Royal Ruse - Emma Lea Page 0,19

clenched. I didn’t know what it was I wanted her to say. I didn’t know if I wanted her to call the entire thing off or not.

“Is that what you want?” she asked softly, her eyes dropping to her mug.

“Frankie,” I said, reaching out to take one of her hands in mine. They were smaller than mine, another thing I’d never noticed. Frankie was larger than life, always. “I want to go to Kalopsia but not if it means bringing all this drama into your life. I should have told my mother to stay out of it, and I’m sorry for that. I’m sorry this has disrupted your life so much. I will completely understand if you want to call it off.”

She huffed and rolled her eyes. “This is hardly a big drama,” she said with a slight smile. “Besides, you know I’m always up for a bit of excitement.”

“Being tagged in a viral video is hardly a ‘bit of excitement.’”

Frankie shrugged. “The constant notifications are annoying, but it’s really no biggie. I was more concerned about the fact that we will have to lie to the king.” She frowned and bit her lip, drawing my eyes to her mouth.

The kiss we shared really hadn’t been my finest moment. I’d like to do it again just to prove to her I knew how to kiss.

“Could that be considered treason? Could we get in serious trouble? Could we be hanged?” she finished in a whisper.

“Um, what?” I asked, dragging my eyes away from her lips and back to her eyes.

“Can the king have you arrested for lying to him?” she asked, and I smiled.

“No,” I said with relief. “Is that all you’re worried about?”

“Is that all I’m worried about?” she asked with alarm. “I don’t think you fully appreciate my worry over being tried for treason and hanged.”

I chuckled. “We won’t be tried for treason and hanged,” I replied. “Does that make you feel better?”

She bit her lip and nodded.

I squeezed her hand. I liked the way it felt in mine. I didn’t think we’d ever held hands before.

“So you still want to do this? Now that the threat of corporal punishment has been removed, do you still want to play my fake fiancée and come to Kalopsia with me?”

“On one condition,” she said, pulling her hand from mine and crossing her arms. I held my breath, waiting for the crushing blow she was about to give me. “I want to tell my parents the truth.”

I huffed out the breath I was holding. It wasn’t ideal, it also wasn’t the deal-breaker I was expecting. The fewer people who knew the truth the better, but I liked Frankie’s mom and dad and I knew they would understand.

“As long as you know I won’t be telling my parents the truth,” I said.

“Oh, that was a given,” she said with a grin that made her eyes sparkle.

“Let’s shake on it, fake fiancée,” I replied with a grin, holding out my hand.

Instead of taking my hand, Frankie pulled me into a hug and I was ashamed to admit I closed my eyes and dragged in a deep breath of her chocolate chip cookie scent as I relished the feel of her in my arms. I didn’t know what it meant…or rather; I refused to admit what it meant. I was way on down the denial river and just hoped I’d be able to keep afloat.

Francesca

I found Mom and Dad sitting at a table in the little Mexican restaurant where we’d agreed to meet. It was close to the hospital and across the river from Dad’s office. I waved at them and placed my order before joining them at the table with my lunch.

“So…you and Lucas are engaged?” Mom asked as soon as I sat down.

Straight to the point, that was my mom.

“Yeah, sort of,” I replied with a sigh as I stuck a straw in my Coke and took a long drink.

“How can you be ‘sort of’ engaged?” Dad asked, watching me carefully.

I looked between my parents and groaned. “Okay, so you know what Lucas’ parents are like, right?” I asked but didn’t wait for their answers before I plowed on. “So, the king has summoned Lucas to Kalopsia. He wants Lucas’ dad to pass the title to Lucas and for Lucas to join his court.”

“How does that have anything to do with you and Lucas ‘sort of’ being engaged?” Mom asked.

“Lucas’ father wouldn’t hand him the title and let him go unless he was