Page 8 of Once Upon a Royal Billionaire

“I think about them all the time.” She pulled her hair back in a ponytail, her auburn curls fighting to be free. Her long slender neck was as beautiful as ever, her profile pert and fun, her face elegant. He loved her solid presence. Man, he’d missed her. And he was so happy that they had the chance to rebuild some sort of friendship, but he couldn’t let himself feel more for her than that. He’d spent the last ten years trying to fill the holes she’d left.

They’d both decided it wouldn’t work. There was no reason to try again. Friendship would have to do.

He sped across the lake, leaving the others behind, and turned out of the bay, speeding into the next. They were surrounded on all sides by forest. The blue-green water, clear as glass, rippled out beneath them. He sped towards the opposite side of the bay. An outsider would never spot what he sought, a small inlet. They turned down a path between the trees and followed it until the water opened up again to a smaller bay. In the center of this new space was their island.

“It looks the same.” She stood, staring out across the water.

“I haven’t been here since…” He thought of their last visit, and for the first time in years, thought he might actually be blushing.

Emily laughed. “Are you embarrassed?”

“Maybe.” He turned to her and shook his head. “No, not embarrassed. It’s one of my best memories.” He felt insecure being so honest with her.

“Mine too, actually.” She looked up towards the island. “Do you think anything’s changed?”

“I don’t think anyone comes here but us.”

“You haven’t showed anyone?”

“No.” How could he? Their moments there had been special, their kiss… He couldn’t think about their kiss right now. Not if he wanted to make sure she felt the casual friend vibe from him.

Her smile seemed a bit victorious.

But he couldn’t be irritated at her. He pulled the boat forward, and just like they always had, she hopped up to reach for the rope to tie to a tree. “It’s still here.”

They jumped up onto the land right where a path led them back through the trees. It was overgrown, but still visible.

They made their way to the center of the island, and Rhett laughed. “Our house!”

They ran to the makeshift shelter they had built. “It really is all still here.”

She hurried inside. The table they’d made, the shelves. She pulled out the waterproof emergency kit, caressing the top. “Do you suppose?”

Rhett sat beside her on the floor of their fort.

She lifted the lid and pulled out their journal. “Oh, look. It’s still here.”

“You keep saying that.”

“I know. But, Rhett, so much has happened since then. You and I, we weren’t speaking, and then I got married. I have a daughter—she would love this place. So many things are so different, and yet…” She held up their diary.

“Should we read it?”

She blushed, bright red, and shook her head. “No.”

“Eh?” He leaned forward to try to open the first page.

“No. No.” She placed her hand over top of his, and a wonderful warmth travelled up his arm. He sidled closer to her, so close that when she turned her head to look up into his eyes, he could feel the puff of her breath on his lips.

“You sure?”

She swallowed and licked her lips. Then, with the tiniest shake of her head, she turned away. She pushed herself to her feet. “We should go.”

“Yes, of course.” He joined her as she headed to the door. “But only if I can take you through the course. Once.”

She almost shook her head but then nodded. “Okay, let’s do it.”

His fist pumped the air. “Let’s go!”

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