Page 127 of Loyally, Luke
Luke shot him a grin. “I wouldn’t wish for another opportunity anytime soon, but it was the right thing to do for El—for the princess.” He looked away as heat rose up his neck at his near-blunder. “And, well, we muster up the courage to do a lot of crazy things for the people we—for those who need it, don’t we?”
“Indeed, sir.” A glint lit Jackson’s eyes. “Indeed we do.”
Text from Izzy to Luke:YOU. WERE. AMAZING! No one would have known you were nervous at all.
Luke:I had to change my shirt afterward because I’d sweated through it.
Izzy:Well, you couldn’t tell from the television screen. Truly. You seemed pretty calm, except that one time you stared down some guy. No one else probably knew that look, but I did and it’s terrifying. I loved it when you used it on Arnold Cramer during my senior year. Nobody tried to break into my locker after that.
Luke:Why hasn’t it ever worked on Penelope?
Izzy:She knows you have a soft heart, so she’s immune to the Rambo “kill you” look.
Luke:I hope meeting with the press helps people see the truth. That’s all that matters to me.
Izzy:I wish you could see her again. Just one more time maybe.
Luke:Yeah. I’d like that too. I hate the feeling of not being able to fix this. I’m not a native. I’m not on the “princess list,” so to speak. So... I just have to let go.
Izzy:One of the hardest things for a fixer to ever do.
Luke:Now stop worrying about me and finish all those wedding plans. You’ve only got a little over a week left. I may not be a fan of Hallmark movies, but I sure am a fan of happily ever after for the people I love.
Izzy:Aww, that may be one of the sweetest and non-Luke-ish things you’ve ever said.
Luke:Thus the reason I said it to you and not Penelope. I don’t think I could handle the reminders.
Luke:Or the dozens of movie links, quotes, or memes she’d send me afterward.
Izzy:Do you want to head down to Fiacla with Brodie and me this afternoon? Penelope, Matt, and Iris are set to arrive at the airport in the next hour and we were planning to go out to dinner before they crashed. We can celebrate your media success!
Luke:I’d love to, but I can’t. Gordon messaged me last night and said that he found a few unfinished things he wanted me to check back in Crieff today. He suggested I just stay the night over there. Could we meet another night this week?
Izzy:Sure. But I can’t imagine you leaving anything unfinished. Unless it’s a certain relationship with a princess.
Luke:Touché. But I’d like to say we both came to a mutual understanding that made sense for both of us and our futures.
Izzy:Yeah, sounds like there’s a whole lot of “unfinished” in the middle of that sentence.
Luke:I’d love to continue to rehash my love life, but Gordon wanted me in Crieff by four, and I’m already running a little late because of just getting back from the press conference. Need to get a quick shower and be off. In fact, I might even use the excuse of trimming my beard to get out of this conversation.
Izzy:You’re hilarious. We won’t know you’re getting married until the day before it happens from the amount of information you share.
Luke:Not true. Mostly. Now get back to your own love life and wedding planning and leave me alone.
Izzy:Fine, but one more thing... are you still planning to pick up Josephine and the fam from the airport on Tuesday? I have my last dress fitting.
Luke:Yep. On my calendar.
Izzy:You have a calendar now?
Luke:The one I keep in my head.
Izzy:Right. Fantastic. I feel so much better now.
Luke:Have I ever failed you with it?
Izzy:Touché right back atcha. Wednesday is still when we’re all getting together to make wedding decorations. Don’t forget.
