“Yes, and you’re welcome. You’re atten thousandfollowers and climbing.”
Daffy tapped on the screen. “Oh my gosh, Les, you put down the location? The Captain’s Hideaway.I’m deleting this.”
“Why wouldn’t I put down the location? What great promo for the owner. It’s on my Instagram too.”
“Except she doesn’t want that kind of promo.” Gus started for the door. He’d had enough. Besides, he must warn Helene. “Hear this, the lot of you, and make no mistake.Leave me alone.All of you.” He pointed to Daffy. “Especiallyyou.”
This betrayal, innocent or not, called to those of days gone by. He didn’t like it. Not one bit. But at the moment he seemed powerless to move beyond them. They still ached deep in his bones.
Was he so unworthy of loyalty? Of friendship? Of any devotion?
Down the beach, he dialed Helene. “Brace yourself but—”
“Prince Gus, wait. Please.”
He swung round to see Daffy racing toward him. “I’ll call you back. But it’s out. My identity.”
“Please, sir, don’t be angry.” Daffy skirted alongside him. “I don’t know why I blush. It’s silly really. I never took it seriously. Thought it a joke. I never imagined Leslie Ann would stalk you at your job.”
“But you doblush?When you’re around me?” He gazed into her eyes and thought how a man could get lost in the white and the blue under the shade of long dark lashes.
She stepped back, hands to her face. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
He lowered one of her hands. “Did you know you’re blushing now?” He leaned for a closer inspection. “A very bright red.”
“I just ran down the beach after you burst into my house and accused me of betrayal. Of course, I’m blushing.”
“Daffy?”
“Yes. All right! I blush, but I don’t know why. I can’t stop it. It’s embarrassing. And if you want to blame someone, blame my little sister. She’s the one who gave me away.”
“You can’t possibly have a crush on me. Not after all these years.”
“Of course not. I have a boyfriend. Thomas Dune.”
“Do you blush around him?”
She paused, her brow furrowing as she considered his question. “I don’t know.” She covered a low laugh with her fingers. “I suppose I should, but I don’t.”
Standing next to her, his home world connected to hisnowworld and he felt hope, of all things, and an eagerness to return to Lauchtenland.
“Well, then, I’m sorry about back there. It’s just betrayal… It feels so—”
“Painful? I understand. Believe me.”
“You don’t have to be so kind to me, Daffy.”
“Why not? You’re trying to apologize.”
Gus watched the waves for a second. “I don’t blush around you, but I had a crush on you.”
“Really? You never said.”
“During my pudgy prince days. You were the cute girl who beat me in a foot race.”
“One time, and only because you fell.”
“I seem to remember several times.” The tension he’d carried from his place to hers began to evaporate. He kicked at the sand and let the wind comb through his hair. “So are you and this Thomas serious?”
