“I wanted to chat with you about the second leg of the tour next week,” I said, changing the subject.
“Oh?”
The following week was set to kick off the next stage of our coronation tour with a whirlwind lineup of visits to several of our ally countries. Most of the visits would last only a couple of days, just enough time to meet with each country’s leaders and attend a state dinner.
“One of my friends from prep school is Anton Bernard. He plays for Real Madrid,” I started.
Adelaide laughed. “I might not be a Sporty Spice, but even I know who Anton Bernard is, Ollie. I think he might be the most famous Wexstonian after…well, you.”
I held my hands up in a placating gesture. “All right, all right, I didn’t want to assume!” I chuckled. “Anyway, he heard that we are going to be in Madrid and invited us to their home game against Bayern Munich. It’s the evening after our dinner with the prime minister and his wife. I know it’s at the end of the tour, and we’ll be tired from all the travel and probably ready to get home, but?—”
“Yes. I think that sounds great.”
“Really?” I had hoped she would say yes, but didn’t think it would particularly interest her. I was excited to see my old friend, though, and always loved a good football match.
“Of course. I know how much you enjoy the game, and it’ll be nice for you to see a friend play.”
I suppressed a grin at the way she had nearly read my mind. “Thank you. I’ll call Anton tomorrow and get it arranged.” I stood, replacing the lid on the tray and gathering it up. “I should run this back down to the kitchen and get to bed. I’m sure your book is calling to you, anyway.” I smirked toward Adelaide’s bedroom.
She grinned sheepishly. “Guilty as charged.”
“Is now a good time to admit to you that I’ve never actuallybeento a football match?” Adelaide whispered to me as we entered the hospitality suite at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
I chuckled, snaking my arm around her waist as I leanedclose to her ear. “Well, I’m excited to help you through your first time,” I said with a wink.
She rolled her eyes, playfully pushing me away. “You’re the worst.”
I threw my head back in laughter. Adelaide and I were both in great spirits today despite having been on the road for over a week. All our meetings and dinners had gone smoothly, Mother Nature had smiled on us with good weather, and we’d even had a chance to do some sight seeing. We of course had to stop into every independent bookstore we saw and had great fun exploring a handful of antique shops, museums, and botanical gardens. This morning, we had spent a few hours visiting the Prado Museum and the Royal Botanic Garden, laughing together over a text from Rosie detailing how Shadow had managed to steal several bites of her breakfast when she wasn’t watching, before enjoying the requisite siesta and getting ready for the game. Adelaide had even let me hold her hand while we viewed Goya’s Black Paintings, silent as we took in the haunting intensity of the works.
It had been easy to nearly forget that we weren’t a “real” couple and to pretend that this was what our future could be together.
Now, as we took in the view of the field, I tried not to burst with pride over how stunning she was. Anton had sent us matching home shirts with his name and number—eight—on the back. Adelaide had paired hers with dark jeans that hugged her ass perfectly, black heeled boots, and a set of gold bangles and matching gold earrings. She managed to look casual and elegant all at the same time.
“Ollie!” I heard an accented voice call, turning to see Anton’s wife Carmen entering the suite with their five-year-old daughter beside her and a chubby-cheeked,dark-haired baby girl on her hip. She swept toward us, her mahogany hair flowing in waves down her back, and stood on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on each of my cheeks before turning to Adelaide.
“And this must be the incomparable Adelaide!” she gushed, leaning to kiss her cheeks as well.
“Carmen, it is so good to see you again. And yes, this is my fiancée, Adelaide Levy.”
Adelaide’s eyes sparkled as she took in Carmen’s warmth. She squatted down to the little girl’s level.“Hola, soy Adelaide. ¿Cómo te llamas?”
The girl beamed at Adelaide, stepping toward her.“Me llamo Maya.”Maya fingered one of Adelaide’s bracelets, her eyes trailing up toward her earrings.
Adelaide fell into soft conversation with the girl, showing her the jewelry and letting her try on one of the bangles.
Carmen came around to my side. “And this is Valeria,” she said, pinching the baby’s rosy cheeks. “I was going to have the girls stay home with our nanny tonight, but then Maya heard that her pápi’s friends would be here. The child can never resist meeting new people.”
“Ah, so just like her dad, then.” I chuckled, thinking of the years in prep school when Anton had begged Knox and me to join him at parties, which he somehow managed to attend without disrupting his grades or his training schedule.
Carmen smirked. “Sí, just like him. Sofía will come by later to take them home so I can enjoy the second half of the game without being on mamá duty.” She shifted the baby on her hip. “Actually, Anton and I would like to invite you both to stay with us tonight,” she said. “Our housekeeper will have a light meal prepared when we get home, and Anton has a bottle of sherry he’s been looking for an excuse toopen.” She nodded toward Faxon at his place by the suite’s door. “We have an extensive security system set up on the property; we can get your team in touch with ours if they’d like to review our security measures. I’m sure you’re tired of hotel rooms, and we’d love to get to know Adelaide better.”
Adelaide placed a hand on Carmen’s arm. “That is a lovely invitation, thank you so much. We certainly wouldn’t want to put you out, though.”
“Not at all, it would be our pleasure,” Carmen assured.
Adelaide’s eyes met mine. I could tell that we were both thinking that staying in a home after days of hotels would be a welcome change. “Then count us in,” I said. “I’ll let Faxon know and he can liaise with your team.”
Carmen’s eyes lit up. “Wonderful! If you’d like, you can ride with me after the game. Anton will have to stay to shower and do some quick press stuff and will meet us back at the house.”
