America. One of the biggest joys of not living in Michigan anymore is not having to hear this same argument rehashed at the dinner table once a week.”
That put a pang in Mallory’s heart. Kelsey had gotten so good, so…practiced at not referring to the Wishners by their names, or their previous titles of Mom and Dad. It was just another reminder of how everything had changed.
Christian hooked his foot around the leg of Mallory’s chair and pulled her right over next to him. “I know you’ll never truly forget the trauma of the shooting. But I hope today means that you’ve turned a corner and can put it behind you for good.” He threw an arm around her shoulders and planted a long, lingering kiss on her lips.
She’d be putting…a lot…behind her. Just not for good.
No, it would be very, very, painfully bad when she had to put the wonderful prince in her rearview mirror.
Chapter Nineteen
“Can we cancel this meeting on account of it being your birthday, Eli?” Christian asked, knotting his tie by feel, slouched in his desk chair. It was only nine in the morning, but Friday vibes had hit him hard. He had zero desire to work today.
Elias plucked another apple muffin off the tray. They’d started sharing Friday breakfast to make up for not seeing each other all day, every day, now that Eli wasn’t his bodyguard.
It wasn’t the same. But it helped.
Christian needed these touchpoints with his friend. The palace was full of allies and sycophants, staff and guards. Elias was his reality check. The one who cut through the crap and didn’t give him a spare inch. Not to mention being able to have fun with him. Fun was a hard commodity to come by as an acting king, he’d recently learned.
Snorting, Elias said, “Your meeting with the brand-new prime minister? I don’t think that would go over well. We’ve got the party all day tomorrow to play. Today we work. And tonight”—his friend’s smile turned wolfish—“well, you don’t want to know how Kelsey and I will celebrate tonight.”
“Stop it. God. You persist in taunting me with the knowledge that you defile my little sister on a regular basis. It isn’t right.”
“But it is fun.”
“Good thing I know how much you love her, or I’d have to kick your ass,” Christian grumbled. But for all the shit he gave Elias, it was damned convenient to have his best friend in love with his sister. Their double date last night couldn’t have gone better.
Life was looking up. He’d decided to not make a decision about what to do with his father until after the upcoming state dinner. That’d be the turning point, one way or the other. Which meant that the pressure of worrying about it was lifted from him for the next few days. The weekend meant more time with Mallory, and Eli’s party was tomorrow.
And there’d been omelets for breakfast. He might finally have a handle on this whole temporary king thing.
Nothing could bring down his mood today.
A footman knocked, then announced Prime Minister Franz Zupan. Christian stood to shake his hand after the beanpole of a man bowed.
“Minister. Let me introduce you to Lord Elias Trebanti, Head of the Royal Protection Service training program.”
That triggered another bow, for the new PM wasn’t a nobleman. It gave Christian a moment to share some side-eye with Eli about the minister’s freaking bow tie. Yellow and blue striped. Ugh. Who still wore those? He’d thought Zupan a strong, steady choice after the last PM almost engineered a coup. But boring and stuffy were now the words he’d use to describe the man.
It probably boded well for Moncriano.
Just not for their weekly meetings together.
“Your Highness. My Lord.”
Elias shook his hand. “Muffin? We’ve got extra. You should never pass up the chance to sample anything made by the palace’s pastry chef.”
“No, thank you. I’d prefer to get on with the meeting.”
Boring, but not about to waste Christian’s time. That was a point in his favor. “Fine. But I’ll warn you that if you’re here to discuss anything related to a possible abdication of King Julian, there will be no meeting. I’ve listened to everyone’s viewpoints. Multiple times.”
“You haven’t heard mine yet,” Zupan said blandly.
The man barely had a point.
Christian stood to make his. “The members of the Privy Council were quite clear that you backed them. Frankly, if it is brought up again by you, or any member of Parliament, it’ll be interpreted as you assuming