I snickered. “She’s dead to the world. I stole clothes and left. I didn’t want to overstay.”
“You’re not,” Keir insisted. “It’s fine. Everyone thought you were a pleasantsurprise last night.”
I blushed. “You don’t have to sell me on things, Keir.”
“Well, you worried about overstaying your welcome, but… we sort of roam in a pack. I mean what I say. If you are stuck with Betty, you’re stuck with us and we’re stuck with you. And honestly, we like you.”
His words held more weight than I could express. I always said parents weren’t my thing. They either viewed my job as silly or felt like I was a phase. Perhaps the family viewed me as a curiosity, but it wasn’t because I was the first woman Betty brought home. It was more because they genuinely wanted to know me and I wasn’t part of their world—not yet. Strangely, though, I didn’t let that get to me. Curiosity was about the best thing you could get from Scandinavians you didn’t know.
“Here, one second.” Cici stood and left.
Confused, I looked at Keir.
“Oh, it’s the press release,” he said. “She wants you to read over it.”
“Sure.”
“You really, really need a publicist. I don’t mean to frighten you, but the mob continues to grow out there. People want toshipyou, whatever the fuck that means? My wife says it’s a good thing. Either way, you two have caused a stir and it’s okay to ask for help.”
I should have feared the mob, but somehow, this felt right. For the first time in my life, I wrote my own story. I wasn’t beinghandled. That kiss was the opposite of a perfectly-curated teen-queen existence. It wasn’t the least bit overproduced. And for the first time, I realized this thing was bigger than me. It wasn’t about pop songs or plans to play Wembley. It wasn’t even just about Betty and I. People craved a happy queer love story, and we delivered on that hope. Since it wasn’t going away, I could either get in or continue to fear it. It was time to get ahead of this.
“I will… reach out to Leah,” I said. “No doubt she will have leads.”
“Wait a sec… did you and Leah ever?”
I wanted to die. Even though I could say no, now I worried he thought ill of me.
“What is it? Are you alright?” Cici burst back into the dining room, a look of concern on her face.
“Oh, I asked her an impertinent question and just got an answer I didn’t think she’d provide,” Keir said.
“I never… we didn’t… no,” I answered. “Has every lesbian in London probablythoughtabout her… yes. Well, if they are into femme manic pixie dream girls.”
Keir snickered.
“Oh, Keir, c’mon!” Cici admonished. “Ignore him. He used to fuck Ollie’s wife. You don’t know Ollie but they will be here this evening. She’s come out of the Danes since they made the final.”
Keir rolled his eyes. “You’ll never let it die.”
“You two were reliable FWB’s for the better part of a decade and then Ollie married her, so…”
“Ollie is?” I winced.
“One of my younger twin brothers,” Keir explained. “It’s Lars, then me, then Nate, then Ollie and Win. Ollie married Queen Edina of Denmark, so?—”
“Okay, so let me get this straight, the Brits, Norwegians, and Danes are all intermarried?”
“Many times over, yes,” Cici said. “My husband is Edina’s younger brother.”
My jaw dropped.
“Yes, it’s incestuous. Which is why I wouldremindmy dear cousin to stop playing stupid games unless he wants to win stupid prizes.”
Keir fell silent as Cici passed a piece of paper across the table. I tried to center myself and catch up with Betty’s large, ever-reaching band of family members. The next few days would be a blur, but even more so once I met all her royal siblings and their spouses.
We’re no longer in Kansas anymore, Marit.
“This is just the presser,” Cici said. “Let me know your thoughts.”
