Casey and Lexi glanced at each other, and then Casey shrugged. “I can’t say a definitive no, but I’ll go so far as to say not usually. There are sparks with physical attraction, but the connection is different.”
“I feel like I should know this stuff at my age,” I grumbled, frowning. “But I think things change a lot between sixteen and twenty-five.”
“Your father hasn’t really let you experience any of that,” Lexi said softly. “And now that you’re here with us, we’re happy to guide you.”
“So you’ll help me navigate all these weird feelings and sexual attraction and other insanity?”
They chuckled. “We’ll try,” Casey said.
“You can’t know any of that until you spend time with him,” Lexi added, “But you’ll need to think about the attraction you’re feeling.”
“I barely know him,” I said, laughing. “But I will admit to being incredibly attracted to his abs.”
“Thank you so much.” Casey’s husband Erik came in, grinning, and we all laughed. “See, honey? Women do love my abs.”
Though he was a king, he’d told me to call him Erik because he didn’t like to stand on ceremony at home, and that made me feel comfortable, too. I’d never met royalty before, and I’d been a little worried about staying here, but from my perspective, Casey hadn’t changed, and Lexi seemed at ease, so I was trying to be as well.
“It’s not polite to eavesdrop,” Casey told her husband, tilting up her face for a kiss. He kissed her soundly, grinning down at her, before continuing past us and into another room.
“I’m having a hard time picturing him as a king,” I said.
“Trust me,” Casey said. “It might not seem like it here at home, but when he gets up to speak to the people of his country, he’s very, very royal.”
“Yes, but is he royal in the bedroom?” Lexi asked, trying to keep a straight face.
“I don’t know what that means,” Erik said, coming back into the room and frowning. “How does one make royal love?”
“Got it.” He kissed her once more and disappeared again.
“Are you going to eavesdrop all night?” Casey yelled after him.
“Maybe?” he yelled back.
We all laughed.
“I think he’s trying to make you feel more at ease,” Casey said softly, glancing at me. “He’s not usually in and out like this when I have friends over.”
“He seems wonderful,” I told her. “You must love him very much.”
“More than anything other than my children,” she said. “He’s truly the only man in the world I would ever give up my music for.”
“Do you have to?” I asked her curiously.
“No, but there’s no time for much beyond our family and royal duties right now. Plus, the band is here in Vegas, while I’m going to be spending most of my time in Limaj. With a new baby, plus four other children who all need me, not to mention all my upcoming duties as queen, I’m already overwhelmed. I’ll always play and write songs, I think, since that’s how I relax, but to be in a band or something? It’s impossible.”
“But you’d make an appearance on our album if we need you to, right?” Lexi asked her.
“Absolutely. I’ll always make time for special projects, and anything to do with my boys—that’s what I’ve always called Bash and Tyler—is a priority after my family.”
“It’s ironic,” I said lightly. “You want to do music but can’t, and I’m being forced to play music when I don’t want to.”
“You don’t want to sing anymore?” Casey asked in surprise.
“I don’t want to perform anymore,” I admitted softly. “I want to write music, and I do love to sing, but I hate touring. Maybe it’s because of the way my father structures them, but if I had a choice, I’d stay home and write music for others to perform. That’s my dream.”
“I want to do both,” Lexi said. “I love my husband, and maybe in five or six years we’ll think about a family, but for now, all I want to do is write music, play music, and tour. I love performing.”
“Me too,” Casey said. “But I love Erik and my family more.”
“I don’t think I even know how to love anyone,” I whispered, looking away. “Or why anyone would want to love me back.”
Casey reached out and put her hand over mine. “Then it might be time to think about why.”