by Mia Carson
Quincy laughed. “It’s fine, really.”
Another few times, and she felt a little better. “God, that was awful.”
“Feel better?”
“Not in the least.” She watched him sit down in the bathroom across from her and really looked at him. Worry was in his furrowed brow, but there was more there than just that. “You did what you had to do,” she said quietly. “This morning was too close.”
“I don’t want to do it, Olivia.”
“I know you don’t, but this is the reality, Quincy. You’re a prince, I’m the soon-to-be-princess, and we’re going to be siblings. That’s how it is.”
He rubbed a hand over his face, and she could tell he wanted nothing more than to fight everything that was happening, but she was not going to let him do that. He had a duty to his country, and she couldn’t stand in the way of that. As hard as it was for her to let it go—let him go—she had to do it. Tears pricked her eyes, and she wiped them away, hoping he didn’t see them, but he’d already scooted over to her and picked her up to hold her on his lap.
Quincy held her as she cried against his shoulder. Why did it have to hurt this much to think of what her time left here was going to be like without him? Why had they gone through all of this in the first place if it just had to end?
When the tears finally stopped and she thought maybe she could face tomorrow without Quincy with her, she started to get to her feet. He got up with her and picked her up. She should’ve protested, but his arms were warm and protective around her, so she let him carry her to bed. Once she was tucked in, he kissed her one final time.
“I’ll see you in the morning, Princess Olivia,” he said quietly.
“Goodnight, Prince Quincy,” she replied and watched him leave her rooms. When the doors closed behind him and she was left in her cold, empty bed alone, the tears came again. She curled up in a ball and let them come, knowing that tomorrow, she had to put on a brave face. No one could know her heart was broken.
No one could know she had fallen in love with the prince.
***
Olivia spent the next few days recovering from her island bug and preparing to start courting Edric officially. Her mom stopped by every day to check on her and make sure she was okay. She was thrilled to find Olivia was interested in Edric.
“Can you imagine if you and he were to get married, too?” Melinda said that afternoon. “You could be here with me and we could really enjoy this new life together. Queen and princess, who would’ve thought?”
For her mom’s sake, she smiled. “Yeah, it’s pretty awesome, Mom, can’t lie about that.”
“Are you sure you’re feeling better? You seem down lately.”
Olivia put her feet up on the balcony railing and glanced at the paintings around her. She found the one to her left of the private cove and the couple making love. Her mother had seen it the day before and exclaimed how beautiful it was, so raw and natural and filled with love. If only her mom knew who that was supposed to be.
“Yeah, I guess I’m just missing home lately. We’ve been gone for over two months now.”
Melinda took Olivia’s hand and held it. “I thought that might be the reason, so I have a surprise for you.”
“What?”
“Just a second,” she said and got up, hurrying through Olivia’s rooms. “Come on in.”
Olivia turned around and squealed when she saw Helen standing in her room. “How did you get here? Oh my God!” She hugged her friend tightly to her as they laughed and nearly fell over. “I’m so happy to see you!”
“Your mom said you’d been a little off lately,” she said. “I can’t wait to see this place. It looks incredible!”
“I’ll leave you two for now,” Melinda smiled. “See you both at dinner—and Olivia, Edric will be there.” Melinda hugged her daughter and Helen together, humming as she left, probably thinking about a future wedding involving Olivia and Edric.
“God, I’m so happy you’re here. You have no idea.”
“I’m happy to be here. Who’s this Edric your mom mentioned? Is he cute?”
“He has some good qualities,” she said as she walked Helen to the balcony. “Want some wine? I have a new favorite I gotta share with you.” She felt Helen staring at her intently and glanced up. “What?”
“Olivia, I’ve known you for a long-ass time, and I know when something’s bothering you.”
“I’m fine, living the dream out here as a future princess,” she said tightly. “Absolutely nothing wrong…” She trailed off as her stomach roiled again, and she frowned. A minute later, she was in the bathroom, hugging the toilet, when a horrible realization hit her and she broke down in tears.
Helen held her friend as she babbled through her tears. Helen’s eyes widened. “Wait, what did you just say?”
Olivia took a deep breath and let it out as she looked at her friend. “I think I’m pregnant.”
***
In an hour, they were supposed to be downstairs for dinner, but eating was the last thing on Olivia’s mind. Her stomach had stopped gurgling finally, but the thought of food had her glancing towards the bathroom. She’d spent the past few hours catching Helen up on everything, including her relationship with Quincy. She was the only one Olivia could trust, and from the look on Helen’s face, she was still trying to absorb everything.
“You know when I told you to find a man down here, I didn’t mean your future stepbrother,” Helen said.
“I didn’t mean to fall for him,” Olivia groaned. “It just happened.”
“So you love him?”
“I love him, he loves me, and now I’m pregnant with our child. I’m about to cause the worst scandal this tiny kingdom has ever seen, he’s going to lose the crown, and it’ll be all my fault!”
“Olivia, calm down,” she said and took her friend’s flailing hands. “Just… deep breath. We’ll figure something out.”
“Like what? I’m supposed to start courting Edric. I can’t do that when I look like a blimp! People will notice eventually,” she screeched, her plan to keep her voice quiet leaving her. They’d moved the conversation inside and closed all doors and windows in case anyone walked by. “I messed everything up.”
Helen screwed up her face, and Olivia knew she was trying to think of something to say to make her feel better. “Yeah, I got nothing. You sure found a way to make life interesting.”
“Thanks. You’re a big help.”
“How far along do you think you are?”
Olivia counted back to the first time they had sex. “Well, it’s been almost a week since the last time, but we had sex a week after I’d been here. At most, two months?”
“And you’re not showing yet? That’s lucky.”
“Helen!”
“Sorry, I’m just saying the second you start showing, there’s going to be problems. The wedding is what, two weeks away?”
“Week and a half.”
Helen paced around the room and muttered under her breath. Then she clapped her hands and turned back around with a wry smile on her face. “Okay, this is what you’re going to do. My flight leaves the day after the wedding. You are going to come with me. Say you have to get back because your professors need to talk to you about your portfolio… Whatever, just make something up. We’ll be home before you start showing.”
Olivia’s lips thinned. “And what happens when I do start showing? I wait until I have the baby and tell my mom I had a one-night stand with Joey?”
“Oh, God no, pick someone a little cuter.”
“This isn’t going to work. She’ll know. She’ll figure it out, and then what?”
Helen knelt in front of her friend’s chair and told her to calm down for the baby’s sake. “One step at a time, alright? Let’s get you back home, and we’ll go from there. I’ll be there with you every day so we can figure it out.”
Olivia nodded and hugged Helen. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Go c
razy, of course. Now, we have a dinner to get to.”
“Great, dinner with the man I’m supposed to start courting and the father of my child who happens to be the prince,” Olivia muttered. “I don’t know if this could get any worse.”
By the time they made it downstairs to dinner and stepped inside, Olivia realized it was much worse. Lady Gigi sat beside Quincy, flirting with her hand on his shoulder, laughing about something he said that from the look on his face was not meant to be that funny.
“Ah, Princess Olivia,” Edric said and rose from the table. “Pleasure to see you, as always.”
“Edric,” she replied and smiled, thinking about her hand on Quincy’s neck instead of Gigi’s. When that failed, she thought of throwing Gigi off the nearest cliff. “I’m glad you could make it. This is my friend Helen from Nebraska.”
Olivia stepped to the side and watched Edric’s eyes light up as he took Helen’s hand. “Helen, an honor to meet a friend of the princess,” he said and kissed the back of the hand he held.
Helen’s cheeks turned bright red and she giggled. Giggled! Olivia stifled a laugh herself. “Thank you… Edric.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“My lady—wow, I’m not anything special, I promise you that.”
“I beg to differ,” Edric said. Olivia’s eyes widened as she watched the exchange in happy disbelief, though she really couldn’t complain. An idea of those two getting together sprouted in her mind, and she saw one of her potential problems going away.
The three of them moved to the table, and Edric pulled out her chair, but she insisted Helen sit there instead. When Edric looked confused, she said she had to speak with her mother about something, and Helen had some fascinating stories to tell him of home. It didn’t bother her when his face lit up, so he quickly sat Helen beside him, leaving Olivia to sit on the other side near her mother.
“Olivia,” Melinda asked quietly as she leaned closer, “what’s happening there?”
“Well, Mom, I think the old phrase ‘love at first sight’ has just been proven,” she said with a laugh. “Oh man, Helen found a guy she can tolerate for more than five seconds.”
Melinda frowned. “But I thought you liked him, hon?”
“He’s handsome and sweet but not my type. It’s fine, let them flirt. I don’t mind.”
Lamont stared at both women questioningly as he too looked at Helen and Edric, but Olivia smiled and subtly waved it away with a shrug. His lips twitched, but he nodded once as if saying he accepted it before turning his attention to the other side of the table. Gigi’s hand perched on Quincy’s shoulder while he ate, although he kept shrugging trying to knock it off.
“So, Lady Gigi, I assume your parents are thrilled by this news,” Lamont said.
“They are. My mother is already looking at dresses for me,” she said with a bright smile that made Olivia’s nausea come rushing back. “It’s going to be splendid. I’m the luckiest woman on the isle. And you’ll be my maid of honor, of course, Princess Olivia.”
Quincy choked on his wine, spluttering as he tried to swallow, and Olivia had to stop herself from gagging and causing herself to be sick. Once Quincy calmed himself, his eyes flashed to Olivia and she knew that was the last thing he wanted to put her through.
“I would be honored, but I’m afraid by the time of your wedding, I’ll be in the midst of my final year at school,” she said. “I’m student teaching this semester, too, so I don’t know how many days I’ll be able to get off.”
“That’s a shame. I’d really like you to be a part of it. I can tell how close you and Quincy have become since your arrival.”
“Yes,” Lamont agreed. “I daresay having a sister has calmed him down, too. Quite impressive, Olivia.”
“Thank you. I don’t think I did anything, though,” she said. Except sleep with him, fall in love with him, and now I’m carrying his child. Her stomach roiled again as she glanced at Quincy and back down to her plate. Should she tell him before she left? She hadn’t even thought of that. He deserved to know, but it was too risky.
“You’re pale again,” Melinda observed. “I think that bug is still hanging on. Are you sure you don’t want to see the doctor?”
“No, no… I’m fine, promise,” she said. “Perfectly fine.”
Melinda wasn’t the only one watching Olivia. Quincy’s brow furrowed as he stared at her, asking a silent question. She couldn’t say anything, wouldn’t, and turned away from him quickly.
“Well, the wedding is going to be beautiful. I can’t wait until we start planning. The flowers and the cake! I have one already picked out. You’ll love it, Quincy.”
“I’m sure I will love whatever you decide to do,” he said and stiffened when she leaned in to kiss his cheek.
The rest of the dinner consisted of Olivia feigning happiness while she listened to Gigi talk about the future wedding and how perfect everything was going to be. On the other side of the table, Helen and Edric flirted constantly and quietly, laughing every now and then, which made Olivia smile. She gave Helen her blessing when Edric stood and asked if she’d like to stroll through the courtyard. For a moment, he glanced at Olivia, worried he’d offended her, but she waved them on.
“She needs to see it, anyway. Thank you for showing her, Edric,” Olivia said diplomatically, and together, the two left the dining room.
“I thought you liked him,” Quincy asked once they were gone. “You’re going to let him flirt with your friend like that?”
“They seem to have a connection that he and I don’t, which I wanted to speak with you about, Mom and Lamont. I think I am going to turn down Edric’s courtship. A few weeks after the wedding, I’ll have to return to the US for classes, and I don’t want to keep him from anyone else.”
Lamont nodded. “Of course, my dear, though the only one I think you’ll be keeping him away from is you. I have a feeling the man would not mind traveling to the US.”
“Helen would enjoy his visits, I’m sure of it. I think I’m going to turn in for the night.” She kissed her mom on the cheek, bade the others goodnight, and left the dining room. She had to leave the day after the wedding. There was no chance she could stomach watching Gigi plan the wedding she could never have with Quincy. It hurt too much—that, and someone was going to pick up that she wasn’t sick. It was morning sickness, all damn day long.
She couldn’t take that risk.
***
“I can’t wait to see you again,” Gigi said and threw her arms around his neck. “I’m the happiest woman on the isle right now.”
“I’m glad,” he lied and gently pried her off. He kissed her goodnight on the cheek and watched Theo walk her out to her ride home. Why couldn’t it have been Olivia? Why did he have to be with a woman like Gigi, who thought of nothing but herself?
He informed the guards he was turning in for the night and made his way up the stairs to his room. He had not expected Olivia’s friend and Edric to enjoy each other’s company so much, but Olivia hadn’t seemed to mind. He was pretty sure the two of them were still talking in the courtyard somewhere, which meant he wouldn’t have to watch that man steal the woman he loved.
No, you just have to watch her watch you deal with Gigi until she goes home, you dimwit.
Quincy paused before going to his rooms. He wanted to go to Olivia and talk to her, see if there was a way to figure out how to make this work, but his dad was happy with his decision. Parliament was happy, and his crown was secure. He was trapped.
Sleep wasn’t going to happen any time soon, so he wandered out onto the balcony and stared up at the stars. His thoughts turned to his first night on the beach with Olivia and how she’d felt beneath him. Warm and soft in all the right places, giving herself over to him completely. He’d fallen in love with her that night and every day since. His chest ached, and he longed for a bottle of wine to soothe his bitterness. He did all of this for his people, and he wondered for one horrible moment if they deserved his sacrifice.
The sound of a chair scraping against stone made him turn in time to see Olivia hurrying back through her balcony doors. On instinct, he went to the other railing, ready to climb over, but she closed them and his heart shattered. This was it. This was his new life.
There was no more Olivia in it for him. Nothing except a crown and the fake love he would give to his new wife.
Chapter 16
The morning of the wedding, everyone bustled around the palace, preparing. The ceremony would take place on the beach, and the reception, of course, would be held in the grand ballroom. Olivia had been in her mom’s room with Helen and all their ladies to get ready since seven that morning.
“You’re going to be gorgeous,” Helen told Melinda as she admired the wedding gown. “This is absolutely stunning!”
“You’ll have to take lots of photos for your mom. I wish she had been able to come, too.”
“After she sees these pics, she’ll hate my dad for making her go on that family reunion trip of his,” she said as she pulled out her cell and started taking pics of everything. “Olivia, you need more coffee or what?”
The last few days leading up to the wedding had been the hardest. Olivia had told her mom she was returning to Nebraska the day after the wedding. There were things she had to take care of. Her mom understood but hoped she’d come back over her fall break so she could visit. Olivia had promised she would, but the trip would be impossible. By then, she’d be nearly six months pregnant and a blimp—a bit difficult to hide a pregnant belly like that.
It was the final day, the final act, and she would see Quincy for the last time. She’d avoided him whenever possible and only spoke to him if he asked her a question at dinner. Every time she heard his laugh, it hurt. When she saw Gigi touch him… that was even worse. She’d hidden away in her room, working on her paintings and listening to Helen gush over Edric.
The two had hit it off, and Edric was already working on getting a visa so he could visit over their winter break. Olivia was happy for her friend and made sure she knew it. The only person she wasn’t happy with was herself.
