“Do you think Lucy wrote this?” I question again.
“Just ask her.” Anders shuffles into the room, already dressed in a suit while I still sport my sweaty workout clothes from my morning run.
“Want me to do it for you?” Gabriel follows Anders out. “You said Lucy was into me, right? I will happily talk to the pretty, bubbly redhead.”
“This house is getting too crowded,” I mumble loudly enough for everyone to hear me.
Mason pops to his feet and stretches. “Well, I’ll be out of here in two and a half months and living it up with my wife in Nashville. Thank goodness Hadley decided to open a store there. I don’t think I could have handled going between here and Nashville for much longer.”
“Try going between here and Korsa.”
Anders and Gabriel nod in agreement.
Mason claps me on the back again.Why are American men like this?“Go get Lorelei to fall in love with you and then whisk her away.” His face grows solemn. “But promise me we will stay in touch.”
The sincerity in his voice tugs at my heart. “Of course, Mason. In fact, I’ll have you play at my coronation.”
Anders audibly gasps.
“Country twang at your coronation?” Gabriel asks with a bewildered expression.
I grin at my PPOs. “Yep. I have to show the country just where half my heart now resides.”
As the words leave my mouth, I know they’re true. I’ve traveled the world, but no place has captured my soul like this little town.
Or the woman who calls it home.
Lucy’s Journal
Friday, March 19th - 9:21 am – In my bed still rocking morning breath
Idid it. I gave up my prince. God, is this what You wanted? To tease me with actual royalty and then rip it away from me? Ugh. I’m sorry. I can’t blame You. Your plan is perfect and good and… Well, God. I’m struggling to actually believe that if I’m being honest. I’m so happy for my sister. Truly. She deserves everything that is good plus some. I’m happy I can help her for once. I’m happy I can serve her adequately for once. But I’m still hurting. I crave a happily ever after. I crave the comforting arms of a man—of a true love. I dream up these worlds and romances, but I don’t have one for myself. When will it be my turn? Oh, God… I know I sound so selfish right now. My heart aches, though. The pain of loneliness runs so deep in my veins. I can’t admit this out loud to anyone. I can only bring it to You. I can only ask You to fill me up. Please, God… fill me up. Make this hurt go away. Help me to look outward more. Oh! Gabriel just messaged me. THANK YOU, GOD.
Chapter Eleven
Lorelei
Ialmost became an only child this morning.
When Lucy snatched my phone out of my hand to reply to Finley, I croaked.Stupid me for asking my bold, romance-loving, senseless twin for advice.
As if I wasn’t tired enough from waiting up for Lucy to return home, Finley just had to go and state his intentions (ahem—date for marriage!!!) towards me. He just had to present me with a perfect flower crown that I couldn’t even enjoy because hypoglycemia had to attack. And finally, Crown Prince Finley Andersson justhadto make not one, not two, butthreeappearances in the short few hours I actually got some shut-eye last night.
So when he messaged me this morning, I was groggy, confused, and experiencing a feeling I don’t think I’ve ever known before, especially after reading he apparently wants kids. When I described the lightness in my bones and the cloudiness of my head and the irrational beating of my heart after reading his text, Lucy emphatically informed me that I was falling in love.
Love.
I told her people shouldn’t fall in love. That love should be comfort and safety and peace. Not this… weak-in-the-bones, racing heart, cloudy head confusing mess.
She smirked and told me that people stumble into love in all sorts of ways. Sometimes it's calm, collected, and sure, but sometimes it’s hot, messy, and leaves your head spinning.
I’d picked option number one, but she said I didn’t get a choice.
But that’s beside the point.
I’mnotfalling in love with Finley Andersson.
No matter what type of love it looks like.
