Page 45 of Royal Bosshole

You're just letting your cock guide you. You’ve only spent one night with her, and you want more.

But no, while that was true in some ways, it wasn’t just that. I watched her sing, watched the love and passion on her face. I knew she’d tunneled so far into my heart, and I was in love with her. It was as simple as that, and there would be no escaping it now. That thought shocked me at first, but then I realized it had been true all along.

Shit. I really did love her.

But I also knew the old phrase that when you loved something, you let it go. If it would help make that thing you loved happier, healthier, safer. I believed that Lily would be all those things without me. So, with one more look at her soft pink lips and bright eyes, I turned away. I took out my phone and called Peter. It probably would have been easier to go inside with him there, but he was working late, and couldn't come that night. He didn't pick up, so I left a voicemail.

“Look, Peter. I know you wanted me to do the strong thing, the right thing. And maybe I still should write her a letter to tell her about her family, but tonight, I can't go in there. Standing on the other side, watching her sing, watching how happy she was that the coffee shop was doing well, I just couldn’t do it. She was smiling and she was happy, and I can't get in the way of that. So, I'm going to go. I'm going to finish everything up with Coffee on the Go and go home. Got to be with my dad anyway. Thanks for everything. Let's get together before I leave.”

I could feel the raindrops increasing, so I waved down a cab just before I got stuck in a downpour like I hadn't seen in ages. As soon as the cab door slammed shut, it fell, and it was kind of strange for this time of year, but it really matched my mood. As the cab drove off, I thought about all the things I'd be leaving behind. I would miss the office because it was nice to work instead of just having the duty of becoming a king on your shoulders. It kept me busy, and it used my mind in ways I hadn't used it before. It also gave me a sense of control when things in my life had spun out of control.

But now I was ready to go home. It would be good to start fresh again. One good thing is that I would be out of Sandy’s sphere of damage. I hadn't said anything to her after I found out what she’d told Lily, so I quickly unblocked her number and typed out a message.

Hey, Sandy. I found out what you said to Lily about me being the prince and that I had to marry the lost princess. I should never have told you any of that because so often people like to use things against you for their own gain. I wanted to be angry at you for sharing my secret. But instead, you helped me do the right thing. I can see now what kind of man I was. I don't want anything else between us, Sandy, but I do apologize if I've ever hurt you. I wish you all the luck in the world.

James.

I sent the text and then I blocked her number again. This was good. This was a plan. I had a way forward. Lily would be happy, and my father would be happy to see me again. He would just have to understand that Lenovia was going to have to be annexed. I could never force someone to be with me after I knew what love was. I also couldn't marry someone who didn’t love me just for the sake of my country.

And that was a realization that shocked me sideways.

CHAPTER19

LILY

A few dayslater

I woke up in bed and stretched. I honestly loved that I didn't have to go into an office anymore, but I was sad that I wouldn't get a chance to see my coworkers anymore. We'd had a good time together and they'd given me that confidence boost I needed. I realized how low I’d felt for the past few months being unable to pay the rent and being unable to eat properly.

I felt so much better now that things were slowly going my way. The karaoke night at the coffee shop had boosted business like crazy in the past week. We earned tons of money to be able to make improvements, and I'd been able to pay April back. However, she'd refused the money, of course.

Jen was already on planning the next event. My singing that night had gotten a huge round of applause, and April and Stevie hugged me with tears in their eyes.

“Oh my God,” Stevie had said. “You were incredible.”

April had told me, “I have chills.”

So, over the past week, I gained the courage to put my latest song, “Cold-Hearted Prince,” up on Spotify. And in the first week, it made double the amount of money I used to make in a month. Things were going well, better than I ever thought they would. But as I got out of bed, there was still this big chunk of heavy sadness weighing me down.

James. I missed James. Had he not come to the karaoke night because he was an asshole? Or had he not come because I had yelled so much at him about never wanting to see him again? I meant it in that moment, but now I felt so unfinished. And sometimes I secretly wished he would come around so we could fix whatever it was that had opened between us. It felt like I couldn't put it aside until we did that, but I knew it was probably a bad idea.

“Happy birthday!” Stevie and April sang as they burst into the door.

Stevie had a tray in her hands, and April was clapping and singing.

Shit. It’s my birthday. I can’t believe I forgot my birthday.

“Whoa, thanks, guys. This is the luxury treatment,” I sat up in bed.

“Of course, why not?” Stevie placed the tray in front of me, and she hurried back to the door and picked up an ice bucket with a bottle of champagne in it. “You deserve it. You have been killing it lately. And we're so proud of you, and we wanted to say happy twenty-sixth!”

“Thank you. Please say you’ll sit and drink mimosas with me.”

“Of course. I wouldn't let you drink the champagne all by yourself! And April’s brought her own alcohol-free champagne.”

“I'm going to get the glasses,” April said, rushing off to the kitchen.

“Hey, I think we need to go out tonight and party hard. What do you say?” Stevie asked.

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