re ugly. You’re gorgeous. But… you aren’t an object. I’m trying very, very hardnotto objectify you. And I am sorry for the poor impression my family is making right now.”

“You all are too much.”

“I’ll grant you that. It’s hard to come in from outside the family—for anyone.”

She nodded and sniffled.

“Do you want me to make you another? You slammed the first one,” I laughed.

“Can you teach me?” Ingrid asked, her face lighting up.

“It’s not difficult.” I gave her a cheeky grin. “But sure.”

It was about the simplest thing you could make, but she willingly gave me points here.

“You muddle the mint.”

“Muddle? That’s aword? Like muddling through?”

“Exactly.” I demonstrated.

Ingrid leaned on the bar top, peering to see what I was doing. I attempted to make something straightforward look impressive.

“Next, put sugar in the shaker. Or, since they have simple syrup, we’ll go for that. It’s cheating a bit.”

“What makes the syrup… simple?”

I laughed. “It’s just sugar water.”

“Oh.”

“After that, lime juice and rum.”

I closed the shaker and debated handing it off to her for not-so-innocent reasons, given that I knew she was wearing a dress without abra. I needed to behave, so I shook the drink momentarily and poured the cocktail over ice.

“And then you just garnish the damn thing. It’s not complicated.”

“I don’t even know how to cut a lime,” Ingrid winced.

“How?” I laughed.

“I wasn’t even allowedneara kitchen growing up. None of us can cook, but Astrid—and that’s only because Parker can.”

I shook my head. “That is no good. You should learn. It’s a life skill.”

Ingrid took the drink, slowly rotating it as if it were something special. She gave me a small smile and said, “Thanks.”

“I owed you for being a real wanker, so yes.”

“You weren’t. Not directly.” She softened.

Ingrid’s overly sweet face tempted me more over time. She looked so damnkissable. There was no looking away from her. She lit up a room.

---