Chapter Thirty-Six
Camille
I ’m beginning to wonder if my happily ever after will include Ryker after all. Something shifted between us since that day at the lavender field. While we were always friendly and flirty, it’s turned into more.
It’s the way Ryker looks at me with the same adoration as someone watching fireworks for the first time. The way he smiles in between our kisses now, when he used to only scowl at me. Or how every time we’re intimate, my body feels more at peace than ever before.
My cheeks heat up when he catches the kiss I just blew him, making me sink further into my seat.
“You two don’t seem like just friends to me,” Jasmine comments, making my eyes avert to her instead of the man who owns my heart.
“What do you mean? We’re besties,” I defend, sitting up straighter.
Theo chuckles, leaning over to say, “Bullshit. Ry guy just put his glove over his heart while he looked at you as if you were hanging the stars in the sky. There is nothing friendly about that. ”
My cheeks burn even more as butterflies dance in my belly because he’s right. Before I get too giddy and mentally plan our wedding, I play it cool while shrugging my shoulders. “Maybe.”
Jasmine leans toward us. “Maybe, my ass! That man is in love with you. This is so exciting. We can go on triple couple dates and—” she starts, but Theo interrupts her.
“Oh, so now y’all are in love and good old Theo gets the boot? I see how it is.” He shakes his head, crossing his arms over his chest.
We both laugh at his pouting. I know he’s been hooked on Marcela since he first laid eyes on her, but with her recent breakup, I don’t think she’ll be open to anything anytime soon.
We made a group chat with us four girls, and we’ve been checking in with her. She, Jasmine, and I have plans to go out for dinner next week. I meant it when I said that she now has us and she’ll never be alone.
“Not at all, Theo. Single or not, you’re with us for life,” Jasmine says, leaning her head on his shoulder.
“Uhm, Jay bay bay, I love you and all but please take your head off my shoulder. I would love to see my senior year and if Elio sees this somehow, I’m not sure I will.”
“He’s just a little possessive when warranted, but it’s you. It’s fine,” she tells him while digging in her purse. “You just reminded me I should text him and see how it’s going. He’s working with my dad today.”
“I still can’t believe I’m friends with Elio fucking Mazzo,” Theo swoons, never missing the opportunity to express how much he loves him.
I shake my head as I laugh, and it hits me all of a sudden. I feel like I’m finally where I’m meant to be. Not only do I have a group of friends that feel like family and a man I’m in love with, but I also got the job offer I’ve been dreaming of.
I have yet to email them as I’ve been busy with social media tasks before the game, but as soon as I get home tonight, that’s my plan. I cannot wait to tell Ryker.
Hope for the future I’ve been dreaming about since I was a kid begins to bloom in my chest, leaving me with the cheesiest smile on my face as we settle in for the game.
There’s a full crowd for tonight’s game against RLU’s top rival and they’re fighting for first place. I have various cameras set up in strategic spots to catch the best angles all night. That way I can sit with my friends and enjoy the game.
“It’s going to be weird without you two not here next year,” Theo comments as the game gets underway.
“It’s going to be weird not being a student. I mean, what is that even like?” Jasmine adds. “And I’ll be running a business? Yikes.”
“I thought you were excited, Minnie?” I ask while dipping my soft pretzel into hot sauce.
“I am, but it’s also nerve-wracking. I want to do well, and the pressure feels immense at times. Thank God for Elio. He’s been helping me stay calm and organized.” She sips her water, a small smile on her lips.
She’s so in love, and I know the feeling because I am too.
“You’ll be great. I can’t wait to be the first customer,” I tell her.
“Nope, I’ll be camping out the night before so I’ll be the first,” Theo protests.
I’m about to argue with him for fun when my phone vibrates in my pocket. I don’t even look to see who it is, answering with a finger to my other ear in order to hear over the cheering of the crowd. “Hello?”
“Maribel,” my father’s commanding, smooth voice hits me like a ton of bricks.
“Before you hang up, I need you to hear me out,” he pleads, sounding frantic. It puts me on edge because he sounds genuinely nervous .
“Give me a minute,” I tell him, then signal to Jasmine and Theo that I’m stepping aside to take a call.
As soon as I’m outside the stadium, Idris is right beside me. “Put him on speaker,” he mouths.
I do as he says then say, “What is it?”
“Tell Idris I say hello.”
My blood runs cold, while Idris begins tapping away at his phone.
“How did you know?”
“I am the king, Maribel. You should know better. We may not have spoken to you in years, but we’ve always known where you were.”
My gut sinks at that. “You also haven’t reached out to me in years. Why now?”
“We wanted to let you live. I know you thought we were hard on you, but we love you. We made sure you were safe from afar but never wanted to interfere,” he says, something akin to surprise filling me.
“What do you want?” I ask, needing to get to the point.
My father sighs, and I imagine him pulling a hand down his face. He always did that when he was frustrated. I haven’t seen him in years, and I wonder if gray sits where chocolate brown hair used to be.
“ Tu dois te marier. ”
Sorry, what? I blink and blink again, losing focus of what’s in front of me. I grip onto Idris as I try to form words. “ Attends, quoi ?”
“Our country hasn’t been doing well…and we need to join forces with our neighboring isle, Calis. The only way that is going to happen is if you marry the prime minister’s son, Jacques.”
My ears ring while my blood runs cold, a sense of dread consuming me. I knew this would happen, where one day he would guilt me back home. If there’s one thing I don’t want more than going back to the life of royal affairs, it’s to see my country fall apart. I may not like being a princess, but I’ve never had an issue with my country itself.
“I plead with you, Maribel, come back and marry Jacques. C’est la seule chose qui peut nous sauver, sauver notre peuple. ”
“There has to be another way,” I cry, tears soaking my cheeks. “Partner with a different country. Ask Q for money—”
“Your brother chose to leave us. I will not ask him for a thing,” my father spits, hatred coating every word.
“But he would do it. You know he would,” I try to convince him.
“You’re coming home to get married. End of story.” His tone is final.
Idris takes the phone from my hand. “What if she doesn’t, Your Highness?”
“Well, then that boyfriend of hers will never play baseball again.”
I yank my phone back, my voice icy as I threaten, “Don’t you dare even think of hurting him.”
“You know violence is not my thing, dear. I’d simply make a few phone calls and ensure he’s never drafted. Not even by a minor league.”
“We’ll think about it and get b—” Idris starts, but I cut him off.
“When?”
Idris mouths, “What are you doing?”
I ignore him and listen to my father’s answer. “You’re set to be married in two days. I’d like you here as soon as possible.”
“I’ll be on the next flight out.” My voice is devoid of emotion, numb as I hang up on him.
Idris sets his hands on my shoulders, shaking me. “Cami, what are you thinking? ”
“There’s nothing we can do, Idris. He’s won.” My tears are now free-falling down my face.
“I’d like to make sure everything he said is true. It’ll take some time to hack into their systems again, so just give me a day.”
I shake my head. “We don’t have that time. If I’m not there within the next twelve hours, who knows what he’ll do.”
“I don’t like this.” He began to pace. “Let’s call your brother and figure out a plan, okay?”
I nod, but my mind is set. I know what I need to do. Let’s just say it won’t be the first time I give Idris the runaround.
“Okay, but can I finish watching the game first?” I ask.
“We need to get back to your place. My team needs a debrief and we need to get started as soon as possible,” he stresses, his jaw clenched tightly with each word.
“You go ahead then. I’ll stay here.”
“Do you think I’m clueless, Camille? I know what you’re doing.”
More tears wet my cheek, my breath unsteady as I speak, “I’m not doing anything. I need to talk to Ryker in case this is all true…I need to say goodbye.” My voice cracks, my chest aching at the thought. “I’ll have him bring me home.”
Idris looks conflicted, his dark brown eyes searing a path right through me. “Fine,” he relents. “But it’s not a goodbye. We’re getting you out of this.”
I nod, unable to say much more.
“I’m having the team meet at your place. I told them I’d be there in fifteen. Text me if anything else happens, okay?”
“I will.” I half smile, but it doesn’t reach my eyes. I make my way back when he leaves with one name running in my mind.
Ryker.
The thought of saying goodbye to him is like a weight on my chest. I can’t do it, but I have to protect him. I love Ryker more than anything or anyone in this world, and in order to make sure he’s happy, I have to sacrifice my own happiness.
He won’t be able to keep me forever, like I imagined in our happily ever after, but I’ll cherish what we had for the rest of my life, no matter how painful it’ll be to hold on to the memories.
I text Jasmine as soon as Idris leaves and tell her to meet me by the concession stand. I can see her once I round the corner, right where I asked her to be. My chest caves in once more, because I’ll be losing her too.
“Cami.” Jasmine’s brows pinch as she rushes toward me and envelops me in her arms. “What’s wrong?”
I wrap my arms around her, squeezing her tightly. “I have to go home.” I sniffle.
Jasmine pulls back slowly, her eyes pooling with tears. “Why do I feel like you won’t come back?”
I shake my head as another tear slipped through. “I don’t know if I am.”
“What’s going on?” she asks, pulling me off to the side so no onlookers can watch.
“My dad called me, and I have to get married to someone in a neighboring island in order to save my country or else he’ll ruin Ryker’s life, as if the guilt from our country going under wouldn’t be enough,” I tell her.
Her mouth pops open. “This isn’t real life.” She huffs. “This just doesn’t happen. How is this happening?”
“I don’t know, but I can’t test my father. My brother’s security team is looking into the validity of everything he said, but it’ll take hours. I don’t have that kind of time.” I stand taller, gathering what little confidence I have left to see this through.
“This isn’t fucking fair,” she cries, pulling me in for another hug .
I shake against her, our sobs mingling together. “I know, but I need you to do me a favor.”
She pulls back, looking at me with sadness. “Anything.”
“I need you not to tell anyone where I’m going. My brother’s team wants me to wait here until they figure it out. But I’m going to head to the airport now. The sooner I get there and assess what is going on, the more help I can be to figure out what I can do to get out of it,” I explain. “And I need you to tell Ryker. I…I can’t say goodbye to him. Tell him I love him and that hopefully I’ll be back for him if he wants.”
I know it’s going to hurt him if I leave without giving him a reason why. He specifically asked me to never do that, but he’d convince me to stay, and I need to be out of here sooner than later.
“So there’s hope you’ll be back?” Jasmine brightens a little.
“I can’t promise anything, Minnie. But I’m going to try my best. You can count on that.” I pull her into another hug, hoping this won’t be the last time I see her.
Once we part, I walk down the hall, beginning my journey back to Lorsica.
With hopes that I’ll be back where home truly is.
Here.