39. 39
39
Hettie
I can’t stop staring at my ring.
Bo never gave me an engagement ring the first time. It was only days between the proposal and the wedding, and we kept it a secret anyway, so there was no point in flashing a diamond.
Timothy never officially asked me to marry him. We only talked about him asking me, and deep down, I think I knew he never would. I knew he wanted to marry me—as much as he wanted anything—but it would have been more of a business transaction than a romantic highlight.
When Bo dropped to his knees during dinner of all things, that was a highlight. And then when he pulled out the ring box—not until Tema stopped hugging him—and showed me the ring, I was happy not to have another to compare it with, because anything else would have come up lacking.
It was from Queen Selene’s collection.
“I gave her that after Bo was born,” Magnus tells us after he calls for champagne, even letting Tema have the tiniest sip. He gently takes my hand and lifts it to the light. “Sapphire for his eyes. I gave her something when each of them was born, all with sapphires. ”
“I didn’t know that,” Odin mutters.
“I haven’t passed yours on yet,” Magnus tells him. “She was in her purple phase for Bo, so it’s a sapphire in the centre, with an amethyst and a purple garnet on either side.” His thumb smooths over the gemstones and I see his throat work.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper, closing my hand around his. “Thank you.”
“I wanted her to have something pretty to know I was so happy to be blessed with a child. And I wanted Bo to give it to you for the same reason. You’ve given this family another blessing.” He ruffles Tema’s hair with his other hand.
“You’re stealing his thunder, Mag,” Duncan chides with a laugh.
“I can’t help it.” The king takes his hand from mine and wipes his eyes. “I’m so glad to see the two of you finally together, and with our newest princess.”
“Me,” Tema cheers.
“No,” he corrects. “Your mother. Princess Hettie.”
That—I’m not expecting that. I wasn’t expecting any of it, but now that I’m here, as a member of the royal family of Laandia… it feels right.
Finally.
After several bottles of champagne and so many hugs of congratulations, we leave Tema for Mrs. Theissen to put to bed, and head into town.
Bo wants to tell Kalle and Gunnar in person, so Spencer sends the text to the brothers, and Odin joins us in the SUV.
“Usually we don’t have females along for the ride.” Odin grins, looking over his shoulder at where Abigail and I sit in the far back of the SUV.
“If you think I’m missing a second of this you’ve got another thing coming,” I tell him.
“Me, too,” Abigail cheers.
She hasn’t let go of my hand since we got in the car. “Are you sure it’s okay that I come,” she whispers as the boys start talking.
“ Yes ,” I assure her. “You’re a part of this as much as I am.”
“Not as much as you.”
“Yeah, well… Spencer clearly wants you along.”
Abigail shrugs, her gaze on the back of his dark head. “I’m not sure, but I’m having fun. Not as much fun as you, Princess Hettie.” She bumps my shoulder. “It’s going to take some time to get used to that.”
“Like forever.” I rub a finger over my new ring. That hasn’t taken that long to get used to, but the title, a new way of life… “What are you going to do?” I ask Abigail. “Obviously, I’m not going back to Victoria. But if you like it there—”
“Not enough to stay by myself.” She laughs. “I thought I’d go back and pack everything up. You can come with me, if you like, for a few days. Close up things.”
“I have to tell Granddad,” I muse .
“You could bring Bo along and then have him fly back with Tema for some Daddy-daughter time while we figure everything out,” Abigail suggests.
I give her a curious glance. “Have you been planning this?”
“Since I saw the two of you together,” Abigail admits with a laugh. “It was only a matter of time, Het. This is the best outcome for all of you.”
“I think so, too.”
“Although I’m not sure I’ll let Mrs. Theissen be your primary babysitter,” she pouts.
“She really wanted to stay with Tema.” It had been Mrs. Theissen who insisted Abigail join us. Bo wanted me to be with him when he told his brothers, and I wanted to go so I could tell Mabel at the same time.
“I have a feeling she won’t be alone for long,” Odin cuts in.
“Dad couldn’t stop talking about Tema,” Spencer adds. “She’s not going to get much sleep tonight with them watching her.”
“It’s two nights in a row,” I groan. “I feel like a bad mother.”
“You’re the furthest thing from a bad mother,” Abigail assures me.
Bo doesn’t say anything. Bo sits, head bowed as we talk and laugh on the drive to The King’s Hat. He’s so quiet that I start to wonder what’s wrong. Is this not what he wants? Did he make a mistake?
“What is it?” I demand as soon as we pile out of the car. I stare at his eyes, searching—
There’s wetness around his eyes, and all I see in them is love.
Lots and lots of love .
“I can’t believe this is really happening,” he says in a gruff voice and pulls me close.
I clutch his jacket. “I was afraid you thought—”
“No.” He cups my face with his big hands. “Don’t ever think that. This is what I want. You are what I want. What I’ve always wanted.”
And then his lips brush against mine, so warm in the cool air. It’s only a soft touch, but the way Bo looks at me after…
I reach up on my tiptoes and kiss him, pressing my lips against his like there’s nothing as important in the world.
That’s how he makes me feel.
“Dude.” There’s laughter as Spencer jostles Bo’s shoulder. “We doing this?”
“Not now,” Bo says against my lips. I laugh as I try to pull away. Bo chuckles and finally releases me.
“Let’s go,” I tell him. “We’ve got all the time in the world for this.”
“Now we do.” Bo slips off my glove and takes my hand. “And I’m buying you a better pair of gloves.”
“I can buy my own gloves.” Bo holds the door and I slip under his arm, eyes widening when I see the wall of Ericksons at the bar.
The wall of family.
Kalle and Edie behind the bar, with Edie looking at me expectantly. Gunnar and Stella on the other side, with Stella’s sister Sophie along with Silas and Fenella. Mabel is a few feet away.
And—Princess Lyra.
Lyra has the biggest smile on her face as she makes a beeline to Bo, practically pushing me aside to throw her arms around her big brother. “Did you know I was here?” she demands. “Is that why you called a meet?”
“This has nothing to do with you,” Bo tells her with a laugh. “But I’m really glad to see you.”
“Because you’ve been an idiot for too long.” Still with her arms around Bo’s neck, Lyra looks down at me. She’s not as tall as her brothers but she has a few inches on me. “Both of you.”
Three days ago, I would have dropped my gaze and walked away with my tail between my legs. Now, I stand tall, staring at the bright blue eyes and refusing to let her intimidate me. “Not anymore,” I say.
“Good,” Lyra says shortly. She unwraps from Bo, gives Spencer a cursory glance, and Abigail a much longer one. “What’s going on then?”
“I’ll tell you together.” Bo grabs my hand and pulls me over to the group.
“Took you long enough to get here,” Gunnar grumbles with a grin. “Spence said it was an emergency. But you look pretty happy for an emergency.”
Bo looks down at me and his mouth curves up in the biggest smile. He lifts my left hand. “We’re staying married.”
“And we’re having a big party to celebrate,” I add before the cheers make it impossible to hear anything.