Page 8 of Prince Charmless
“Yeah, I remember him being around the estate ever since I was little. His mom was good friends with my parents.”
Estate. That would be nicer than my one-bed apartment above a dry cleaner. I don’t even know what a dry cleaner does besides exist to be a place for me to live on top of.
“I actually asked him out once, funnily enough.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, but he’s four years older than me, so I probably still looked like a kid to him way back then. One of my more cringeworthy moments in life.” The bartender hands me my glass of wine, and she clinks her drink with mine. “Here’s to dodging the bullet. I don’t know if you’ve talked with him much, but he’s kind of an ass.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean,” I concur.
“And I think he could be gay, anyways.”
I stop twirling my glass stem. “I didn’t know that.” Although I’ve heard the gossip. The royal family is a remnant of St. Claire’s antiquated government system, and their position is mainly ceremonial. However, I don’t think the ancient monarchy rule book accounts for that situation.
An arm swings around my shoulders. Julien’s smile is crooked and lazy. “Nice toast, Mel. I liked your Taylor joke.”
Is he intoxicated already? The reception just started.
“You meanyourTaylor joke.” I shimmy his arm off me. “Everyone seems to like it.”
Except for Taylor.
“What do you mean?” He spots his sister’s drink and takes a sip of it, to her annoyance.
“You wrote that joke in the margins, remember?” He can’t bethatdrunk. I pull out the speech and open it for him.
He laughs and points at the paper. “I didnotwrite that.”
Oh God. I look past Julien to see Taylor sipping champagne amongst the Thibeaux family. Why did I think telling a joke involving his dead mother’s necklace would be a good idea? Look at him, drinking away his sorrows.
“Who wrote it then?”
Julien shrugs. “Maybe the twins?”
Could they have seen it left on the vanity? A large pit sinks into my stomach. I’m not the biggest fan of Taylor, but who am I to trudge up old memories?
“You look like a ghost,” Julien says. “Here, drink your booze.” He shoves the wine glass into my face before I set it back down. “It’s a wedding, Melina, don’t look so sad. Do you need someone to dance with?”
“I’m not in the mood for—”
“Taylor!” Julien sloppily waves his hand toward the Prince. “I’ll ask if he’s interested,” he feels the need to tell me in a whisper.
“Julien, no,” I plead through my teeth, but he’s already walking towards the table. To my horror, the friends start to converse. What the hell is Julien saying to him?
They both turn to me. I mantra expletives under my breath as Taylor strides toward my direction. He’s coming to scold me. I’m certain of it. Who am I to make jokes about things I know nothing about?
Before he opens his mouth, I explain, “Listen, I shouldn’t have said that during the toast. That was too far.”
He tilts his head. “What are you talking about?”
“The joke about you. I think the twins wrote it. I’m so sorry.”
“Melina,Iwrote the joke.”
Huh?Now, I’m the one tilting my head.
“I was the one who gave you back the paper, remember?”
