Page 81 of Royally Benevolent

“Oh, you love me. I got bored. Mom said you could use a cheer-up. Odette took care of that, though.”

I rolled my eyes. “Please stop. Please let it go. I am happy you are here.”

“You’d also like to get laid. Yeah, I get it. Selfishly, I was hoping we might duck down to the cottage.”

“I thought it might be nice to get away for a couple of days,” Mom said.

“Chris was planning on coming for a little bit to look at a brewery,” Becca added. “It was a work trip. I just added some days for fun to see you and Theo.”

“Ahhhh, you just want the compound to yourselves,” I joked.

“No, I was thinking of a family trip,” Becca said. “You could bring your Disney Princess.”

47

YOU SHOULD GO

ODETTE

Wyatt

You got a minute?

I panicked as his text rolled in, wanting to avoid any awkwardness. We’d only texted briefly since his mother and sister found us snogging desperately in the foyer. I couldn’t forget how much I wanted himbeforethings were broken up, but now I was in a complete guilt spiral. I’d told no one my dirty little secret—only that we’d gotten a drink, and then I’d come home. Thankfully, no one caught our PDA on camera, so I could leave my family and advisors blissfully unaware of things.

Beating down my fears, I responded and let him ring me.

“Hey,” I said, nervous.

“Hey. Are you freaking out?”

He read me too well already.

“Yeah. A bit. Phone calls—no one does them unless someone has, like… died… or they are about to break up with you, so?—”

“Oh, shit. Uh, well, inmyworld, it’s just easier to make plans on the phone or in person. And, given that I’m in Brussels, the latter is off-limits.”

“You promise it’s nothing bad?”

“No, baby. It’s nothing bad.”

Baby. No man hadevergiven me a pet name. My heart soared.

“Okay, so. I have a compound down here in Wallonia. My brother-in-law was already coming in on a beer-scouting mission, and my sister is keen to spend a winter weekend away. Did you want to join us?”

“Um… uh… I couldn’t,” I shut down.

“Oh, you’re busy?”

“No,” I said. “I am not busy.”

“Uh… okay.” Wyatt’s voice deflated like a sad balloon.

“I just… I couldn’t because… what happened… and being around them… it feels so wrong.”

“Did they offend you somehow? I swear they are both so sweet. They like you. It was Becca’s suggestion since she’d like to get to know you more. I promise she and her husband are great.”

Theylikedme? I felt like a marked woman around them! How could theywantto invite me? The only explanation was they were out to get me and hated me.

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