Page 2 of Their Promise

“So, did you meet any cute boys on the train?” Maya asked.

Ezio growled softly.

Chuckling, I shook my head. “Nope.”

She groaned. “I’m supposed to live vicariously through you. How am I supposed to do that if you’re not meeting any boys?”

“It’s not like I control where they are,” I reminded her. She knew I had started quietly looking for guys to date. Announcing that to my family would spell disaster for sure. “Besides, I’m sure we’ll meet some guys at the club tomorrow.”

She flinched. “About that …”

“Oh, no. What?” I asked.

“Your great grandparents are all in town and they called for a party to celebrate everyone being together for the first time in like a decade,” she said, her words so fast I barely understood them. “So, they’re throwing this big shindig thing and we’re supposed to dress up really nice and go to that big building where they have the fundraisers and stuff. I tried to get out of it, but Mom Two said it was mandatory.”

Mom Two was what Maya called my mother, since she was like her second mother.

“You know the former royals haven’t all been back at the same time in quite a while,” Ezio said as he drove us towards our clan territory. “They’ve all missed you a lot and it’ll mean the world to them if you go.”

“It’s totally fine,” I said with a smile. “I haven’t seen Great Grandpa Dan or Great Nana Kara in months, so it’ll be nice. We can do the club another day.”

Maya squealed again. “I’m honestly excited for tomorrow. Mom Two said she’s going to have all of your favorite foods,which means lots of sweets, too! I hope she remembers the lemon bars.”

“Those are your favorite,” I reminded her with a soft laugh and shake of my head.

“Oh, right,” she said.

Ezio laughed at us, smiling wide. “I’ve missed you two rambunctious girls. It’s been far too quiet without you running around the clan territory.”

I wanted to ask about Kayden, but my pride had me keeping my mouth shut on the topic in case he told Kayden I had asked about him, since I didn’t want him to know I cared still.

“Do you know what your plan is after your break?” Maya asked.

I’d asked my parents to give me a month break after I finished college before sucking me back into royal duties, and they’d agreed without much hesitation. I knew after that one month was up, all bets were off though.

“I’ll have to start pulling my weight as princess,” I answered. “I’m sure they’ll have me take over one of the businesses now that I have a degree in business administration.” Part of the reason I’d opted to go to college was to increase my knowledge to help our clan. We were much smaller in number of members than the others, so it was important that we did all we could to ensure we were monetarily safe.

A thought occurred to me. “Wait, we’re having a party tomorrow when we’re already having a party for my birthday next week?”

Ezio said, “Your birthday party won’t include all the cousins and distant relatives. So, they opted for a party tomorrow to include everyone.”

“Everyone?” I asked softly.

Maya put her hand on top of mine on my lap, sensing my unease.

Ezio arched a brow. “Is there someone you have a problem with that you don’t want to see? Did something happen between you and one of the others?”

If I admitted it was Kayden, he would ask me a billion questions since he was his son. So, instead, I just shook my head and said, “No, just thinking about how many people that will be and how I’m going to get bombarded since I’ve been away for so long.” The distant family hadn’t seen me since I started college six years ago, so they would definitely swamp me with questions.

Ezio didn’t look convinced, but he focused on the road again. “Do you want me as a guard?”

“Ezio, I’m an adult now. I can handle the party. I just know I’m going to get bombarded is all.”

“The offer stands. Remember, everyone had guards during the turbulent times in their adult lives, even your father and mother.” He gave me a look. “So, don’t you, ‘I’m an adult now,’ me, missy.”

Laughing, I said, “Thanks, Ezio. I’ll keep it in mind if I do end up needing a rescue.”

“I’ll be at the party,” he said, “so don’t hesitate to yell for me.”

---