“I can buy you out,” he offers into the quiet.
I shake my head. “You don’t need to. I can help for now. Transition things over. Support your work. I trust you.”
It’s like someone else speaks. Everything feels a little surreal at the moment.
He glances over, looking concerned. “I’m sorry, Theo. I was really hoping Freja would change her mind.”
“Me too.” I stare out the window at the buildings as we drive past. People walk on the pavements, and the world continues as normal for everyone else. “You know, some people would be really excited to be a king.”
“It sounds like a lot of work, to be honest. A lot of work in the public eye. But you do work hard, Theo. Give yourself some credit. You’re great with people, and you’ll be on your feet before you know it. Plus, I’m sure you’ll have help, along with your mum. You’ve still got all your friends too.”
“I’m going to need to start handing things over to you this week,” I offer. “I’m sorry.”
“We’ll block out some time. Don’t worry. And no need to apologize.”
Instead of feeling excited about what’s ahead, it feels like my regularly scheduled life is over. So much for any daydreams about Stef.
Feeling down, later that night, I check my email, and Stef’s sent a message. It’s terrific to hear from him, but it only makes me feel worse about everything.
To: Theodor
From: Stefanos
Subject: Thinking of You
* * *
Hi Theo,
* * *
I’m sending a quick note to say I miss you and I’m thinking of you. I can’t stop thinking about you. I wish you were here with me right now in Barcelona. I’ve attached a couple of photos of the view from the balcony so you can imagine. I’m here for a few days, another one of my parents’ homes. It’s beautiful here. The sun shines. Summer’s nearly here and the city is full of tourists. I’m trying to figure out my way. The only thing I know for sure is how I feel about you. I know it doesn’t change anything, but I want things to be different. To be together, with me. And, selfishly, not with your duke.
* * *
Stef x
* * *
Attachments: Barcelona Photo 1, Barcelona Photo 2
Chapter Forty-Nine
Even though I’ve seen Eddie a couple of times since our trail ride day, we’ve shared precisely zero kisses since James’ birthday. It’s been about three weeks since we last caught up for dinner in town. Yesterday’s call from Mamma gave me a sleepless night mostly spent pacing my flat.
We embrace as we meet at the Ritz in the bar. His duking and business activities brought him to London today, and so we agreed to catch up for a drink, all public-facing and respectable-like in our premium suits. After we’re seated at our table, we order cocktails.
Eddie takes stock of me. “It’s good to see you.”
“Good to see you too.”
“Is everything quite alright? My apologies for the short notice,” Eddie offers. “It was a last-minute meeting this afternoon in the city.”
“Yeah. Well, no. Not really. I mean, no problem to meet you. I’m just up the street.” I offer as much smile as I can muster, which isn’t quite at the one hundred percent level, more like a solid seventy percent. It’s good—but not great. Not enough to be convincing. “And I have a lot of things on my mind, I’ll admit.”
Last night, after I met with Ethan in the afternoon to start outlining projects and the handover, I wasn’t ready to go home after work, and I ended up on top of Primrose Hill on one of the longest days of the year. I took a picture of London’s skyline in the distance from the top of the hill and sent it to Stef. He responded today with Edinburgh Castle, so he’s at least on the right side of the Atlantic. There’s some comfort in that knowledge.
“The plans are moving forward,” I confess after our drinks arrive, giving him a meaningful look. “Related to Copenhagen.”
