I can already predict their responses. Whether she makes it obvious or not, Maren will be judgmental about his age, and Nathaniel will preach caution since he’s a professional athlete with constant offers—some of which have apparently been coming from my younger sister.
Despite all that, they’ll stand beside me or behind me tonight. Because that’s what we do. As kids, we were often united subtly or forcefully against our parents, and as adults, we come together when we need to against anyone and anything.
Now I just have to figure out what to wear. Maybe a little more subdued than normal to slip under the radar when we arrive together.
Logan knocks on my door at the time we’re supposed to be arriving at the cocktail party. An earlier pickup time was supposed to mean we’d be at the palace before everyone else. I told him I needed to help Maren set up, but that was a lie. My timing equated to less people and less general fuss. It’s believable that Logan would have a soft spot for animals, and since we know each other, would spend time talking at the event. Arriving together with a bigger audience is a whole other vibe.
“You’re late,” I say, opening the door in a whoosh.
“Coach Keller called an emergency meeting, so this was the earliest I could escape.”
“About what?” I skim over the way his tux looks custom-made, just for him. In clothes or out of clothes, there is something about this man that makes me constantly—not just ready and willing—but almost silently begging for it. I don’t know if he can sense my immediate response, but my body is humming.
“I was expecting hot pink or electric blue not dusty rose.” He gestures to my dress. “You look gorgeous, obviously, and it’s you… It’s pretty.”
“But?” I ask as he opens the car door for me.
“Feels like someone hit the mute button,” he says with a little shrug.
“It’s an old dress.” Not that old, but putting it on made me uncomfortable for all kinds of reasons.
“Younger Sawyer didn’t want the attention?” He follows me into the car and shuts the door.
“Is everything okay with the team?” I ask.
“I think so?” He sighs and settles deeper into the seat. “King Alexander is stepping down as one of the key team liaisons, and Coach Keller thought I should know. Someone else from the Advisory Council will be stepping in.”
“Who?”
“Coach Keller didn’t know yet. You don’t know anything?”
“Haven’t heard.” Which is annoying. Alex and my father are two of the reasons I even agreed to do this role with Logan. So far, that choice was a good one, but I’m pissed they’ve left me out of the loop. “My sister, Maren, will know.”
“Sheismarried to one of the princes. A little inside knowledge.”
“I don’t think Brice is technically a prince anymore. Or at very least he’s really far down the line of succession with Alex and Nick having babies.”
“My knowledge of the royal family is still at almost zero.”
“Not feeling competitive about that information, huh?”
“If you took me to a quiz competition and I needed to know them to win, I’d learn everything I could better than anyone on this island. No question. Otherwise, knowing any of it is a waste of my time.”
“Your competitive spirit is unmatched.”
“If I can outwork them to outplay them, I’ll do it every time for anything and everything.”
I’m tempted to ask him who he had to work with to learn all the skills he’s shown me, but I’m fairly certain that’s information I’d rather not know. Professional athletes are never short of volunteers.
“Would you ever cheat to win?”
“Cheating—in any way—is a loser’s game. Not my style.” He settles his hand on my thigh and gives me a little squeeze.
Sometimes, it’s like he can read my thoughts, which is both comforting and scary.
The car pulls up to the palace where the biggest cocktail evenings always happen, and I take a deep breath when Logan’s driver opens the door. Logan steps out first, and when he holds out a hand for me to follow, I hesitate.
Might be a bad idea, but we’re here now. I take his hand and step out. Cameras click, click, click, and I briefly wonder if Imade the decision to attend with Logan in a misguided sex haze. I try not to analyze this choice too deeply, since it’s done now.
