I’m here for Lyra, but maybe I’m here for me, too.
“What do you love about her, then?” I ask Charlie later. The food has disappeared and some of group begins to dissipate into other corners of the hotel.
Like the bar.
“Well, she’s beautiful—” Charlie begins and those around me laugh.
“That’s a given,” Jon says. “Non-physical features.”
“She’s fun. Funny.”
“I get the sense that she can be a little intimidating,” Liam says quietly.
I laugh. “You have no idea. I remember once when we were at some event in Washington, Lyra overheard a politician make a disparaging comment about Laandia. She walked right over andgave him the tongue lashing of his life. And don’t bother saying anything about tongues,” I snap at Phillippe. “She had the guy cowering, stammering out an apology in five minutes.”
“She’s brave.” Charlie smiles.
“Bold,” Rand says.
“She was fifteen,” I continue. “The king was somewhere in Europe and none of the boys were available, so they sent her to represent the family, and me to make sure everything went smoothly. She was fifteen and she was magnificent even then.”
“You’ve got it bad.” Ashton laughs. “Magnificent?”
“She is,” Liam says loyally.
“This from the guy still in la-la land because he got his first kiss.”
“Don’t really need the reminder. Did the rest of you kiss her too?” Why did I ask that? Because I really don’t want to know. I’ve been imagining the worst since I got back and that is punishment enough.
“Jealousy isn’t a good look on you,” Jon points out.
“I know, but do you blame me? I don’t understand these shows. How do the guys handle it?”
“I guess we’re about to find out.”
One by one, the lobby empties. Some of the men find their way back to the pool table, others head for the pool. It’s late, but the cocktail parties run later, and the men seem to enjoy a night off.
The clink of bottles and the laughter coming from the bar area suggests a group of them are really enjoying the night off. I could join them, but I prefer to sit here with my thoughts.
The thoughts are all about Lyra.
Jon has left to supervise the kitchen cleanup, but eventually returns with a glass of amber liquid for me.
“I’m sure I’ll regret this in the morning, but thanks.” I raise the glass to Jon before I take a sip.
“It won’t be a problem unless you get the date rose.”
“I’m not holding my breath.”
“What are you going to tell Lyra,” Jon asks, sinking into the chair opposite me. “Because you’ll eventually get a date rose.”
“I guess I’ll tell her I’m in love with her.”
It seems the simplest option, but also the most terrifying. But things have always been so complicated between me and Lyra and so simple seems best.
Jon, who is here for the same reason I am—Lyra—handles it well. “Do you think she feels the same way?”
“I honestly don’t know. We’ve always had a connection, but since I’ve been here, it feels different. More… real.”
