“Real is good,” Jon muses. “Although, real usually isn’t the norm during a reality show.”
“I don’t know, Charlie really believes he’s in love with her,” I say lightly, and Jon laughs.
“I’ve never let myself experience it,” I continue, surprising myself with the admission. “I’ve always tucked it away. Didn’t let it grow.”
“Ripen.” Jon nods. “I’ve done that before. I understand.”
“How do you feel about Lyra?” I ask nervously.
Jon shrugs his big shoulders. The guy is ripped and has a perpetual scowl on his face, but he’s surprisingly easy to talk to. “Honestly, I don’t feel much about her,” he admits. “She seems like a good woman. But I don’t think it was the best move for meto come on here. I don’t think it’s for me. Maybe if we were in the real world…” he trails off.
“This is the farthest thing from the real world,” I tell him.
“And if this was the real world, she wouldn’t look twice at a guy like me.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I think you’d have a better chance than Charlie.”
“Don’t tease him, he’s in love with her.”
We laugh and the feeling of companionship is so unexpected, and so nice.
I came here with the single-minded goal of finding out if there was something between me and Lyra.
I’m finding so much more.
“Is it bad?” Jon asks suddenly. “You hear so much about the royal family, but is being a princess easy for her? Is she happy?”
“I think she loves it,” I admit. “She’s amazing at it. They all are—the whole family takes to the royal life—”
“Like they were born into it?” Jon interrupts with a chuckle.
“Exactly. They’ve all had their issues, and losing the queen was difficult to deal with, but eventually, Lyra will take on more of a role like the princes are doing. Whatever she does will be amazing.” I smile ruefully at the thought of an older Lyra representing our country with her usual verve and vitality. “Or maybe she’ll chuck the crown and go live on a deserted island.”
“You sound like you really know her.”
“I like to think so. She knows me better than anyone else,” I admit. “And that scares the hell out of me because I don’t want to lose her.”
“Then don’t,” Jon says. “Just don’t.”
28
Lyra
W
henIpickupTanner the next morning, there are two bicycles waiting for us.
I’m not pleased about that because I think anything with two wheels should also include a motor. But I smile and hug and pretend everything is fine, all the while scanning the crowd of men grouped to greet me for Spencer.
He’s nowhere to be found. Neither are Phillippe, Derrick, and Luc C., because I sent them home. The group of men is dwindling, which is how it should be. There are twelve left.
I’m doing everything the Suitorette should be doing. Only it doesn’t seem to be working.
Being a princess is easier than this.
As we wave goodbye, perched upright on old bikes with baskets, and tires that make you feel every rock, I wait for Tanner to mention Spencer.
Do the men even talk about what happens on the date? Does Tanner know that Spencer walked out, and if he does, is he wondering why Spencer didn’t get a yellow goodbye rose as well?
