23. Keira
CHAPTER 23
KEIRA
T he fourth of the opening day’s races drew to a close. Keira sat back in her seat, feeling a spike of adrenaline that didn’t seem to want to quit. It was as if she was standing at the edge of a cliff and looking down.
She and Allie had been asked back to Kareem’s private box, now that he knew they were here. Allie and Kareem had greeted one another warmly, like old friends, which had surprised Keira since they’d only met once previously, but maybe she should have expected it. They had both heard enough about each other that they must feel a connection.
“We should always sit up here,” Allie said, leaning back in her lounger and accepting a drink from one of the waiters. “This is much nicer than the regular stadium seats. I shouldn’t have let you talk me into flying commercial, either. I can’t believe we missed out on the chance to fly in a private plane.”
“I’ll have my plane take you home, Allie,” Kareem said, not taking his eyes off of Keira. “But you might be on your own for that trip.”
Keira felt herself blush.
“You’re staying, Keira?” Allie asked her.
“I think I am,” Keira said quietly. “For a while, at least. If I can.”
“If it’s up to me, you’ll never leave,” Kareem said quietly. “But I understand you might have obligations back at home to tend to.”
“I don’t have anything coming up,” Keira said. “We’re heading into the off-season, so I was going to have a few months free before I need to start gearing up for the next major race. I usually spend those months on marketing and publicity, but there’s no reason I can’t do those things from Qalmar.”
“Then I’d like you to come back to my estate,” Kareem said. “I would like you to move back in with me, and we can take the chance to get to know one another better.”
“You’re going to move in together and start dating?” Allie asked, giggling. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean this critically. But you have to admit, it’s very unconventional.”
“Everything we’ve done has been very unconventional,” Keira pointed out. “I can’t see why this should be any different.”
“And we aren’t dating,” Kareem said. “We’re married.”
“You filed for divorce,” Allie reminded him.
“That divorce hasn’t been finalized,” Keira said. “I didn’t sign the papers.”
“You didn’t?” Kareem asked.
“I couldn’t,” Keira said. “I never received any.”
“I did send them.”
Keira laughed. “I’ll take it as a sign from the universe,” she said. “Maybe we’re not supposed to get divorced.”
“So you’re going to stay married?” Allie asked.
Keira shrugged. “I think so,” she said. “I know it’s strange to marry the way we did, and maybe I’m crazy to believe that it can work, but it doesn’t feel right to divorce someone I love.”
“We got married the way my parents did,” Kareem said. “We married for practical reasons — and then, over time, we discovered that we actually meant something to each other.” He smiled. “The main difference is that we haven’t known each other as long as my parents had when they made that discovery. I feel like we still have so much to learn about one another.”
“That doesn’t scare you?” Allie asked.
“I thought you supported this,” Keira said.
“I do!” Allie insisted. “So much. I just… well, I would like to imagine finding something like this myself one day, and it’s hard for me to think that I wouldn’t feel scared if I was in your shoes. But I look at you, and you both seem so confident. So sure of what you’re doing.”
“I do feel that way,” Keira said with a smile. “I wouldn’t have expected to. But Kareem brings it out in me.”
“I’m so happy for you, Keira,” Allie said. “I can’t imagine what that must feel like, but I know that there’s no one in the world who deserves it more than you. I’m so glad you’ve found love — and you’re going to be a member of the royal family!”
“Technically, she already is,” Kareem said. “And this is the only part that does scare me a little, Allie. We have to go and speak to my father about all this. He’s not in the best mood when it comes to the two of us.”
“I’m not worried about it,” Keira said easily.
“You’re not? I thought you had concerns about my father’s opinion.”
“I did. But I don’t feel that way anymore,” Keira said. “Things are different now. You’ve proclaimed your love for me so publicly, and it’s obvious that we have the support of the people of Qalmar. At this point, it will be hard for your father to get rid of me, even if he wants to do that. It would be a PR nightmare — which is something I know a little bit about.” She smiled at the thought of King Hassan having to explain to an angry kingdom why he had come between two people in love. “He might not be my biggest fan, but he is a practical man. He’ll do the right thing to win the support of the people.”
“You understand him better than I would have believed,” Kareem said with a smile. “But we do have to go and speak to him. We need him to know that you’re here, and that you intend to stay. And it would be best to do it quickly, because he may already have heard about what happened here from someone else. We can’t afford to look as if we’re trying to keep secrets from him.”
Keira nodded. “You’re right,” she agreed. “Allie?—”
“Go,” Allie said. “I’ll go back to the hotel, and you and I can catch up later. I expect you to give me all sorts of gossip about this when we get back together, though. I mean it. I want to know everything!”
Keira laughed. She was beyond grateful to have a friend here with her at such a pivotal moment in her life. “You’ll hear everything,” she said. “That’s a promise.”
“Let me call a car to take you back to your hotel,” Kareem suggested.
Allie shook her head. “We rented one, and I’m enjoying driving around here.”
“She’s great behind the wheel,” Keira said. “I’d think we might even see her in a race in the future.”
Allie flushed.
“All right,” Kareem said. “But if there is anything the crown can do for you during your stay, please don’t hesitate to let Keira or myself know. We want you to feel welcomed and taken care of during your time here.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” Allie beamed. “I’m thrilled to be a guest of the royal family. I’ll definitely be taking advantage of the perks.”
Kareem and Keira shared a laugh as she tossed them a cheeky grin and showed herself out. “She’s fun,” Kareem said.
“I’m glad you think so. I’d struggle to be happy in a marriage to someone who didn’t appreciate my best friend.”
“No worries on that score, I think she’s great,” Kareem assured her. “I don’t know if my father would feel the same way, but that’s one thing we don’t have to worry about.”
“Are we going to the palace?” Keira couldn’t help feeling slightly nervous, in spite of her assurances that she was nothing but confident. She did want King Hassan to like her.
Before Kareem could answer, there was a knock on the door.
Kareem and Keira froze and looked at one another. Keira felt like a child who had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. She knew at once that that knock could mean nothing good.
The door opened.
King Hassan stood there, his face neutral. “Well,” he said. “I think the three of us have a few things to discuss.”
Kareem rallied quickly. “Father,” he said. “Keira and I were on our way to speak with you.”
“Well, I should think so,” King Hassan agreed. “That little display was quite unexpected.”
“I apologize, Your Majesty,” Keira said. “I know that wasn’t very restrained of me.”
“Don’t apologize,” Kareem told her. “You didn’t do anything wrong. Don’t say you’re sorry unless you actually regret it.”
Keira shook her head. “You know I don’t regret it.” She reached out and took his hand, even though it was a little intimidating to do that with the king watching them. She couldn’t help herself. The idea that Kareem might think for a moment that she regretted what had transpired between them was heart-rending, and she ached to put him at ease.
He gripped her hand for a moment and pulled her closer so that they were standing right alongside one another.
“We’re going to stay married, Father,” he said. “We love each other. We’re going to try to make things work between the two of us.”
“I see,” King Hassan said slowly.
“And if you truly want Keira out of Qalmar — well, I guess you’ll be kicking me out too,” Kareem said.
Keira gasped. “Kareem, no. You can’t do that.”
“I’ll do what it takes,” Kareem said firmly. “I love my country and I don’t want to leave, but I should never have let anything come between the two of us. I’ve never felt for anyone the way I do for you, Keira, and I’m not going to risk losing that. If I have to immigrate in order to keep you, I will.”
The king held up a hand. “Let’s not be hasty,” he said. “Kareem, I never wanted to force Keira out of this country. My problem was never with her.” He looked at Keira. “You seem like a lovely young woman,” he said. “It’s the lying I didn’t appreciate. I felt that my son manipulated me into believing in a marriage that wasn’t real.”
“I did do that,” Kareem said. “I can admit to it. But, Father — I felt as if I had no choice. It was the only way to make this race happen. I needed Keira’s help, and I had no other plausible reason for bringing her to Qalmar. I needed something that you would believe for long enough to let me achieve my dream.”
“I still don’t appreciate you lying to me,” King Hassan said. “I especially don’t like that you lied to your mother. She deserves better. But… I can acknowledge that we made you feel as if you couldn’t give us the truth. I’m sorry for that.”
Kareem nodded. “I’m sorry too.”
“You must know that all we’ve ever wanted was to see you happy,” King Hassan said. “And if this woman makes you happy, we will support your marriage to her.”
“Really?”
King Hassan allowed himself to smile for the first time since entering their box. “You did put on a very good event, Keira,” he said. “I think the people of Qalmar really enjoyed it — and I’m sure they’ll enjoy next year’s even more.”
“Next year’s?” Keira could hardly believe what she was hearing.
“This is an annual race, is it not? You’re going to have to get started on plans for the next one. And I wouldn’t wait. This was a good race, but with a whole year to plan, I think the next one could be truly legendary. Like you always said, you could change the face of the motorsports world.”
Kareem tensed. “I didn’t realize you heard me when I said that.”
“I do listen,” King Hassan said with a gentle smile. “I realize I haven’t put a lot of faith in your ideas, Kareem, but I believe in you. And you really proved me wrong today. This race was a success — and I believe that your marriage can be just as successful.” He smiled. “I trust you.”
Keira hadn’t known Kareem that long, but she knew enough about him to recognize just how powerful it would be to hear those words from his father.
She leaned her shoulder against his, proud and happy for him, and beyond thrilled to be able to share this moment with the man she loved.