Royally Benevolent (Resplendent Royals #4)

51. Pretty Great

51

PRETTY GREAT

WYATT

“ S he’s pretty great.” Rebecca walked around me to grab a bottle of olive oil from the pantry.

“What now?” I joked.

“Your girlfriend. The woman you’re staring at like a sap.”

I smiled, unable to hold back. Odette was reading an endless loop of picture books to Theo. When she’d finish one, the next would start. He’d pulled out all the books in his room—most of which were in French—and particularly delighted in Odette’s French onomatopoeia. He didn’t have me to rely on for that. My French did the job. I was—for sure—much better at French than Rick. However, I still had no idea what Odette screamed at me earlier. Just thinking about it made me tingle.

“She’s great, yeah. But I don’t know if she’s a girlfriend or not.”

“Oh? Well, lock that shit down. She loves the little guy.”

“The feeling is mutual. He will want to get rid of me and replace me with her.”

Rebecca laughed. “Nah. He loves Papa too much, but she might be in the running for a close third—after Mom, of course.”

“Often, Mom is in the first spot.”

“True. So, are you looking forward to alone time ?” Rebecca teased.

She couldn’t help but give me a playful jab. In truth, alone time interested me to no end. Whatever this morning was, I wanted even more this evening. It was so easy spending time with Odette. And while she wasn’t a fast hiker, she didn’t complain. Becca talked her ear off the entire time, but true to form, all Odette could say after that conversation was, “Your sister is very passionate.”

“I’m going to go relieve her. Poor thing is going to be hoarse, brother.”

“It was nice knowing you,” I joked and turned back to bowls of olive oil I’d prepped to go with dinner.

Odette walked up. “Can I help with anything?”

I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “No. Get a beer and relax. I feel bad letting him crowd you.”

“It’s okay. Christophe thinks I’m part of his body most of the time. Linny and Kari constantly want me to break up a fight. I cannot imagine what it will be like with four of them. I worry this one will be a girl, and we will all be so worn down.”

I snickered. “Oh, a little girl couldn’t be so bad.”

“I love them. I think they are adorable. They are also so trying, and they always argue. They are unconvinced you are ever right. I find Christophe clingy but otherwise easy.”

“Theo can be very challenging. He’s stubborn,” I said. “Like me. He doesn’t like to be told no.”

“I have heard it can be harder to raise only children.”

It hit me in the feels hard—harder than I expected. Odette meant nothing by her words, but it killed me. I pulled back, then reminded myself that if I closed myself off, I’d regret it. I had spooked her once. I couldn’t do it a second time like this.

“What is it?”

“You didn’t mean anything by it. It’s a me thing. It’s just that it wasn’t my intent to have an only child. It’s stupid, but that choice… it’s not a choice and?—”

“Oh, God, I’m so sorry, Wyatt,” Odette said. “I didn’t think about that.”

“It’s fine,” I said. “I know you didn’t. It’s an irrational thing.”

“Parenting is an irrational exercise,” Odette giggled. “Madness. If they were not cute, us grownups would not put up with it.”

“You’re right. And I’m pretty sure having four kids is harder than one. Anyone who believes that is lying to themselves, Odie. It can be challenging in some ways since he can’t entertain himself by bothering his younger sibling, but other than that, it’s pretty nice. It’s not what I imagined, though.”

“How many did you want?”

“Isla wanted two. I wanted three,” I said. “We compromised on… two. She wasn’t sure she wanted any kids when we first met, but when we had Theo, she couldn’t have loved him more. It took a while for him to come. We had some challenges but ultimately had a beautiful, healthy baby. We wanted to wait until he was two to try again.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You want kids, right?”

“I do.”

“I am amazed by people who, at twenty-three, are certain they want kids.”

“Yeah, I love them,” Odette laughed. “Alex says I am an old person at heart—an auntie for the ages. I’m doomed to be the bluestocking and doting aunt because I want kids.”

“You? God, that would be a waste.” I checked on the pasta. It was almost there.

“Wyatt, you already got complete access to me earlier. You don’t have to flatter me.”

“In those jeans, it would be a fucking crime not to flatter you.”

Odette’s round ass did it for me—especially in jeans, as I’d discovered.

She gave my arm a playful slap. “Oh, stop it.”

“You’re not going to end up alone. Promise. At least not for now.”

“Well, even we’re not?—”

“You’re my girlfriend, Odette.” I don’t know why I said it. “Right?”

“Uh… are we… you’re… okay with that?”

“Why not?” I laughed. “I could only be so lucky, Odette.”

“Okay, well, yeah. I didn’t think we would put a name to it.”

“We will. ”

“Are you interested in coming to the wedding?”

I agreed. “Yes, baby. Of course. The only thing I’d ask is… can we not make a big public deal of it? It’s not about you. It’s about… Theo. The public outcry. I worry about it. I want to attend the reception with you and support you. I know you’re in the wedding, so we wouldn’t sit together?—”

“We wouldn’t sit together anyhow. Non-royal attendees don’t sit with royals. No ring, no bring.”

I cocked my head.

“One of the million rules.”

“Ah.”

Despite acknowledging that much, Odette seemed down. She understood, but she wanted more. I wanted to give her the world, but I had to protect Theo. I wanted her to be mine . I wasn’t willing to share her.

“You deserve commitment and respect. I want to make it abundantly clear, Odette,” I explained. “But I also must manage Theo and his media exposure.”

“I get it,” I said. “And if you don’t want to come?—”

I squeezed her hand. “I care about you so much. I want to be there with you. I want to dance with the most beautiful woman in the room until my feet no longer take it.”