She tilts her head. “Something in a good way or bad way? Sorry, I can’t tell.”
“Don’t be sorry.” I take her hands in mine. “Something in the best way. Waking up to your hair in my mouth and suffocating me is the absolute highlight of my existence. And I mean that with zero sarcasm. You can suffocate me every morning.”
She rolls her eyes. And after taking a deep breath, she gently pulls her hands away from me and combs her fingers through her hair before taking the black ponytail holder on her wrist and whipping the frizzy mess into a bun on top of her head. “We should get ready to head back. The trail will be more difficult due to the storm last night.”
“We’ll make it to the end. Together.”
She smiles softly, a certain calmness to her being that wasn’t present yesterday. “Hopefully so.”
“Lorelei, I have to ask. Did you truly mean what you said last night? That you are going to try with me? We won’t get back to Juniper Grove and you’ll disappear?” This moment feels too much like a fever dream; my overthinking brain is a smidge worried.
She stands and holds out her hand to me. I take it as she hoists me. The petite woman is stronger than she looks. “I meant it. I don’t make decisions lightly and unless I’m positive. I also don’t say things I don’t mean.”
“I’m learning to trust that. So many women have led me on in the past, so please forgive my hesitancy.”
“Why don’t you tell me more about your fears as we pack up? You learned about mine last night, and I would like to know yours. I’m going to change real quick.” She motions for me to turn around, so I do.
“I’ve dated a lot, as you already know. I’ve always been a hopeless romantic, like your sister. I didn’t want to get married just to get married or to unite countries or for simple convenience. I wanted to marry for love, and the only way to find that love was to search for it. It was easy for me to get dates. I am a prince, after all. But I quickly learned many women will use a person for their own gain.”
Her bag zipper sounds in the background. “I’m listening,” she says, prompting me on. I stare out of the side of the tent, able to see shadows from the sun reflecting off the red fabric.
“Mamma has been pressuring me to marry Her Royal Highness Princess Karin of Vespen, a neighboring and friendly country of ours. She believes Karin is perfect for me and that a union between us would be beneficial to both countries. I, however, do not think Karin is good for me. She’s conceited, materialistic, and demanding. She suffocates me when I’m home or visiting Vespen for state affairs. I don’t love her and I wouldn’t choose to love her.”
Silence ensues for a moment. “I’m done,” Lorelei says, and I turn around. She wears a new pair of black leggings, an olive greenathletic shirt, and white ankle socks that will be brown by the end of this hike. She maneuvers to my corner and sits, motioning me to go ahead and change. “Do you think your mother will accept a commoner?”
Like mehangs between us.
“She will,” I reassure her as I grab my bag. “Mamma loves me dearly. She loves me so much that she wants to control my happiness to make sure I am happy, but I’ve learned how to stand up for myself and say no where I need to. She respects my decisions even if it takes her a while to come around.”
I strip my clothes and slip into new black joggers and a heather gray t-shirt with our family crest on it. I continue, “Father is already overjoyed that I’ve found you. And yes, I’ve talked to them about you. As Lucy and Lorelei. They know about the switch. I don’t really keep secrets from my family.”
“I like that about you,” Lorelei says. “It killed me pretending to be Lucy and hiding that fact from everyone. Including you.”
“I understand why you did it. It wasn’t your secret, but your sister’s. You love her deeply and wanted to protect her.”
Lorelei sighs. “Yes.”
“I’m ready,” I say, shoving my folded night clothes into my backpack. She stands and examines the tent, then sets to rolling up the sleeping bags. Both of ours. Like we are truly a couple.
Which I guess we are now. The thought warms my soul, and inexplicable joy encompasses me.
“Lorelei,” I say her name in a whispered breath, take two long strides, spin her around, and wrap her in my arms, holding her tightly against me. After a moment, her hands come to rest onmy hips, then she slides them around and up my back until she’s squeezing me in a sturdy embrace. I’m already so in love with her, and I don’t know what to do with myself.
She breaks free and pulls back, so I let her, my hands moving to grasp her forearms as she does the same. She’s smiling wide with a sparkle in her hazel eyes. “We should get going, Finley.”
“Right. I just can’t seem to let you go. Physical touch is my love language, just so you are aware.”
“Of course the man I end up with enjoys physical touch.” She laughs, dropping her hands. Then she twists her lips. “I don’t know what my love language is…”
“We can try to figure it out on the way back.”
“Agreed,” she says with a firm nod of her head. “But first. Food.”
“I’m so sorry, Lorelei. I don’t know how this happened.”
A helicopter hovers above us, trying to get as low as possible without hitting the trees. I know it’s Gabriel and Anders, but I don’t know why they are here as we have zero phone service out here. I trust them, though, so as they toss a long rope ladder down, I begin to mentally prepare to climb it.
“Finley, I don’t think I can do this.” The quiver in Lorelei’s voice tightens my chest. I wish I could snap my fingers and get us up this rope, but it’s not going to be that easy. She has herbelongings at her feet and is pressing her hands against her ears as if she’s attempting to pop her head open with pressure.
