“Sour note,” Tessa says, sucking in some air.
“Righto. I wouldn’t say it was so much sour as extremely awkward. I mean, I’m not mad at him,at all. And he’s totally cool with what I said, too. If anything, I needed to come to terms with how poorlyIhad behaved.”
“How mature of you,” she says sarcastically.
“Okay, between you and me, hearing myself described as a waste of air wasn’t exactly a welcome experience. But he really didn’t know me at the time, and it’s not like I had very positive feelings for him when we first met.”
“True, it was pretty much even as far as nasty insults went.”
I let out a long sigh. “I wish we’d never filmed that show.”
“If you hadn’t, you wouldn’t have fallen in love.”
“Good point.”
Tessa stops walking and turns to me. “Listen, this whole thing is going to be a challenge for you to get through, but if you can do it, you two’ll be golden.”
“Keep it moving, Your Highness,” Xavier says.
Tessa drops to the ground. “Just need to tie my—”
“I’m not buying the shoelace thing again.”
“Damn,” she says, straightening up and picking up the pace.
“It’s all so complicated, you know? I mean, trying to make it work with such different backgrounds and lifestyles. And it’s not like he’s going to get Father’s blessing. Or Arthur’s, for that matter. He was completely pissed at him last night and that wasbeforethe show aired.”
“Listen, if Arthur and I could make it work, anyone can. Just think of all the horrible things I wrote about him and, well, the entire family, really. We’ve all gotten past that long ago.”
“Yes, we have,” I say, even though her awful words pop into my mind without my permission.Inbred leeches. Useless drains on society. “What you wrote about us was far worse than what Will said.”
“Exactly. And if you managed to forgive me and found it in your heart to welcome me into the family, your father and Arthur can do the same with Will. It’ll just take some time.”
“Yes, you’re probably right,” I say, even though she’s completely wrong. It’s one thing for me to have forgiven Tessa, but I’m a total softie, whereas Arthur is like a stone wall when it comes to anyone hurting his family. Will would have to do something monumental to win him over.
“Be patient. Let the show wrap up, then we can get everyone together again for a do-over,” she says. “But in the meantime, I’ll be sure to distract Arthur every Thursday night.”
“Brilliant, thank you,” I say, feeling briefly grateful before I go right back to feeling like an idiot. “Honestly, why did I think watching the show together would be a good idea?”
“Not sure, really,” Tessa answers.
“It’s because you’re proud of Will,” Xavier says, strolling along beside us. “And you love him, which caused you to forget all about how much you two hated each other when you first met.”
And I thought Will was a know-it-all. He’s got nothing on the manny. Although, now that I let his words sink in a bit, I realize he’s right, and I actually do feel slightly less stupid about the whole thing. “Thanks, Xav.”
“No problem, Your Highness,” he says. “Now, pick up the pace, you two. We’re heading into a ninety-second burst at level eight exertion. That’s where the real fat burning happens.”
Tessa’s shoulders drop as she starts to run faster. “I should just pretend I’m sick and make Arthur go on his own to England.”
“Or you should realize you’re absolutely beautiful the way you are,” I say.
“Nope, both bad options,” Xavier says. “You set a goal, Princess Tessa. Don’t fail yourself now. Not when you’re so close.”
“I hate him sometimes,” she mutters to me.
Xavier interjects with, “No you don’t. You just hate being held accountable to yourself.”
“Do you have to be rightall the time?” she pants as she kicks it into high gear.
