Royal Pain in the Ass (39 page)

“
I don’
t think so.
”
I shook my head.

“
Why not?
”
he asked a coy smile on his face.
 

“
Because I said so.
 
When a lady says no, a gentleman listens and respects it.
”

Raleigh let out a charming laugh.
  “I can
’
t believe you just quoted etiquette to me.
”

“
And what, pray tell, is that supposed to mean?
”
I asked, trying to sound as haughty as possible.

“
That you are just full of surprises.
  I can
’
t wait to see what else you have in store for me.
” 
Raleigh tried to kiss me on the cheek and I shoved him away.

“
Stop it.
  I
’
m not interested.
“

“
Can we talk outside for a moment then?
”

I sighed.
  “
So long as you don
’
t try anything.
”

“
My honor as a gentleman.
”

“Mhmm”

“
If no one is around and I do something inappropriate, no one can stop you from hitting me.
 
And I already know what one of your punches feels like.
”

I stared at him for a long moment and sighed.
  “
Alright.
 
Give me ten minutes.
 
I have a cousin and friend to congratulate.
” 
I pushed away from Raleigh and made my way over to the happy couple.

“
Congratulations.
”
Xavier beamed as he pulled Lana into a hug.

“Thank you. 
I can honestly say that I didn
’
t see any of this happening when I took the job.
” 
Lana blushed and Xavier chuckled.

“
Well, I
’
m sure it was a good surprise.
”

“Congrats
,
Lana.
 
I knew you two would end up together.
”  I winked.

“
Oh really?
”
Xavier asked, giving me a pointed look.

“
Of course.
”
I replied, giving him a look, daring him to call me a liar.
 
I needed an argument right about now anyway.

“
Thank you both.
  I
’
m just surprised everyone else knew before me.
 
I have no idea how this clown kept it from me.
”
Lana laughed pointing to Ian.

“Like I
’ve said, I’
m a ninja.”

“
Please, you
’
re nowhere near ninja-level.
”
I scoffed.
  “
If you were a ninja, you wouldn
’
t have fallen into that pond.
”
I smirked.

“
That was your fault.
”
Ian grumbled.
 
I shrugged and was about to retort when Lana interjected.

“I
’
ll treasure these moments the rest of my life.
”
She sighed.
 
I couldn
’
t help but laugh.

I felt someone tap on my shoulder.
  “It
’
s been ten minutes.
”

Raleigh.
 
Who else?
 
He came to spoil the moment.

I rolled my eyes.
  “
If you
’
ll excuse me.
”  
I followed him out of the tent and crossed my arms.
  “
Well?
 
What do you want?
”

Raleigh stared at me for a long moment.
  “
Something is different with you this time.
”

“
Is there?
”

“
You seem genuinely angry with me.
 
You were not happy with me the
last
time we saw each other, but you weren
’
t this way.
 
So I feel I should ask the same question.
 
Who are you with
?”

“No
one
.”

“
No one has your heart?
”

“
No, I just don't like the fact that you
’
re trying to bully me into liking you.
 
In fact, that really pisses me off.
”

“You don
’
t like anyone?
”
Raleigh asked, his eyes skeptical.

“
What?
”

“Oh,”

“Oh?”

“
I can see what
’
s going on.
”

“
Oh you can?
 
Well then, please, enlighten me.
”

Raleigh gave me a sideways smirk.
  “
You like someone, but you haven
’
t realized you like someone.
”

I raised an eyebrow.
  “
If I liked someone, wouldn
’
t I know that?
”

Raleigh let out a low chuckle.
  “
God, I wish it was me.
”

“
Raleigh, you
’
re a crazy person.”

“
May I have a kiss on the cheek?
”

“
No, I told you, no funny business.
”

“
I know now that someone already has your heart, even if you don
’
t. 
It would be friendly, not romantic.
”

“
Why then?
”

Raleigh gave me a sad smile.
  “I
’
d like your friendship if nothing else.
”

“
Raleigh, I still don
’
t know what you
’
re going on about.
”

“
That
’
s okay.” 
Raleigh took my hand in both of his and laid a gentle kiss on it.
  “You
’
re going to make someone one hell of a wife someday.
”

“
What?
 
How did you jump to that subject?
”

Raleigh laughed and shook his head.
  “Let
’
s go back in there and have some fun.
”

I sighed, now thoroughly confused.
  “
U
m, sure?
”

The first thing I did once I got inside was seek Fiore out.

“
Hello gorgeous.
”
She smiled as she spun off of Hewitt
’
s arm.
  “
How are you?
”

“
Thoroughly confused.
”

“How so?”

“
Raleigh is a crazy person I think.
”

“It
’
s possible, then again aren
’
t we
’
re all crazy people.
”

“Don
’
t go all philosophical on me, Fiore, I need you.
”

“
What you need is another drink.
 
Hewitt, darling, go fetch us several of whatever.
” 
I saw, a boy who I could only imagine was Hewitt go off with a smile.

“
Who
’
s that?
”

“
Weren
’
t you listening?
 
That
’
s Hewitt.
”

“
Who is he to you?
”

“
Not sure.
”
Fiore sighed.
  “He
’
s cute, a good kisser and all, but I
’
m not sure how I feel about him.
”
Fiore gave me a sideways glance.
  “
Only time will tell.
 
Now, come, tell me what
’
s bothering you, love?
”

“
Raleigh just confused the shit out of me.
”

“
How?
  He
’
s not that bright.
”

“
He said something about me liking someone and not knowing, and wishing it was him, and then he said we
’
re just friends and there
’
s nothing romantic, and then he said something about me being one hell of a wife and I
’
m just so confused.
”
I spat out at once.

Fiore stared for a moment then a coy smile played across her lips.
  “And?”

“
And what?
”

“
What have we learned?
”

“
Nothing.
”

Fiore
’
s smile widened.
  “
I see . . . and here comes Hewitt.
 
This is what you have to do.
 
I want you to drink
”
she handed me a glass.
 
I took a sip and she shook her head.
  “
Finish it.
” 
I downed the drink and looked at her.
 
She handed me another.
  “
And repeat.
” 
We did that for all three of the drinks and she ordered Hewitt to bring three more.
  “
And you
’
ll finish those just the same and things will become clear by the end of the night.
”

“
Fiore?
 
You want me to get drunk?
”

Fiore nodded.
  “
Very much so.
”

“
Why?
”

“
I need someone to cuddle with.
”
she teased with a wink.
 

“
Fiore.
”

“
T
rust me honey. 
Just do it.
 
Now, dance with me.
” 
Fiore spun round and round with me until Hewitt came back.
 
Then she handed me the drinks and twirled off with Hewitt.
 
I sighed but figured maybe Fiore just might know what she was doing.
   
I downed the drinks and went to go sit.
 
I was relieved when Xavier was the one sitting next to me.

“
How are you feeling?
”

“I
’
m dealing.
”
I sighed.

Xavier gave me a sad smile.
  “
You are truly extraordinary.
 
Most people would have cracked under the pressure of what life has thrown at you, and yet, here you are brilliant as ever.
”

“
Really?
  You don
’
t think I
’
ve royally screwed up?
”

“You
’
ve made mistakes, but who hasn
’
t?”