“I care because if you’re risking your life for someone’s affection, I think you deserve for them to at least know you,” Teddy said.
“Don’t pretend to care and don’t judge him. You don’t know what we have.”
Teddy smirked in an annoying, self-satisfied way. “But I know he should have sent you daisies.”
Stella almost stumbled. “How do you know that?”
He didn’t meet her eye as he spoke. “Your father used to bring you bunches of them from the royal gardens when you were homesick over the winter holidays.”
“That’s quite a memory you have.”
“A prince and warrior must be observant.”
Stella struggled to swallow the lump in her throat. Not all princes, it seemed.
Teddy finally looked at her and arched a brow.
She didn’t like his prodding. Didn’t like that it felt as if he could see how she’d waited in front of the garden windows, certain Arden would appear at any moment.
“He will come,”she’d said to Rosie. And Rosie had smiled because she was patient and kind and thought the best of everyone.
Though her sister’s optimism often drove Stella mad, she was grateful for it then.
Stella shoved the memory out of her head and glared at Teddy. “He will show up. He always does, in time.”
“But should you have to wait?”
“Does Grace wait for you?” She wanted so badly to deflect away from this. She hadn’t had much to drink because of the blood loss and because she was already feeling bad enough about herself without adding alcohol. Now she wished for the oblivion of a tall glass of whiskey.
Teddy smirked. “Not anymore, but she did. And I waited for her. She takes forever to get ready.”
Stella laughed. That was the truth. She’d never met anyone as meticulous about her appearance as Grace.
“It should be that way. Compromise means you both have to wait sometimes,” Teddy said.
Stella tried to think of a time when Arden had waited for her, but he had so many more demands on his time than she did. It never feltfair to waste his time. It wasn’t difficult to make herself available when she had so little else going on.
Her anger flared at Teddy’s scrutiny. “You don’t know what Arden is to me. I may tease you, but I would never doubt your devotion to Grace. I’ve seen it enough.”
His face fell. “But I guess you’d doubt her devotion to me.”
Stella sighed. “I wouldn’t have before today. She came to speak with me.”
Teddy whipped his head around to look at her and nearly fell over. Stella pulled his arm over her shoulder and wrapped hers around his waist.
“What did she say to you?” he asked.
“I imagine about the same thing she said to you that has you this drunk.”
“I’m not drunk. I’m just not sober, strictly speaking.”
Stella laughed. “Honestly, this version of you is preferable. Perhaps we should make this your new baseline.”
He yanked out of her grip. “This is none of your business. How did you even find me?”
Stella held her hands up. “I’m sorry. For what it’s worth, I was as shocked as you seem to be. I didn’t have the heart to say no to her either.”
Teddy looked away and ran a hand through his hair, leaving the dark strands sticking out in all directions.
