Page 78 of Loyally, Luke
The man’s lips twitched. “I already delivered her to her father at the hotel, at which time they sent me to collect you.”
Luke studied the passing scenery outside. All familiar. They weren’t headed anywhere he didn’t recognize just yet.
Cameron still held a small smile on his face, so Luke leaned forward. “You volunteered to collect me, didn’t you?”
“I dinna what you mean.”
“Right.” Luke shook his head slowly from side to side. “You didn’t enjoy picking me up in this vehicle like I was some James Bond villain getting ready to die.”
Cameron’s grin took a wider tilt. “Concern you a wee bit, did it?”
“Let’s just say I checked if the doors were locked when you started driving.”
“You’re a guest of the royal family. You’re safe.” Then Cameron chuckled. “But I dinna mind getting you back a little for hitting me in the mouth.”
Luke relaxed back into the seat, fighting a smile. “We can call it even then?”
“Aye, we can.”
***
Text from Penelope to Luke:How did dinner go?
Luke:Do you remember everything?
Penelope:Only when it involves royals and you having dinner with them. (And movie/musical things. And all things Matt and Iris.) If you didn’t want me to remember, you shouldn’t have told me on the phone yesterday.
Luke:You’re right. A moment of weakness.
Penelope:I think it was more like bragging rights. You’re always weaker when you know you can hold something over my head. I’ve learned to take advantage of it instead of getting frustrated.
Luke:I didn’t realize how annoying superpowers could be until this moment. Yours are.
Penelope:Thanks. So... did you share all your vast knowledge about rescuing lost boys like a veritable Peter Pan? Hmm, you’re mischievous and sometimes act like a twelve-year-old boy, but I’m not sure you’d really strike me as the Peter Pan type. Maybe more like Captain Hook sometimes.
Luke:I was actually going for Smee.
Penelope:Ha ha. You’re too cute to be a Smee.
Luke:Calling a man cute is like stabbing him in the stomach so that he bleeds out slowly.
Penelope:Gross. Now you’re trying to distract me from the point of the texts. How did things go with THE KING??!!!
Luke:Fine. He was nice. Not very kingly, if you ask me. Too down-to-earth. Maybe he was a doppelganger.
Penelope:Grace Kelly would have known if he was.
Luke:He seemed to like what I had to say. Asked me to present it to some board of directors he and Ellie work with, who are over all the orphanages of Skymar. I think I’ll just type something up and give it to Ellie to present. I’m not much of a presenter.
Penelope:You can do it! It would mean more coming from you, Luke. You’ve done the work firsthand.
Penelope:I know you read what I typed! You’re not a middle schooler anymore who is being teased about the way you talk! You’re wayyyyy beyond that. You even taught Sunday school! That can be the hardest crowd of all!!
Luke:It was high school boys.
Penelope:My point still holds.
Penelope:Just remember, you are braver than you think. I’ve seen your closet.
