“But you’re not wrong about birthday traditions.”
Stef searches my eyes. His pupils are large in the low light, a smile playing across his lips. Across from us is the harbor on the other side of the street. And Mads lurks off in the shadows.
Then, Stef steps forward. “May I kiss you now?” he murmurs.
“Anytime is a good time for kisses,” I murmur right back, surprised but ecstatic at the prospect of kisses from Stef. But public kisses, even on a quiet street at night, are next-level. Especially when he’s not out to anyone other than his family.
“Happy birthday.” Catching my jaw, Stef kisses me lingeringly on the front step.
Then I lean my forehead against his, trying to steady my breath, elated. It’s intoxicating, having him so close. “Aren’t you worried about being?—”
“No.” He kisses me again. This time, our kisses deepen for a moment. And we’re the only two people in this town. Everything else has fallen away.
I brush his cheek with my fingertips when we finally straighten.
And at last, we go inside. I take off my sandals and follow Stef inside as he leads me by the hand. I swear I’m having an out-of-body experience at this point, but he lets go just as we enter the main room from the corridor.
Where Stef’s family is: his mother, his father, his brother. All rise to their feet, all watching me with curiosity, his father more intensely than the others. Prince Stavros has salt-and-pepper hair and a steely look to rival Mads. Princess Maria has midnight hair flowing past her shoulders, while Spiros is gangly in that way I was at his age, with a mop of wavy dark hair.
“Mama, Baba, this is King Theodor, His Majesty the King, Count of Oldenburg.”
All eyes are on me. Which is a sensation I’m getting increasingly used to. But it’s definitely more unsettling in a small group. Especially when it means so much.
“Please, call me Theo,” I offer into the silent room. “The rest is a bit of a mouthful, I must say.”
Stef glances at me with a smile. “Theo, this is my father, Prince Stavros, and my mother, Princess Maria, and my brother, Prince Spiros.”
“Hi, Theo.” Spiros is the first to speak. He smiles.
“Shouldn’t you be a Christian or a Frederik?” Stef’s father asks tersely after a round of handshaking following the round of introductions.
“My middle name is Frederik, actually. The cultural tradition continues.”
“What do you mean?” Spiros asks, peering at me with curiosity.
“In Denmark, kings have been named either Christian or Frederik for hundreds of years. Usually. It’s tradition to alternate between the two names. My father was King Christian.”
“But you’re not either one,” Spiros says.
“I’m not,” I agree. I think of Freja and suppress a sigh.
“Theo brought a gift, Baba,” Stef says pointedly, glancing at his brother, passing him the gift bag I brought.
“Thank you,” Prince Stavros says gravely. “I understand from Stefanos it’s your birthday.”
“Yes, it is.”
“It won’t do to spend your birthday alone,” Princess Maria tells me warmly, then chides Stef. “He should have been here for dinner, agape mou. And we could have made arrangements for dessert from the bakery.”
“You’re right.” Stef clears his throat, glancing at me before meeting his father’s gaze. His gaze lingers, an unreadable expression on his face. I hear him draw in a long breath. And, a moment later, Stef takes my hand, his skin electric against mine. Warm. Grounding. I give him a sharp look, stunned.
“And there’s something else important you should know.” Stef smiles affectionately at me before looking at his parents again. His expression is open and bright now. Like he’s been bursting to tell them important news. Stef draws in a deep breath. “Theo’s my boyfriend,” he finishes, squeezing my hand.
I squeeze back, also trying to remember to breathe. Boyfriend? Did he say boyfriend? As in, me?
Obviously, Stef’s not holding anyone else’s hand, but we didn’t talk about this—because I thought it was too impossible. We both did. Because Stef hadn’t been out. That what we had for a brief time was in the past or only in secret. And now, even with Stef out to his parents, our paths too different, too complicated. My heart leaps. And I realize how desperately I’ve wanted Stef—as my boyfriend. My body’s covered in goose bumps.
And with what must be a stunned smile, I nod, dazed. Stef gives me the warmest grin. It’s all I can do to hold on to him and not float away with joy. My heart thunders.
