Chapter 13
Spencer
“D
ude, that’s what she said when she saw me too.” One of the men laughs and I do a double take when I see Ashton Carrington is here.
There’s a lot more than just Ashton, but right now the seven she came in with are flanking Lyra like she’s their prized possession, one they don’t want to share.
“Lyra, please? I just need a minute.” I hate the note of pleading in my voice, but I should have expected it. Lyra will not make this easy for me.
She might make me beg.
Am I prepared for that? How far am I willing to go?
“Lyra, Spencer approached us about joining the show.” Grayson Grant is going to need the talents of a very expensive mediation lawyer if he wants to get this on camera.
Which I know he does—The other producer—Rue or Prue—practically jumped up and down when I got there and they started planning our “reunion.”
“I realize this is unconventional,” he continues, “but because of your history with him, we made an exception. Won’t you listen to what he has to say?”
Lyra snarls at Grayson. “He has a girlfriend.”
“Not anymore,” I say quickly. “Abigail and I—”
“Did you break up with her?”
“Can I talk to you alone for a minute?” I plead.
“There is no alone here.”
“Well, away from your…” Guards is what I want to say because I think the huge guy behind Lyra is growling at me. “From your friends. For just a minute. Please, Lyra.”
At least Grayson is on my side, because none of the pack is. The host inclines his head, and with a frown reminiscent of seven-year-old Lyra, she stomps over to one of the pillars.
A cameraman follows her. I guess that’s what she meant about never being alone.
I signed up for this—better get used to it.
“Guess she didn’t like the surprise,” I say lamely, as I head over to her.
“None of us likes this surprise,” one of the men snaps. I don’t bother to look back to see who it was because now I’m standing in front of Lyra, and she’s all I can see.
Lyra, who has her hands on her slim hips, and an expression that would evoke fear in the bravest of men.
It’s not the first time I’ve seen it. “Talk,” she orders.
She looks… she looks amazing. Reddish hair swept up into a ponytail, a scatter of freckles across her nose from being out in the sun. Her white tank top hugs her curves, the pink strap of her bikini slipping down her shoulder.
I’ve argued cases in courts of law. I’ve given interviews on camera. I’ve made speeches, introduced each of the princes at events at one time or another, as well as the king. I’m articulate. I’m a good speaker.
Then why can’t I get the words out? Why is it so hard to tell Lyra how I feel? How I’ve always felt. “I thought we could … try.”
Her blue eyes narrow. “Try what?”
“Try to be together. As more than friends.”
“I wasn’t aware we were friends.” She tugs up her strap angrily. “What about Abigail?”
I shake my head. Based on Lyra’s reaction, I don’t have time to go into details, but she deserves something. “Abigail saw that I had issues about you going on the show. We decided that I need the space to finally figure out what it is between us.”
While that may not be exactly what happened, it’s a good recap.
Lyra studies me for a long moment. There’s no hint of a smile or a welcome light in her eyes. She looks at me like I’m a stranger.
I’ve also been the recipient of that look before and it’s not pretty.
“I wasn’t aware there was something between us,” she finally drawls in an icy voice.
Something snaps inside me. It’s one thing when we both have been denying a connection, but now that I’m here and willing to take a chance…
“This—” I gesture to the space between us that seems to be shrinking since both of us have started leaning toward each other.
“This is something. You’re lying to yourself if you think there’s nothing between us. ”
“Apparently you’ve been lying to me for years, so what’s the difference?”
“I’ve never lied,” I tell her. “And I’m here now to find out once and for all if you have the same feelings for me that I do for you.”
Unless it’s just me. Oh god, please tell me it’s not just me.
For a moment, a heart-breaking moment that seems to drag on forever, I really do think that’s the case. Then Lyra opens her mouth.
And shuts it.
It seems like I’m not the only one at a loss for words.
“Why now?” she finally manages.
I can only shrug. “Has there been a better time?”
And that’s all I get to say.
The producers break us up, sweeping me aside as they whisk Lyra away from me.
From all the men.
At least they get hugs, and I grit my teeth at seeing Lyra being passed around from one pair of arms to the next, a few of the men managing to kiss her cheeks.
Whatever anger she feels toward me doesn’t transfer to them.
Lyra climbs into an SUV, leaving her guardians slowly circling me like they’re a pack of hyenas and I’m a wounded antelope.
At least the cameras are still rolling, so I think I’m safe enough.
“Who are you?” A tall, tattooed man wearing a black tank and pink, patterned shorts steps forward a growl. He looks like he enjoys snakes and motorcycles and possibly bar fights.
Maybe not safe enough.
“This is the fifth prince of Laandia.”
“You’re Leo Whyte,” I say with surprise, recognizing the speaker from a television show, some sit-com Abigail made me watch.
“I am.” But there’s no agreeable grin on his face like he always wore in the show. “What are you doing here?
“His Dad was in the band with the king,” comes another voice, and I give a start to see the drummer of the band Water Rhinos standing there, fingers drumming on his thigh. “Didn’t you grow up with the royal family?”
“You grew up with Lyra?” Scary guy demands.
“Kind of.”
“He’s the brother’s best friend,” a tall blond with an open, handsome face says. I’m glad he’s not recognizable. Where did they come up with these guys?
I nod. “I’m Spencer Laz.”
“I know this isn’t ideal for you,” Grayson takes pity on me, as the mutters become louder. “But I know you all want the best for Lyra. She needs to have all the options as she travels on her journey to find love.”
Who writes this stuff?
“And Spencer is an option,” Grayson continues. “They have a shared past—”
“What kind of past?” Ashton Carrington smirks at me.
“A history,” Grayson says firmly before I can answer. “And as long as this is what Lyra wants, we need to give her the respect to explore every possibility.”
“What if she doesn’t want to?” demands the growly man.
“Then Spencer will say goodbye,” Grayson confirms. “It’s her decision.”
“So you didn’t bring him here to make trouble?” asks a tall, shaggy-haired man who also looks vaguely familiar.
“Is there going to be trouble?” Grayson asks, looking at the group and then at me, waiting like a primary school teacher for us all to shake our heads.
“I suggest you get changed because Lyra will be back soon to finish your date with the cocktail party. And Spencer, you’ll be with the rest of the men tonight. ”
“So he’s not showing up and getting a date right away?” asks a red-haired man.
Grayson shakes his head. “No, Spencer will wait to get a rose like everyone else. I’ll come in with you and get things smoothed over,” he says to me. “I’ll see the rest of you later.”
He inclines his head to me and I follow him into the lobby of the hotel.
I knew Odin and Camille have put a lot of hope and faith in the Oceanview being able to bring in tourists to Saint Pierre, and from my first sight of the newly renovated place, I think they were right to focus on it.
The lobby is light and airy with a wall of glass doors open to let in the ocean breeze.
There are a few men scattered around the lobby, lounging in comfortable chairs with books or notebooks. Grayson says a few words and they drop their belongings to follow us out to the pool area.
There are no electronics allowed. That’s going to be more difficult than winning over Lyra for me.
“I’m not questioning your decision to come,” Grayson says in a low voice to me. “But I need to warn you that this might not be easy.”
“Has she already found someone?” I ask, throat dry at the thought.
“She might have made connections with a few of the men.”
A few? “She looked happy,” I say. “Before she saw me.”
“Sounds like they had a good day. They went whale watching.”
“Lyra loves that.”
“This is why we wanted you here,” he tells me as we step outside. The pool area is full of men—swimming, sleeping, lifting weights.
These are my competition.
“You know Lyra better than anyone else,” Grayson continues as a few of them call out greetings.
No one looks very welcoming to me.
“I hope she might be able to open up with you here. Come on over, guys,” he calls. “I want you to meet someone.”
“Spencer?” calls a voice. A man wearing a bathing suit louder than living in a castle full of kids pulls himself off a lounge chair and makes his way over to me.
“Lucas Nyle.” I recognize him right away since I’ve made a point of knowing most of the residents of Battle Harbour at least by sight. Lucas was a few years younger than me in school. He was in Lyra’s grade, if I remember correctly.
“What are you doing here?” Lucas demands with a nervous laugh.
Does no one think I could be here for Lyra?
“This is Spencer Laz,” Grayson calls out. “He’s a good friend of Lyra’s brother. Brothers,” he corrects. “He’s a little late to the party, but he’ll be joining you all in throwing his hat in the ring for Lyra.”
At least these men aren’t glaring at me, but no one is very excited to see me.
Except Lucas. “Spencer, dude, I never thought I would see you here.” Lucas extends a hand like we’re friends.
We’re not. If we were, he might not be surprised to see me.
“I didn’t think I’d see you either,” I say.
“Yeah, well when they asked for the boy next door, I jumped at the chance. Lyra’s always been pretty special.
But you should know that already. This guy is like the fifth prince of Laandia,” Lucas tells the others, slapping me on the shoulder.
“We gotta hang out with him because he’s got the inside track. ”
I’ve had to deal with all sorts of people, so I know it’s hard coming back from a bad first impression. And unless Lucas stops talking, he’s not coming back from this.
He doesn’t stop. Instead, he starts spouting Battle Harbour gossip about me. And Lyra.
I’m not sure if Lucas is trying to make himself look good by knowing all this information about me, or showing the others that I’m a threat.
“I thought you had a girlfriend?” I interrupt Lucas. “Or was it a fiancée?”
Lucas’s face drains of colour. “No—no, no. No, we broke up. A long time ago actually.”
“Is that so?”
Along with knowing the residents, I make sure I’m kept informed of what’s going on in town. I also have staff who love to gossip.
“Sad, but I… I said I’m coming here. I’m going to take this chance with Princess Lyra, and that’s it,” Lucas says in a hearty voice, not like a man who broke up with a woman for a one-in-twenty-five chance with Lyra Erickson.
Like me. I don’t sound like that. I’m determined, but I also miss Abigail.
“That’s too bad,” I tell him. “You guys were together a long time.”
“Well, I’m moving on with Lyra. I hope.”
Grayson looks at us out of the corner of his eye, and I can see that Lucas’s time here will soon come to an end as clearly as if I were predicting the future.
I also get the feeling it’s not going to make me any more popular among the men.