lucky, though.” Dante takes a step into the living room and sits down on one of the sofas. He stretches his legs out and crosses them at the ankle, looking completely comfortable in his own skin.
I envy the ease with which he carries himself. Sometimes, it feels like my entire existence is just one long, awkward struggle. Seeing people who just float through life makes me wish that I wasn’t so anxious all the time.
I’ve always been this way, and in the past few months, every time my body trembles it makes me think that my disease is progressing.
The Prince takes a deep breath. “When I was a kid, a video of me went viral. I was sick, and I ended up throwing up all over my ceremonial uniform.” Dante glances at me, shaking his head. “It seems so pathetic to say that now, but it really scarred me.”
“I get that.”
“It was at a time when there were things going on between my mother, my father, and my uncle.” He inhales, shaking his head. “Things got out of control, and I just decided that the public eye wasn’t for me. The throwing up was just the straw that broke the camel’s back, really.”
Dante pinches his lips.
“It was back in the day when ‘viral’ really meant viral. Not now, where anytime a video gets a few thousand views, they say it’s viral. In those days, a viral video meant that everyone had seen it. Nearly everyone in the world has seen me blow chunks on my little ten-year-old’s ceremonial uniform.”
“I would definitely replay that until the end of my days,” I laugh. “It would keep me up at night for years.”
“It got really bad when I was eleven or twelve. My mother had run off with my uncle, and she’d tried to take me with her. It was a mess. I was afraid to go out in case someone made fun of me.” Dante grimaces. “I just cracked. I couldn’t handle it. The rest of my family were really understanding. They let me work in the background, and my face hasn’t been that publicized. Luca stepped forward, as did Theo. People still know who I am, but I’m not nearly as recognizable as they are.”
I grin. “I can attest to that…Todd.”
“I’ll admit, that was a first.” Dante smiles. He nods his chin toward me. “What’s your interview?”
I blow the air out of my lungs, shaking my head. “An exclusive interview about my overdose, anxiety, and recovery. ‘Margot LeBlanc bares it all.’ I’m supposed to be vulnerable and open and win back my audience with my candor. Or so my publicist says.”
“That’s the stuff of nightmares.”
“Don’t remind me. I’ll just try to get through it. It’ll be my first time in front of the cameras since…” I take a deep breath. “Since I left for the retreat.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
I smile sadly. “I don’t think so. I just have to prepare myself for the internet trolls who talk about how much weight I’ve gained, and how my agent dumped me, and how my sponsorships are falling through. You think you have thick skin until you read comments online.”
Dante laughs. “Just try not to throw up on yourself. I can say from experience that the comments on that video are vicious.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” I stand up, smiling at the Prince. “Have you had breakfast yet?”
As Dante follows me into the kitchen, I’m surprised to note that the tension in my body has eased. The Prince offers to make pancakes.
“I won’t say no to a prince cooking for me,” I say, sliding onto a bar stool at the kitchen island.
Prince Dante smiles, spinning around in the kitchen and opening cupboards to look for a pan. I watch him as my heart eases and the panic that had started to mount inside me fades away.
Shockingly, the Prince can cook. He makes me laugh and forget all about my interview for a few hours.
By the time Melissa and my makeup artist arrive at the house, I’m relaxed and confident, and I haven’t let my own mind sabotage me…
…yet.
When Melissa turns the corner and flashes a smile at me, I relax even more.
“Come on, gorgeous. Let’s get you ready.”
I follow my friend into the bedroom and sit down where she directs me. She wiggles her eyebrows at me in the mirror.