Chapter 16
ADDISON
The door clicks shut behind Louis, and then I’m left standing there with my entire body buzzing. I’m full of want, need, and frustration. Had we not been interrupted …
When we’re together, nothing else in the world matters, especially not consequences.
I should leave, but after five minutes pass, my feet don’t want to cooperate. Instead, I stand in the middle of his living room with the key to this place in my pocket, like he wants me here, with all the things he treasures the most. His loft is nothing like the rest of the palace.
Beside the stove, there are worn cookbooks with cracked spines and wooden spoons that I can tell have been used.
A record player sits in the corner with vinyl stacked beside it.
When I flip through, I find old French crooners, oldies, a surprising amount of ’90s alternative rock, and hip-hop that makes me smile.
Boyz II Men, Tupac, Jay-Z, Biggie, Dre, 50 Cent, and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.
I keep going and find Spice Girls, Beastie Boys, The Verve, Pearl Jam, Radiohead, OutKast, and Alanis Morissette.
“Impressive,” I say, seeing he has a wide collection with a variety of classics.
Sometimes, I forget he’s eight years older than me, but that’s not a surprise, considering I’ve always dated older. Twenty-eight-year-old men are too immature. Most men my age don’t know what they want in life.
When I look up, I notice a Basquiat sketch near the kitchen that I almost missed.
I gasp, knowing how rare these are. On the wall in the short hallway is a Cy Twombly, all scribbled loops and colorful energy.
Near a window is a Paul Cézanne landscape that I don’t believe I’ve ever seen before.
A Helen Frankenthaler print in soft pinks and oranges catches the light from the lamp that’s on in the corner.
His taste and style are impeccable. He’s collected a mix of masters and modern artists.
That tells me he actually understands art and doesn’t purchase it for status like many.
None of these pieces were chosen by a decorator. No, Louis picked these himself.
I’ve found my match.
I wander toward the fireplace, and for the first time, I notice the photos on the mantel in silver frames.
They’re candid shots of him with people he cares about.
None of them are formal or staged. There’s one of Louis and Delphine when she was young, and he was in his mid-teens.
Both are covered from head to toe in mud and grinning while a filthy golden retriever sits between them, looking happy.
In the second photo, Louis is on a sailboat with a group of friends, his head thrown back mid-laugh while the sun catches his face.
He’s younger here and lighter than I’ve ever seen him in a long time.
As I scan for familiar faces in the photo, I see Patterson.
I swallow hard and shake my head, knowing how much he won’t like this. The two of them are real friends.
The third photo makes me freeze. Louis and an older woman sit across from each other at a chessboard.
It’s his grandmother, Queen Isabella II, in regular clothes.
She’s elegant with silver hair and baby blues that match his exactly.
She’s leaning in toward him with unmistakable pride.
I can almost hear her coaching him, challenging him, refusing to let him win.
I set the frame down carefully and look around the room again.
This is who Louis really is, not the tabloid disaster they make him out to be.
And I’m falling for him.
The realization that I’m falling for the crown prince of Montclaire and that he’s falling for me, too, settles deep into my soul. Even if I wanted to, there’s not a damn thing I can do to stop it. Right now, together, we’re a runaway train.
I write Louis a quick little note and leave it for him on the counter.
I can never get enough …
A soft knock at the door makes me freeze. Louis wouldn’t knock at his own place, and no one else should know I’m here.
As I move quietly toward the entrance, my pulse races. Through the peephole, I see Delphine in that ridiculous hooded cloak she seems to love.
I crack the door open. “How did you know I was still here?”
“Because I know my brother, and there’s no way he’d let you walk back alone in the dark.” She slips inside and pushes the hood back. “We need to talk.”
“That sounds ominous.”
“It is.” She glances around the loft, taking in the evidence that I’ve made myself comfortable. “The council met today. Behind closed doors, no family present.”
“And?”
“I have a contact on staff. She told me they mentioned ‘the American situation’ and someone said you’d be ‘dealt with after the competition.’”
My mouth falls open. “Dealt with how?”
“I don’t know. But they’re watching, Addison. Someone has noticed, and they’re planning to remove you before you become a bigger problem.” She meets my eyes. “Be careful.”
“Does Louis know?”
“Not yet. He’s with our father right now, dealing with that blind-item mess.” She moves toward the door. “These people don’t play fair, and my mother can be ruthless.”
“Thank you for telling me.”
She pauses at the door. “You make him happy. I haven’t seen him like this in years. I’m not going to let them take that away without a fight.”
Then she’s gone, and I’m standing alone in Louis’s loft with a new weight on my shoulders.
After a deep breath and another glance around, I leave. I pull the door shut behind me, then hurry down the long hallway. Internally, after Delphine’s warning, I’m freaking out. So, I do what I always do when this happens … I call Kendall.
She answers on the fourth ring, and I can barely hear her over the noise.
“Addy? Hold on. I’m waiting for the subway. Let me—” A screech of brakes drowns out the rest of her sentence. “Okay, sorry. What’s up? I was literally about to call you. I had this weird feeling about you.”
“Oh, now look at who’s using their best-friend Spidey senses.” I laugh, instantly feeling comfortable, chatting with her.
“How are you?” she asks.
I think about all that’s gone down. “Surviving.”
“Um … hate to bring this up, but have you seen the blind item? What the hell is going on there? #FreedomForLouis is trending, and Patterson is concerned. Everyone here is. Are the rumors true? Is he being forced to marry one of those women?”
The subway rattles, and someone yells in the background about a backpack.
I walk faster, sucking in the cool, fresh air as the moonlight makes the short path to the cottage glow. “It’s true.”
“No,” she whispers. “What the fuck? Are you living in an episode of Bridgerton?”
“To be honest, it feels like it.”
“Oh, which season?” she asks. “Honestly, Queen Charlotte, the spin-off was my favor—”
“That’s not the point. I really need to talk to you. You’re the only voice of reason I have.” I hesitate, walking faster.
The background noise shifts, and I imagine her pressing the phone harder against her ear, cupping her hand around the speaker to block out the chaos.
“I’m here for you. Spill it.”
“Okay.” I pause. “Actually, I don’t know where to start. Everything is bleeding together.”
“Don’t make me get on a plane tonight. If you’re in trouble in any way, I’ll be—”
“Hold on,” I tell her, unlocking the cottage door, then walking inside, knowing it’s more private. “Sorry, I just walked in.”
“What time is it there?”
I look at the clock on the microwave. “Ten forty-five p.m. Oh shit, you’re traveling in rush hour. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. I’m not in a hurry to be anywhere.”
As I imagine what she’ll say, I lower my voice to a whisper. “Louis and I have been seeing one another while this is going on.”
Silence stretches between us, filled only by the muffled rumble of the train.
“Wait, what?” she asks like she didn’t hear me. “What does that mean? Like … you’re having hot royal sex?”
“We’ve fooled around,” I admit. “But we haven’t …”
“I don’t even know what to say. I’m so happy for you! Oh goodness,” she says like she realizes what this means.
There’s more subway noise, a garbled announcement about the next stop.
“I think I’m falling in love with him, Keke,” I whisper. “I don’t know what to do. I’m so scared this is going to end in tragedy and …”
“If it’s meant to be, it won’t,” she encourages me. “Remember how much shit Patterson and I went through? Granted, you’re dealing with global political powers, but that doesn’t mean anything. Are you happy?”
The question lingers for a few moments.
“Yes. Very.”
“Follow that,” she offers. “It will never steer you wrong.”
“I’m trying to be a believer, but it’s so hard when everything feels against us,” I explain. “His sister says to have faith.”
“Do you trust her?” Kendall asks.
“Absolutely,” I admit. “I do. It’s like she gets it.”
Kendall goes quiet for so long that I check my screen to make sure the call didn’t drop. Finally, she releases a long breath. “I support you, bestie. Tell me how I can help you. Is there anything I can do?”
“Walk me off the edge,” I tell her.
“Talk,” Kendall says.
“My biggest fear is that this could turn into an even bigger scandal than it already is. He’s already under enough pressure,” I say.
“I can imagine. He has a pretty large fan club over here right now.”
“Ugh.” I plop down on the couch and close my eyes. “Why do I always want the men the entire world wants?”
She laughs. “You were meant to be a princess—that’s all.
But honestly, what’s the endgame? The two of you keep sneaking around until he’s forced to pick a princess.
Then he does, and you get so jealous that you can’t handle it, then fly home with your heart shattered into a million pieces.
I don’t want your heart to get broken. That’s the only thing that concerns me. ”
“Please tell me I’m stupid or how bad of an idea this is.” I laugh, but it sounds empty. “I’ve never felt this way before.”
“It’s not dumb,” she says, and I wish she could see my face. “True love is worth it. I want you to have that, bestie.”
“I want that too,” I say, nearly in tears. “It’s magical. A simple look, and I’m a puddle on the floor. It’s invisible foreplay.”
“Was that you who spoke a big game that you were immune to him? I should’ve bet you,” she says. “I’d be one thousand dollars richer right now.”
The train screeches again, and I wait for the noise to pass before responding.
I smile. “To be fair, have you seen him? Louis is hot. Sexy. Arrogant. Exactly my type. And he obsessively wants me, thinks I’m smart, pretty, and says all the right things.”
“As a professional fuckboy would. These are those tricks, Addy. Are you sure you’re not being played?”
“Positive. Also, thank you for not agreeing with me. I need skepticism, too, because I’ve never felt this way before. It’s a mindfuck in every way.”
“Okay, let’s summarize so I can help the best I can,” Kendall says, and I can hear her shifting into problem-solving mode. “You’re basically in love with him, and he’s being forced to marry someone else.”
“Not to mention, I have to win the painting competition to stay here so that marriage doesn’t happen. Oh, and if anyone finds out about us at any point, it will be an international scandal,” I say.
“Oh, fun,” she admits.
“Thanks a lot!” I tell her with a laugh.
“Patterson will lose his mind if he finds out about this through a blind item. Like, he will be a full psycho. He has not stopped talking about how he will fuck Louis up if he touches you. I almost feel sorry for Louis.”
“It’s not going to get out,” I confirm, knowing we have to do a better job of being concealed. “But please promise me you won’t say anything to him.”
She sighs so heavily that I can feel it through the phone. “Fine. I promise. But you owe me every single detail because I’m heavily invested, and this is better than reality TV.”
“Deal. But I can’t tell you everything.” I glance at the covered canvases of Louis in the corner.
“I’ll take what I can,” she says, and I yawn. “You should try to sleep. It’s late there. Call me if you need me. I don’t care what time it is.”
“I will.”
“And be careful. I know what it’s like to think you’ve lost the love of your life, and I don’t think a person ever survives that. If he hurts your heart, I will turn Patterson loose on him without regret.”
“I know. I love you for that,” I say.
“Love you too. It’s all going to work out.”
Our call ends, and I sit in the dark for a long time, replaying having pizza, his little black book, and how he felt while pressed between my thighs.
Had that person come minutes later, we’d have crossed the line.
Part of me is relieved we were interrupted because this is already complicated enough.
But the reckless side of me that’s been getting greedier since I arrived wanted him so bad that it hurt. That is proof that I’m in too deep.