“Actually, I came here to give you this,” I said, handing him a sheet of paper. He took it, glancing it over, his eyes widening.
“You’re quitting?”
“That’s my letter of resignation, yes. Normally I would give you two weeks’ notice, but since I wasn’t supposed to be back until after the new year anyway, let’s consider this my final date of employment.”
Chad’s brows furrowed. “What are you going to do?”
I knew it would probably take a few months to get hired and onboarded for any of the curatorial positions I had bookmarked, so I had decided to apply as an instructor at one of those “wine and paint” places in the meantime. It would tide me over until I could get in at a museum and might even be pretty fun.
Not that I felt like I needed to share any of that with Chad.
“I have a plan and for the first time in a long time, I feel really good about it.”
Chad grunted as I said my goodbyes and cleaned out my locker.
Back at Sam’s, I was deep into the process offilling out job applications, early 2000s Matchbox Twenty playing on Spotify, when there was a knock at the door.
I paused the music, setting aside my laptop as I stood. I hadn’t realized how long I had been sitting and working, and I stretched as I absentmindedly peered out the peephole.
My heart instantly started hammering in my chest as I recognized the chiseled jaw and blond hair of the man outside Sam’s door: Oliver.
“Can I come in?”
I stood in the doorway to Sam’s apartment, my jaw slack in disbelief. I was pretty sure a few minutes had passed since I had opened the door, but I still hadn’t said a word.
I nodded, stepping back to let him in. I peeked into the hall as I closed the door, noting the black-clad bodyguard posted near the elevator. I could only assume there was at least one more in the lobby and possibly a third just outside the building.
Oliver shrugged off his coat and I motioned toward the hook by the door. He hung up his coat and followed me to the kitchen.
“Wine?” I asked. It was the first word I had spoken to him since our argument at Lexington Manor.
“You’re offering?” he asked, his eyebrow raised.
I huffed a laugh. “I guess I am,” I said as I grabbed a bottle of rosé from the fridge and poured us each a glass.
I handed him a glass and took a sip from my own, leaning against the fridge and silently appraising the prince now seated on the barstool in front of me.
“I’m sure you’re wondering what I’m doing here,” he said.
I raised my eyebrow in ayeah, duhgesture.
Oliver laughed. “Okay, sure. I deserved that.” He took a breath and set his glass down on the counter. “Birdie, I’m here for a lot of reasons, but the first is to apologize to you. I know you were ignoring my texts, and rightfully so, but I hope you’ll hear me out now that I’m here.”
I nodded for him to continue.
“I was wrong. I meddled and I overstepped. I should have just talked to you and Knox instead of trying to set you both up behind your backs. It wasn’t right and I can see now how much it hurt both of you—two people I care about so deeply. For that I am so very sorry. I hope you can forgive me someday.”
I swallowed, taking in the man before me, remorse written on his face. I may not have fallen in love with Oliver, but I had certainly come to think of him as a friend, and seeing the shame he held in his body broke through my icy front.
I moved to the stool next to him, setting down my wine and taking his hands in my own.
“Oliver, you don’t need to apologize. Well, maybe a little, but I know your heart was always in the right place. I’ve recently had something of a wake-up call and you’re right: I did love Knox.Dolove Knox; I was just too scared to admit it. I’m not sure I would have been able to admit it without your interference, so I should probably be thanking you.” I laughed through my nose as I squeezed Oliver’s hands. “But I should also apologize to you. I said some pretty hateful things to you that night, and I was way out of line. I don’t know anything about being royal or in line for the throne, and the way you do or don’t handle what life has thrown at you is none of my business. You’re doing a great job. I hope you know that.”
Oliver’s mouth lifted into a half smile as he squeezed my hands in return. “You were right on most of it. And it really made me question if being king is what I want. I mean, I never had to think too much about it as a kid, since all the focus wason preparing Xavier for the throne. Him abdicating was the last thing any of us expected, so I really was thrust into all of this without any warning.
“But the more I considered it, the more I realized that Idowant to be king—I’m not exactly sure what my reign will look like but I do know I need to, as you put it, ‘buck the fuck up’ for future royal generations and the people I love and serve. I know that I want to change things for the better, and while that may take a little time, I want my legacy to show that I helped those who came after me. I never want anyone else in this predicament. I may not be able to change things for myself, but I can make sure that my children—or Rosie, should the worst happen—are free to make their own choices about marriage.”
I smiled at him, at the prince who had become a true king almost right before my eyes. “I’m proud of you.”
