Page 45 of Royally Benevolent

I grabbed a pot of chocolate mousse. It was delicious but didn’t remove the pain from the inevitable rejection he’d given me.

“So, was the intro sufficient? Did it cure your obsession?”

I shrugged. “She seems cool. Also, flirty.”

Wyatt shook his head. “She’s just that way. She’s not into me.”

“Really? Because it was obvious.” I said it with a bit of heat on it. I regretted it—desperation.

“Trust me when I say I amnother type, Odie.” He seemed annoyed, then his voice sweetened, “Promise.”

26

THE THIRD WHEEL

ODETTE

Before Mary arrived, the first day of the summit was easy and lovely. I enjoyed chatting with new faces and they seemed glad to see me. Mary, meanwhile, sucked up all the room’s energy. I couldn’t blame people. Her enigmatic personality drew everyone in. On day two, the flirting began. Wyattsworenothing was happening—like IsworeI had no feelings for him. The jealousy and anguish came to a head when we were seated at her table at the accompanying gala.

“So, how did you meet?” I asked.

“Oh, Wy didn’t tell you?” Mary took a long sip of her wine and shot him doe eyes. “We went to college together. Of course, Wyatt notably dropped out and got very rich. I stayed and became a politician.”

I cocked my head.

“We went to Cal. He got caught up with his coding thing. I got caught up in taking over the family business… and here we are. Wyatt was a fresh face when I was just about to graduate.”

He rolled his eyes. “She graduated that year. I dropped out. I promise you it wasn’t my intent. The business just took over.”

“It’s okay. You did alright either way. You had your glow-up, too. Healways had a heart of gold, but I can assure you, Your Royal Highness, Wyatt’s wardrobe has vastly improved.”

He blushed. “Glad for the compliment, Mary.”

“Anytime, Wy.”

“We were in student government together,” Wyatt added. “I was my dorm rep. She was our president, natch.”

“He was cute. Quiet. Never spoke up much. But when he did, it was worth listening—unlike most of us blowhards.”

It was the way shelookedat him. She adored him. There was a past here. I couldn’t bear it. It was one thing for him to turn me down because we were all wrong, and it was another to watch a woman throw herself at him. I hated it.

“I’m a dork. You can say it, Mary.”

She laughed heartily and put her hand on his arm. I tried not to pull a face. I couldn’t take it any longer. I had to get out of there before I acted ridiculously. I needed to leave, cry, and admit defeat. In the interim, I’d return to the room, curl up with my e-reader, and order another bottle of wine.

I rubbed my temples. “You know, I’m getting a headache. I might have to head back.”

“Oh, really? That’s no good,” Mary said.

I bet you think that!

“Yeah. Sometimes, I get these headaches,” I lied.

Ihadgotten headaches. Then, I got on my current regimen of meds, and they stopped. It was a happy fringe benefit.

“Can I do anything?” Wyatt asked.

“No, I think you have your hands full. I’ll be fine. No need to be a third wheel.”

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