Chapter 43
forty-three
PARKER
Astrid was asleep when we arrived in London. She nodded off on my chest, curled up as I gave my manuscript yet another pass. She’d already reviewed it and urged me to send the thesis off. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust her judgement. It was that once I set that message in a bottle off, it was free forever—no longer under my control.
“Princess, we’re here.” I woke as we pulled into Victoria Station.
“Uh… what?”
“We’re here, love.”
“Oh, shit. Sorry,” Astrid groaned.
The old woman diagonal from her glared.
“You got a problem?” Astrid asked.
Sometimes, I forgot Astrid was a princess. Sometimes, it dumbfounded me this woman had once been a gilded virgin in a tower. I suspected she’d never been demure. Astrid had a hell of a mouth on her. I stifled a laugh. She didn’t like to be told to tone it down. The old bat left.
“God, I swear people are being pricks today,” Astrid said.
“Astrid, do you think this is the best time to?—”
“I will be on my best behaviour. I’m just on the blob and sort of cross.”
“The blob.”
“The crimson wave?”
“What?”
“My period.”
“Why so many euphemisms?” I asked.
“Because we’re in public , Parker.”
“But saying ‘shit’ or ‘fuck’ is alright?”
“It’s gross.”
“It’s a normal body process, darling,” I said. “And you have every right to talk about it. I didn’t realise.”
“Aunt Flo arrived this morning, and she came in hot. Sorry if you thought you’d be getting any action later.”
I rubbed her back. “Don’t apologise. You alright?”
“Cramps are a bitch. Apart from that, I don’t need your pity, Parker.”
Despite her protests, Astrid took my hand. I liked this—handholding, chatting, just being with her. We could argue all day about who was better at what or whose theory we thought was better, but she was still mine . Following some of the best sex I’d ever had, we’d clarified she was now my girlfriend . How quickly things changed! Unfortunately, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
We made our way to a hotel overlooking Green Park. I elected to walk. Astrid didn’t mind, and I figured the fresh air would do us good. The air was crisp, feeling cleaner than it likely should. The sun improved my mood. I wasn’t looking forward to this but was grateful to have moral support.
“So what is our strategy, mon lapin ?” Astrid asked.
I ignored her rare term of endearment. I rather liked it, even if admitting it felt sappy and over-the-top.
“Does everything require a strategy?”
Astrid shot me a look, “Of fucking course it does.”
“Okay, well, Carolyn is the sister I disagree with—the socialite. She wants the society wedding of the year. There is a budget. I’ve spoken to our accountant. Mum has hired a planner who—no doubt—wants to spend every penny she can of our money. This is a meeting of the minds. Why I am bringing you, I don’t quite know. I wish my baby sister were coming. Ashleigh is the sweet one. She’s got a wicked sense of humour you’d appreciate. Unfortunately, this is about money. I hate nothing more than doling out cash.”
“I know why you’re bringing me,” Astrid said.
I cocked my head.
“You would like to anger your mother while simultaneously flexing. She’ll whinge about how you are alone, but now you not only have a girlfriend, you’ve got a… me?”
She did a little flourish. I snickered.
“Yes, a you, Astrid. Perhaps a bit. Are you a flex?”
“I’m a goddamn princess, am I not?” She shouted as we ironically walked by Buckingham Palace.
Several people stared.
“I’m not mad!” Astrid laughed in protest.
“You seem to be, Astrid.”
“Well, aren’t we all… a little?”
She made a good point.
“You’re nervous, Parker.”
“Yeah. I wouldn’t say I like bringing people around. Mum and Carolyn are… challenging. They have only ever liked one girlfriend, and, unfortunately, she broke my heart.”
“Why?”
Astrid always asked “why” about everything. I wanted to avoid this rather than get overly emotional on a walk to what amounted to little more than a business meeting. Denying her the truth felt wrong. In Astrid’s shoes, I would want honesty.
“We broke up because I did not want to get married—not for ages, anyhow,” I said. “I don’t see myself wedding anyone before thirty. I think that would be a good age for me. She wanted to marry and have babies. So, we broke up—no harm, no foul. When Dad died, she was the first there to comfort me. I finally realised she wanted the same things as before—more desperately with a newly-minted duke. So, we once more broke up. It was about my change in status, not her feelings for me.”
“I’m sorry, Parker. I can sort of understand that.”
She did more than most people. Briggs was right to put us together.
“Thanks. I… I didn’t want that, so I poured myself into my academic work. It helped me grieve. Dad wanted me to finish my work even if Mum thought it was idiotic. I gather we are over a similar mind?”
She nodded. “I want to marry and have children, but unlike my dear sister, I have oodles of time and refuse to be rushed. Was she your age?”
“Slightly older,” I answered. “Thirty now. We met when I was abroad for a year in Paris. She was living there. She’s a painter who moved to the UK shortly after I did so we could be together. I went off to grad school. She stuck around for a while, but when I finished my MSc, she wasn’t waiting any longer.”
“Oh. Can I ask an inappropriate question, Parker?”
“Yes, Astrid.”
“Is she the reason you are so good at… things? You’re not that old.”
I snickered. “Oh, yes, well, she was good at telling me what to do.”
“So I have her to thank for your prowess?”
“ Some of it, darling,” I said.
She was cheeky and curious. Astrid was never afraid to ask me anything. I loved her wide-eyed enthusiasm and wished I could be as bold. I squeezed her hand tight as we crossed a street and headed towards the hotel.
“Do you ever worry… as in if we were to stay together… if you may… tire of me?” Astrid’s voice was hesitant now.
I stopped, pulling her to a halt as well. Taking her face in my hands, I brushed a stray hair out of her face. “I don’t think you could ever bore me—or anyone, for that matter. Astrid, you’re so entertaining. And that’s not how it works.”
“I am a baseline of nought. ”
I whispered, “Who gives head like she’s been doing it for decades and taking names.”
Astrid blushed. “Stop!”
“It’s true. Honestly, that’s not how it works. Sex is exciting with someone new. Astrid, we’re still in that honeymoon phase, but it’s much better when you know someone. And if you do it right, you shouldn’t tire of anyone,” I said. “Unless you think you’ll outgrow me soon. I couldn’t fault you.”
She shook her head. “Not likely. I enjoy your grumpy ass too much.”
I leaned in and kissed her. “Stick to the strategy, and we’ll be golden. Don’t worry about me getting bored. I am all too excited for you to be mine. And I want to soak in that.”
She beamed. “Okay, sure, fine, whatever, Your Grace. I guess you’re right.”