Chapter 14
Lyra
G
rayson is using my snazzy convertible, so I’m escorted back to Camille’s in one of the SUVs.
What the hell just happened? And why, when I haven’t been alone in days, is there no one in the car for me to ask?
None of the producers ride back with me, which is a smart move for them, since I’m in a mood.
I don’t know exactly what kind, but it’s definitely a mood.
Seeing Spencer was like someone slapped my face, then gave me the biggest bear hug. I’m so angry that he showed up right after I had such a good date. Right after I started thinking that maybe things will be okay, and maybe my person could be here.
But the anger can’t wipe out the sheer delight in seeing him. The relief that he was there. That he came for me.
I try not to focus on that because how can I be furious with a silly grin on my face?
And I want to stay mad. That’s what my head thinks is a good idea. A great idea. Because—why? What is Spencer trying to prove?
But then my heart gets in the way because of that one line. “I’m here for you.”
What does that even mean? He’s had his whole life— my whole life—and now, when I’m looking at moving on, away from thoughts of him, he’s here.
I know what it means. I’ve had men declare their feelings for me. I’ve had proposals of marriage, offers to buy me anything from jewelry to small islands. I’ve had offers to buy me.
But Spencer Laz, whom I have known my entire life, showing up to join the cast of men vying for my heart? I never saw that coming.
That doesn’t mean I never secretly hoped for a grand gesture from him. I just didn’t think it would be this. Now.
I thought I had accepted that he had found love with Abigail, that she was his future, which left me adrift to find my own.
Did I think—deep down with the things I never speak about, like thoughts of me somehow becoming queen of Laandia—Spencer and I would end up together?
Yes. Yes, I really did think that.
And then I didn’t.
And now I don’t know what to think.
It’s a quick drive back to the house with my thoughts racing.
I tumble out of the car when we arrive, jumping out before it even comes to a complete stop. Camille and Odin are waiting for me in the kitchen, along with Bo.
Bo is here, along with Hettie and Tema. For a moment, I’m even more confused until I realize he flew Spencer to the island.
Tema is the only one who reacts, throwing her arms around my waist to give me a tight hug.
I haven’t known her long, but we were quick to bond, being Swifties and fans of LEGO flowers sets.
I make a point of sending her something in the mail every few weeks and she responds with texts of her pictures and what books she’s reading from Bo’s phone.
I breathe into her little girl smell—sunscreen, strawberry shampoo and Jolly Rancher gummies—and take a moment.
No one says a word until Hettie pulls Tema away from me and leads her from the room.
“Spencer showed up,” I say unnecessarily when they disappear.
“I flew him over,” Bo tells me.
“Why?”
“Why did I bring him?” Bo asks.
“Why is he here?” It comes out as a bit of a screech, like one of the seabirds from my visit to the bird sanctuary and both Bo and Odin grimace.
Camille pulls out the chair beside her. “What did he say?” she asks as casually as if we’re discussing the weather.
I shake my head. “I can’t sit. I need to move. Possibly hit something.” I stalk across the room. Sitting quietly has never been a thing for me, especially not when I’m upset. Or confused. “I didn’t talk to him. Much.”
“I thought that was the whole point,” Odin demands.
“Well, it was a bit of a shock to see him there, and you know, I’ve got stuff to do,” I tell him sarcastically. “I have a cocktail party to host, and I really need to stop smelling like whale.”
“Did you see whales?” Tema calls. She’s still in the doorway with an embarrassed Hettie.
This is going to be awkward because Abigail is Hettie’s best friend. I haven’t warmed up to Bo’s wife like I should because of that.
“I did,” I tell Tema. “You can come help me get dressed, just give me a minute to figure out my life.”
“Okay!” she cheers.
“Why don’t I show you to Lyra’s room?” Camille offers and leaves to escort my niece and Hettie.
I owe her one because I don’t want Hettie to report back to Abigail.
Once they’ve gone. I turn to Bo. “What did he say?’ I ask, taking the screech out of my tone.
“He contacted Grayson, said he wanted to come on the show,” my brother reports.
“He wanted to come on the show,” I repeat, shaking my head in pure disbelief. Spencer cares so much about privacy that I never expected there would be even an alternate universe in which Spencer would show up on a reality show. But he’s here.
He’s here.
It doesn’t help the confused collage of my thoughts.
Instead of my room, I head straight to Camille’s office. There’s a landline there, and since my phone was confiscated when we started shooting, this is my only way to communicate with the outside world.
And there’s one person I really want to communicate with.
Sophie answers on the first ring. “I wondered if I’d hear from you,” she says with a smile in her voice. “What’s going on?”
“Can you tell me?” I beg.
“Did you talk to him?”
My shoulders droop, relieved that Sophie seems to know about Spencer showing up so I don’t have to tell her the story. Because I’m not sure if I’m the good guy here? Or the villain.
Should I have stayed to talk to him? Should we have worked things out right then and there?
Would Spencer have told me that he’s had feelings for me this whole time, instead of vaguely suggesting that there is the potential that he might have feelings for me. Maybe.
It’s something he needs to figure out.
And that’s why I’m going to stay mad.
“No, I didn’t talk to him,” I say a little too vehemently. “I’m supposed to be with seven other guys tonight and I can’t just stop and say, hey dudes, gotta go talk to this guy here.”
This is your show. You can do anything you want.
“You can do anything.” Sophie echoes my mother’s imaginary voice. “Don’t worry, I’m coming to you. I’ve already asked Gunnar to give me a ride to you tomorrow morning. I’ll be there first thing. We’ll figure this out,” she soothes.
“How am I supposed to figure out your brother?” I demand, but the thought of Sophie here does calm me down. The only thing better would be Kate.
With the two of them, I can handle anything, even the sudden earthquake that is my love life.
You can handle everything, even on your own.
I blow out my breath in a raspberry. “Can you at least tell me what he’s doing here? All he said was about maybe feelings. What about Abigail?”
“They broke up,” Sophie reports. “How do you feel about him?”
I want to feel nothing. I’ve always tried to feel nothing and the stupid idiot won’t let me.
I even asked him to go to a wedding with me and he said no because of Abigail.
What was I supposed to think about that?
I remember what they were like hanging with Bo and Hettie years ago. It made me sick to see them together.
Because I wanted that with him.
“You know,” I murmur.
“Ah—no, I don’t,” she says. “No one does because you refuse to talk about him. The chemistry between the two of you is amazing, Lyra. It always has been. But the only thing you ever say is that he’s “Just Spencer.”
“He is just Spencer.”
“Well, Just Spencer just showed up on your doorstep, hat in hand and ready to woo you. I can’t even picture that image in my head,” she adds, giving an audible shiver.
“See? What am I supposed to think if you can’t even? He’s your brother.”
“That’s what I can’t even,” Sophie wails. “He’s my brother and you’re my—are we best friends again?”
Despite my turmoil over Spencer, Sophie’s question brings a rush of warmth to my chest. Sophie had been such a big part of my childhood, and then she wasn’t. Spencer came to live at the castle, and I lost Sophie in the bargain.
We both did.
“You’re the one who stopped being my best friend,” I tell her primly. “But since that was all your mother’s fault, I suppose I can forgive you.”
I will never forgive her mother for causing the rift, not only between me and Sophie, but between Spencer and his sisters but Sophie is easy to forgive.
“Sooo kind of you,” Sophie teases, the warmth in her voice matching mine. “But back to Spencer?”
“I’ve always wanted him, Soph,” I admit, more to myself than to her. “What am I supposed to do now? I’ve got all these guys here and some of them are—I can see potential. I really can. But now that Spencer is here…”
Nothing is a sure thing, and while that’s never been a problem for me before, right now it’s making my mind race in crazy circles.
“Give him a chance,” Sophie tells me, sounding more rational and mature than your usual twenty-five-year-old woman. More rational and mature than me.
“That’s all he’s asking for,” she continues. “Just like the other guys. See if there’s something there.”
“And if there’s not?”
“Then you’ll finally know.”