by Lucy Lennox
“Oh good, Lucas, you’re still here. Please ask Milane to come see me as soon as she’s free, and when she arrives, come in with her. It’s going to be a long night.”
I didn’t wait for an answer before striding through to my private office. Lucas had made it very clear that for this first year of my reign, his time was mine, however much I needed it to be. We both knew that the long nights and weekend work would be frequent, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t glad he was single. I didn’t feel quite so guilty about keeping him at the office so late.
Once both of them were seated comfortably across the desk from me, I began.
Chapter 40
Felix
Once I returned home to Hobie, I hid myself away in the glass workshop on the ranch. Whenever one of my family members expressed concern about my solitude, I explained I was practicing the new techniques I’d learned at Gadleigh.
And that was the truth.
But not all of it. Mostly, I wanted to be alone with my thoughts so I could feel sorry for myself in private. I spent hours reliving my time at Gadleigh with Lio. Every touch, every kiss, every shared childhood story or debated item in the news played back through my mind like a highlight reel of our time together.
When I wasn’t remembering Lio, I was concentrating on creating the most beautiful, unique glass I could. I wanted to show my grandfathers that I’d done my time at Gadleigh proud, that the money they’d invested to enrich my education specialty had helped me come away a better glassmaker than I’d left here.
I perfected the technique used in making the knotted puzzle ornaments and created a stash to save for special occasions in the coming year. Once finished with that, I played around with some of the other advanced maneuvers to work on my own original pieces. I was proud of the work I was doing even though my dedication to the studio was keeping me away from my family.
Finally my cousin Saint called me on it one Sunday morning just before lunchtime. It was early spring, and the day was warm with a cool breeze blowing across the ranch.
“Get the fuck in the house, we’re here for an intervention,” he barked. I could immediately see how he’d succeeded as a Navy SEAL and wondered if maybe they wanted him back. We needed another bossy Wilde man around the ranch like a hole in the head.
“West says Wildes don’t do interventions,” I snapped. “Which means it’s a love posse. Which is like fifty thousand times worse.”
“Yeah, well, whatever it is, it’s happening. Get your ass in the house.”
I reluctantly turned off the gas to the furnace and tidied up my studio before closing it down for the day. There was no doubt that if the Wildes had come to have words, I would not be returning to my hiding place anytime soon.
After trudging across the narrow gravel lane toward the old farmhouse, I noticed the familiar vehicles of more than just the Hobie Wildes. The Dallas Wildes were there too, which meant this really was a love posse.
I hated those fuckers and their stupid-assed unconditional love. Every once in a while it would be nice to be neglected and ignored. Left to rot out in some shed somewhere with only a fire to keep me warm and bits of broken glass littering the floor…
I sighed. I wouldn’t make a good Oliver Twist.
As I entered the house and made a beeline toward the big farmhouse sink in the kitchen, I ignored the loud hubbub of the extended family. Two of my aunts were there and what seemed like all ten of what we called the “Canadian” siblings—Hudson, West, Saint, et al. Even Winnie was there and she hated emotional shit.
Grandpa tried to make sympathetic eye contact with me, but I shot him daggers. Hallie screeched when she saw me and tackled me with an enormous, boob-filled hug.
“Jesus, woman, get those things out of my face,” I bitched. “I turned gay to get away from that shit.”
“You will let us love you, Felix,” she warned. “You know the drill.”
“I hate the drill.”
“Here,” a voice said before a cold drink was shoved in my hand. I turned and flashed a grateful smile at my cousin MJ, one of the only sane Wildes.
“Thank you. Did I ever tell you you’re my fave?” I took a sip of the drink and discovered it was a Jack and Coke. Perfect. I wasn’t usually a drinker unless this crowd was involved.
“Brace yourself,” MJ warned. “According to Twitter, your mom is engaged to that talking-head jackass.”
The room seemed to silence like the scratch of a needle on vinyl.
“Fuck,” I whispered as I felt the blood drain from my face.
“Yep. Sucks to be you right now. The hordes are going to want your take on Psycho Stepdaddy, especially if they find out you’re gay,” she said before turning and plopping down on one of the huge sofas in the TV room.
I couldn’t help but look around the room for Doc and found him walking toward me with his arms outstretched. I rushed into them and let him hug me tightly.
“It’s okay, Fee,” he muttered into my hair. “You don’t have to talk to anyone if you don’t want to. We don’t even have to let them onto the ranch. You know that.”
Grandpa appeared and wrapped his strong arms around us both. Even though he’d been retired for years, I could feel the rancher’s callused grip on my shoulder.
“We love you, son. Whatever you need, you’ll have it,” Grandpa added.
“I need Lio,” I said before I could stop myself. I cleared my throat. “But that’s not happening, so maybe that means I need to man up.”
“I hate that expression,” Doc grumbled.
“Fine,” I snapped. “Then maybe I need to woman up. Regardless, it’s time the reporters remember I’m not a part of her life anymore. Maybe then even she will get the hint.”
My cousin Max started a round of applause from where he sat in an overstuffed chair by the sofa. “Hell yeah, Fee. You tell her.”
“Is that why you’re all here? So when I lose my shit about my mother, you can all get me drunk to help me forget about it? Hell, is it even noon yet?”
I was kidding. Sort of. The last time I’d gotten drunk was the night before leaving for Gadleigh. It had been at the family holiday bonfire after my mother had tried to arrange a “small favor” by telling her then new boyfriend, Chris Corbin, he could have an exclusive sit-down interview with me. When his people had called to pin me down on a date, I’d been mortified. It had taken me every bit of self-control to decline politely rather than rant about what a homophobic, bigoted asshole their boss was. But, of course, that would have just created an even bigger scandal than me denying the promised interview.
Instead of calling Chris Corbin out on his bullshit and calling my mother to rage at her for putting me in the situation in the first place, I’d gotten rip-roaring drunk and propositioned the older woman who delivered our mail. Thankfully, she’d thought I was joking around and went on about how cute and funny I was.
I’d felt thoroughly rejected at the time until I’d fallen into bed and remembered the one tiny detail that had made it a lucky near miss: her lack of dick.
Was I willing to get heterosexual-drunk again today? Mm, I wasn’t so sure. Not enough time had passed to erase the memory of the hangover yet.
My cousin West’s boyfriend, Nico, sidled up to me and put his inked arm around my shoulders. “No, Felix. Last time you got drunk was so special, I’m afraid trying to repeat it would just end up in disappointment. No way you’d be nearly as adorable this time around. You’re too maudlin tonight. Plus, I think the real reason you’re here is because the king of Liorland is going to be on television in a minute. Some big sit-down interview.”
My stomach lurched and my eyes jumped over to the large flat-screen mounted above the fireplace. The channel showed a news desk with a banner across the bottom indicating the king of Liorland was making a special announcement at seven in the evening local time. Which meant noon our time.
“Shit,” I breathed. “Do they know what it is?”
I wondered if the story
had finally broken about his dad and Eleanor. Lio had been trying to get a hold of me, but I’d ignored his calls. Had he needed to talk to someone about some shit going down with his dad? If so, I felt all kinds of fool. What if he’d needed me and I’d ignored him? How selfish could I possibly be? No, surely Hen would have told me if something was wrong.
When I’d returned to Hobie and gotten his angry messages about me running away from Monaco without saying goodbye, I couldn’t help but call and explain myself. I’d told him it was for the best, we’d already agreed we couldn’t be together right away, and I explained that even attempting a long-distance relationship was being “together.” He’d asked me to put a timeline on it.
“Felix, baby, if you’re going to refuse to answer my calls while we let time pass, at least tell me how much time needs to pass,” he’d insisted. The frustration in his voice had made me nervous and fidgety.
“I don’t know, Lio. At least a few months, okay? I can’t… I can’t do this halfway.”
He’d yelled into the phone then, his frustration bubbling over from anger and fear. “I’m not asking you to, dammit! I want all the way, the whole way. I don’t want halfway. You’re the one insisting on halfway.”
“Please don’t yell at me,” I’d begged in a shaky voice. “I can’t—”
“Fuck,” he’d said, interrupting me. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to yell at you, I just miss you so much, and I’m scared you’re going to change your mind. I don’t want to spend a few months without knowing how you’re doing and talking to you before I fall asleep at night.”
“I know. But I don’t have all the answers. I just know if I come there now while you’re working your ass off to prove yourself to the people, I’ll either throw you off your game or you’ll work your ass off and leave me home alone, you know? Either way isn’t okay with me.”
I’d known he agreed with me then even before he’d admitted it, but it had still been practically impossible to deny his attempts to reach me. In the beginning, I’d thought something was wrong.
“Lio! Is everything okay?” I’d answer in a terrified gasp.
“Yes, of course. I just needed to hear your voice. It was a hard day.”
“Lio, we agreed we weren’t going to do the long-distance thing,” I’d remind him, grinding my teeth to swallow back the words I really wanted to say.
I needed to hear your voice too. It was a hard day for me too. I love you and miss you so much. I think I might be dying of heartbreak not being able to hold you after you’ve had a bad day.
So I’d begun ignoring his calls and texts for my own sanity. Otherwise, I would have broken, right there on the other end of the line from him. I would have asked something stupid like, “Is tomorrow a good time for me to arrive in Monaco and never leave your side again? Okay, see you then.”
But now I wondered if I’d done the right thing. Because there on the screen was my beloved Lio, sitting across from a lovely news anchor dressed in a sharp light blue skirt suit.
“Good evening, Your Majesty,” she said with a flirty but professional smile.
“Lior, please. And it’s nice to see you again, Valerie,” he said in that deep, familiar voice that wrapped around my heart like baling wire and pulled tight.
“Oh god,” I murmured, falling onto the arm of the sofa and staring dumbly at the screen. The entire room had gone silent when the interview began.
“Congratulations on a successful first quarter as the king. According to the polls, the people of Monaco and Liorland as a whole think you’re doing a wonderful job. How does it feel to be sitting on your father’s throne?”
His eyes bore into hers with leonine authority despite the warm, friendly smile on his face.
“I like to think of it as my throne now, Valerie. And it’s beginning to feel more comfortable as each day passes.”
“Yes, that’s good to hear,” she said, clearing her throat. “Despite a rocky start with the news of your parents’ divorce as well as the unexpected exposure of your sister’s secret relationship with a member of your personal guard, you have managed to accomplish quite a few things in your first few months. Is there anything in particular you’re especially proud of?”
He smiled and crossed his legs comfortably, oozing royal poise and presence like he’d been born into it. Which, of course, he had.
My young cousin Cam sighed. “That man is hot as fuck,” he said.
Several of my male and female cousins tutted their agreements.
Lio answered the question. “Yes. I would have to say signing the Global Health Security Agenda was a significant step for Liorland’s efforts to join the world’s leaders in preventing pandemic outbreaks as well as properly training personnel in particularly vulnerable populations to react swiftly in the case of disease outbreaks. In addition to the GHSA, we were also able to approve greater funding for our commitment to the UN Children’s Fund earmarked for helping the children of Syria. On the home front, the Monaco football club stands a chance at a European title for the first time in… oh, let’s just say ever. Can I take credit for that?”
Well, wasn’t the fucker just goddamned adorable?
Jesus.
Hallie elbowed me. “He’s so fucking hot—all confident and shit. Like an alpha male. I’ll bet he has a big dick.”
I choked on my own saliva and began a coughing fit. West banged me violently on the back, which was surprising, considering he was a medical professional.
“Dude, really?” I squawked at him. “Glass of water, maybe?”
“Nah, you’re fine,” he said as he continued pounding my back while his daughter, Pippa, giggled from where she perched on his hip.
“Not you too, Pipsqueak,” I accused. “Your daddy is a meanie.”
“Shh!” my aunt Gina hissed. “He’s saying something.”
We all shut up and focused back on the screen.
Lio’s face had turned serious. “Well, one of the things my grandfather used to lecture me on was honesty. In the process of ascending the throne, you can imagine I’ve spent many hours remembering the lessons I learned from both my father and his father. Grandpa spoke of leading by example. Of earning people’s trust. I’ve decided to do just that, but I can’t begin to build trust until I prove to the people of Liorland that I am trustworthy.
“There are two pieces of personal information I’d like to share with you tonight in an effort to start my reign with the honesty my grandfather held so dear. The first is not my story to tell, but I have been given permission to tell it anyway.”
Lio pursed his lips before looking directly at the news anchor and continuing.
“My father is expecting a child with a dear family friend of ours, Eleanor Wu. They are scheduled to be married as soon as my parents’ divorce is final. I ask that the public and the press please respect their request for privacy. And the request includes, of course, my mother. That is all I have to say about that.”
The news reporter must have been warned not to ask follow-up questions because she only said, “What is the second item?”
Lio swallowed and looked unsure of himself for the first time since appearing on screen. My stomach lurched and roiled as if I’d swallowed a healthy dose of glass dust in the studio.
“Well, the good news is that the second item will help the press quickly forget about the first,” he said with a cheeky wink. “I’m gay.”
It felt like the entire universe held its collective breath.
Even the woman interviewing him looked shocked. “Excuse me. Did you say you’re gay?”
Lio actually laughed at her. “Yes, Valerie. I did. Whew. It actually feels nice having gotten that off my chest. Been a long time coming, honestly.”
I knew he didn’t feel nearly as cavalier as he was acting even though I’m sure his words held some truth.
“Damn,” Otto swore under his breath.
“No shit,” Saint said with a nod. “Ballsy fucker.”
> A laugh bubbled up in my throat and spilled over. “Oh my god, he did it,” I said with a giggle. I couldn’t help it. The man was unbelievably brave. I just stared at him while he sat in front of an international audience and made being a gay king sound absolutely goddamned normal.
“He sure did,” Grandpa said with a wide grin as he reached out to squeeze my shoulder.
“Atta boy, Lior,” Doc murmured at the television from behind Grandpa. I saw his hand resting on Grandpa’s hip and took a moment to enjoy the visual sign of their connection. They’d always been the living proof that modeling truth helped others live their own.
I looked around the room at the gay men and women among us and knew without a shadow of a doubt many of us would have never had the guts to live out and proud in our tiny Texas town without seeing Grandpa and Doc do it first.
And now Lio was doing it on an international stage for all to witness.
“I have to call him,” I said, standing up suddenly. “I have to tell him how proud I am of him.”
I turned to run for the door so I could step outside into the mild spring weather and make the call in private. Before I even turned fully around, I heard his deep, familiar voice again and looked back at the screen. Except it was playing a commercial.
“Wha?” I asked like an idiot.
“I said, you can tell me in person.”
I turned around to see Lio standing there, tall and proud and exhausted and nervous all at once. But none of those things mattered. The only part of his appearance that mattered was the location of it.
In Hobie, Texas. There, in front of me.
Chapter 41
Lio
It had been a long, hellish week. After coming up with a strategy with Milane, it had taken an army to put it into action and prepare for the fallout. My only consolation was knowing I was going to fly to Texas the minute I was done. The network only landed the interview after agreeing to embargo the information between taping and airing. I needed a chance to get to Felix and be there when he heard the news. Milane had insisted I stay and make myself available for the local press after the interview aired, but I’d remained strong, convincing her the local press could allow me a few days to myself after such a big announcement before pouncing on me.
