Page 29 of Royally Drawn

“He has a crush on me. I like him, just not like that.”

“Oh, thank God because… ick!” Betty said. “You’remyfriend.”

She squeezed my hand. “And men are dumb.”

“That they are.”

I felt even guiltier. Betty was my friend. And here I was, dying to shag herotherbrother again. Why was I so intent on continuing despite the risk of a rift? I knew better.

Here We Go Again

KEIR

Lars was in his feelings after I assumed he and Ingrid discussed his affection for her. Leah glared at me as ifIcaused his dreadful mood. I didn’t, of course. I slept with Ingrid, but it wasn’t like I could force her to be nice to Lars. I didn’t ask her to be mean to him. And, by all rights, she hadn’t been.

We had dinner on the ship. It was laid back—a nice wrap-up to the weekend. I couldn’t stop finding reasons to check in with Ingrid. I knew we couldn’t be overly lovey-dovey, but I wanted her to know I cared. I did. And not just because I wanted her ankles around my neck later. No, because I did like her. I adored her. There was this instant pull towards her I couldn’t fight. I’d always poo-pooed magnetic attraction, but with Ingrid, I understood it. There was a reason we’d all fought over her.

“Okay, okay, before we go,” Isak said. “I just wanted to thank you all for attending our little gathering. A special thanks to Lars and Edina for organising it. You all did a great job.”

“Oh, my brother thanks me for something for once,” Edina said.

“I said thank you. Is that not enough?” Isak scoffed.

“No, it’s just nice, is all.” Edina was delighted with herself—even for Edina.

“To Cici, though, I just want to say I cannotwaitto marry you. We’ve been on this journey together for several years. We’ve had a lot of distance, stress, and life lessons to overcome,” Isak said. “But I love you. And I always will. I’m glad we got to spend a few days in paradise before the chaos of this next month kicks in.”

Cici was unexpectedly emotional. She rarely cried but was tearing up. True love made you lose your mind a little—even stubborn Scandinavians who always played tough. Cici’s mother cried at the drop of a hat, and her father was the world’s biggest sap for the two women in his life, but you’d never know it by his public persona. Cici herself never showed emotions in public. Isak usually brought out her best. Right now, she couldn’t have loved him more. It hit me in the feels to see her so happy.

She’d be the first of our generation to take the plunge, much to her father’s relief. Marriages led to babies—a precious commodity in royal families. At thirty, time ran thin to pop out a few. I never really shook that feeling, either. I had more time than she did, but it might be incumbent on me to save the line of succession someday. Duncan might never find a woman to put up with him long enough.

“You’ll make me puke, Cici, but I’m so happy for you,” Leah said. “I adore you both, but my God, please stop being so downright adorable.”

“I promise we’ll have a big row soon enough. Would that please you?” Cici laughed.

“Not on my account. I personally hope you have many beautiful years together,” Leah said. “May you always have one another.”

“Leah, are you crying?” Duncan teased.

“She’s not even been drinking!” Ollie snickered.

“I have to fly home, so I cannot,” Leah said. “I also must sleep tonight, as must Keir. We’re boring.”

Leah and I had our aircraft to manage in the morning. The good thing about having a family of pilots was that there was always a way to catch a ride. Leah was a confident pilot in her own right. Our Aunt Natalie and Leah’s father, Uncle George, taughtus to fly.

“Yes, we must be responsible.”

“I didn’t get the okay to fly myself,” Duncan sighed. “So, I must behave. Anyway, I’m off to bloody Spain for a summit.”

“Oh, dreadful,” Ingrid teased. There’s beautiful weather in Spain, and you’re whining. Do you live for dreariness?”

“Do you just live to torture me?” Duncan asked.

“No, she saves her cruelty for others,” Lars said under his breath in Norsk.

“Lars,” Betty said, annoyed. “What is your problem?”

“You’re going to have to ask her,” Lars said, annoyed.

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