Page 18 of A Royal Arrangement
Charlotte:I’ll have Liam call off the Royal Guard *winking face emoji*
Bridgette:How do we know it’s her? Someone could’ve easily stolen her phone.
Putting on a smile, Rosalie pressed the video call button in the group chat, and each of her friends’ faces began to pop up. Bridgette answered first, her eyes as big as saucers when she saw Rosalie was actually herself.
Charlotte answered next with a squeal. “Liam!” she cried, carrying out the end of his name. “I need to talk to my girls. Rosalie is fine, apparently. She’s just married.”
Rosalie watched as her best friend shooed her husband away before turning back to the camera, smiling.
Finally, Sienna popped on. Her mouth was wide open in a mix of shock and excitement.
“Tell us everything,” Bridgette said, and her other friends nodded along emphatically.
“I saw you all read the news article.” Rosalie ran her hand through her long locks of hair.
“So, you’re married? Like, legit married?” Sienna asked.
She nodded. “Yep. Full-on, legally married to the king of Edgemont.”
Her friends were quiet, expressions of shock and confusion on their faces.
“How did this happen?” Bridgette asked the question Rosalie was sure they were all wondering.
Rosalie went on to explain the whole situation to them, starting with the conversation with her parents on the day of Charlotte and Liam’s coronation and ending with the wedding last night and the disastrous dinner that followed. She didn’t spare any details. Her friends remained quiet the whole time she spoke, taking in her words and letting her speak.
As soon as all the words escaped her lips, Rosalie felt as if a giant weight had lifted from her shoulders. She’d been holding in all her emotions and feelings for the past week. It felt so good to finally share all of it with people who truly had her back and were interested in what she was saying and feeling.
Charlotte broke the silence first. “I don’t even know what to say. I’m so sorry, friend.”
“That’s a lot to take in.” Bridgette blew out a long breath.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Sienna asked.
Rosalie shrugged. “I literally couldn’t talk about it. I knew if I told you all I would break down, and I needed to be strong to get through yesterday.”
“I totally get it, but I hope you know you don’t have to be alone anymore. I’m always going to be here for you.” Charlotte held her hand to her chest and then gestured around. “We’realways going to be here for you.”
“Thank you,” Rosalie said, her throat raw with emotion. “I wish I could chat longer, but I should head down to breakfast with my new husband and stepdaughter.”
“Text us all the updates.” Bridgette gave her a meaningful look.
“Don’t leave anything out,” Sienna added.
Charlotte grinned widely. “We love you, Ro. Give Colin a little bit of time, and I’m sure he’ll come around. How could he not love you?”
All the girls waved goodbye, and she ended the call.
As Rosalie stared out at the ocean, she took Charlotte’s advice to heart. She needed to give Colin a little bit of time and slowly show him who she really was. Hopefully, over time, she would be able to break down the walls he had builtup, and he would be able to adjust to being married again. She would just need to take it one day at a time.
Chapter Six
Colin
In the few days Colin had been married to Rosalie, his schedule had kept him busy. Between taking care of Addie, attending board meetings, and working on plans for upcoming royal events, he’d thankfully had no free time to spend with his newwife. And he was perfectly fine with that.
He ate meals with her and Addie, but luckily, his daughter filled mealtimes with the plethora of questions she had for Rosalie. It was a miracle that Rosalie ever got to finish her meal, the way Addie had her talking nonstop. But she had always been polite, setting down her utensils and patiently answering every question Addie asked, giving his daughter her undivided attention.
The careful way she listened and responded to Addie would be really attractive to him…if he was the kind of person to notice that sort of thing. But he wasn’t. His heart was as blocked off as a highway covered with a thousand cows. There was no way any feelings were slipping through those cracks. Everything was perfect as it was. Addie was getting the motherly figure she deeply needed in her life, and he was getting exactly what he wanted from Rosalie—nothing.
