6. Chapter Six
Chapter Six
Drew
“Drew, there you are.” His mother rushed over to his desk as fast as her short legs would allow. “Caroline called and told me how you and Bri fell in love.”
He straightened the papers in his hand before placing them back in their file, trying to look nonchalant. “Is that so?”
“Yes, she’ll never let me live it down that she heard it first.”
“Maybe if you hadn’t tried to force me into an arranged marriage with Clarissa, I would have shared it with you first.” His eyes narrowed as he teased his mother.
“Now, that’s not fair,” his mother pouted.
“Isn’t it?”
“Oh, fine,” she conceded. “Are you free to come talk about wedding plans with your father and me? It shouldn’t take long.”
“Mom, I told you we want to wait.”
“I know, and we’ll honor your wishes. However, we do still have some wedding-related items to discuss with you.”
He glanced at his watch before looking back at her. “I suppose I could spare a few minutes.” Drew stood and crossed the room to stand in front of her.
“Don’t sass your mother.” She patted his arm before looping hers through it.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” He wiped his hand over his mouth to hide his smirk.
When they reached the palace’s informal family room, Drew’s father was already waiting for them in his usual recliner, the black leather worn from time and use.
Drew walked his mother over to a chair beside his father and then sat on the loveseat opposite them. “What is it you’d like to discuss?”
His father reached over and grabbed his mother’s hand. “Some part of this needs to be done properly. We need to make a formal announcement regarding your engagement.”
“We don’t even have a wedding date yet.”
“I know. We’ll make a statement about your engagement without giving any details about the upcoming nuptials.”
“Though, we really do hope you both will reconsider and get married sooner,” his mother added.
He mulled over his father’s words. It would make the situation very public…but it would also ensure Clarissa and her family would hear the news, prompting them to find a different suitor for Clarissa. Although, he hoped that wouldn’t happen too quickly, because he needed enough time in this charade to show Bri how good they could be together.
“Moving the wedding up isn’t negotiable.” Drew pressed his lips together and shot his mother a don’t-push-it look. “But the formal announcement should be fine. Of course, I’ll double-check with Bri, but I don’t see any issues. What do you have in mind?”
“We were thinking of hosting a royal ball this weekend to make the initial announcement. Then a royal press conference and interview the next day.” His mother looked off into the distance with a dreamy gaze. “You know how I love a ball. I’m sure Bri does too.”
Drew smiled. He knew that his best friend did, in fact, love balls—but mainly for the sweet tea and endless bowls of watermelon they always had prepared for her. “Sounds good to me. I’ll reach out to Bri and text you all to confirm. Is there anything else?” He stood and pulled at his suit coat.
“That’s it. Thanks, Drew.”
He made his way back to his study. After sitting down, he pulled out his phone and opened his text thread with Bri. He waited until the time read exactly nine o’clock, not wanting to risk waking up his best friend. A smile pulled at his lips as he typed out his fun space fact of the day.
Drew : Did you know the center of the Milky Way galaxy smells like rum and tastes like raspberries?
Her response was almost immediate. He imagined she’d just woken up and… Drew shook his head, trying to rid himself of the image of Bri half-awake, her blonde waves messily splayed across her pillow.
Bri : I have multiple thoughts.
Bri : How does one discover what the center of the galaxy smells like? Did someone have to remove the helmet from their space suit to smell it?
Bri : Were they the person who discovered you could survive for about two minutes in a leaky spacesuit? If so, how did they get the news out before…dying?
Bri : Also, I feel lied to by the inventors of the Milky Way bar because it doesn’t taste like raspberries.
Bri : Why isn’t there a candy bar that tastes like raspberries?
Bri : Or better yet…watermelon!
Drew stared down at his phone, grinning like a fool. The back-and-forth between them was as natural as breathing.
Drew : I have no idea how people have obtained these facts, but let’s hope they could smell it from inside the spaceship. Tasting, on the other hand…*man shrugging emoji*
Drew : I didn’t even think about Milky Way bars. You should make your own raspberry-flavored candy bar called The Galaxy.
Bri : I’ll get started on that right away!
Drew : As much as I love talking about space, I do have a question for you.
Bri : What’s up?
Drew : Are you okay with my parents hosting a ball this weekend to announce our engagement? And we can do an official press release and interview the next day?
Drew : I don’t think this is something we can push off.
Bri : I’m down! You know I can’t resist a good ball *watermelon emoji* *hot beverage emoji*
Bri : They need to make a sweet tea emoji.
Drew : They really do.
Drew : Thanks—I’ll let my parents know. You’re the best!
Drew : Plus, our announcement will hopefully get Clarissa off my back. She was NOT happy when my parents let her family know there wouldn’t be any wedding bells in our future.
Bri : Ooh, I wish I could’ve been a fly on the wall for that conversation.
Bri : Anytime. I’m happy to help!
Bri : Speaking of the announcement…we should probably tell Rosalie everything at the beginning of the ball. It doesn’t feel right to have her hear the news when we announce it to everyone else.
Drew : I agree. Do you want to text her and let her know we want to talk?
Bri : Sure, sounds good!
Bri : See you this weekend. I’ll be the one in pink! *winking face emoji* *pink heart emoji*
He leaned back in his swivel desk chair, stretching his arms and wearing a smile. Drew couldn’t wait to face the world with Bri by his side.
Drew rocked on his heels near the foot of the stairs as guests continued to arrive. He’d said a few polite greetings, but he couldn’t truly focus on anything else or hold a coherent conversation when he was only thinking of Bri.
Tonight was a big night for him—for both of them—and he wanted everything to be perfect.
“Introducing Her Royal Highness, Brielle Margaret Elizabeth Clairmont, Princess of Westridge.”
Drew turned and watched as Bri walked down the short flight of steps. The whole world around them disappeared. She was undoubtedly the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, whether dressed in a ball gown or sweats and a t-shirt.
Love and devotion flooded through him as she entered the ballroom. Her light-pink gown swished with each step she took. Thin spaghetti straps framed a delicate white lace bodice, the overlay fanning out across a full pink satin skirt.
No matter how this fake engagement ended between them, he would always be attracted to her. He would always love her. She’d been the center of his universe for so long—and that would never change.
The sound of her heels tapping against the gray marble flooring matched the racing beat of his heart. When Bri finally reached him, he took her hand and grazed her knuckles with a gentle press of his lips. “You look gorgeous. Absolutely enchanting.”
Her eyes were playful as she peered up at him. “Are you trying to use words from Taylor Swift songs to compliment me?”
“Is it working?” His mouth pulled up at one corner into his signature grin.
She held his gaze for a moment before saying, “ You’re as rare as the glimmer of a comet in the sky .”
“A Taylor Swift lyric about space?” Drew pressed his hand to his chest and staggered backward. “You flatter me.”
She ran her fingers through her long blonde hair, perfectly curled. “Let’s go find Rosalie.”
He smiled at her before offering his arm. When she wrapped her dainty hand through and settled it on his arm, his muscles instinctively flexed.
Bri stood on her tiptoes and cupped her hand around her mouth as she quietly said, “You don’t have to try to impress me with your muscles. I already said yes to your proposal.”
“I didn’t mean to. My muscles are just so big that sometimes they flex all on their own.”
She shook her head and laughed lightly. “Likely story.”
“If we weren’t in a big group of people right now…” he mumbled.
“Then what?” Her eyes narrowed as she challenged him.
I would kiss you senseless. Well, he would if she were his real fiancée. Their flirty banter and the playful looks she gave him made him a puddle of mush. Bri didn’t even seem to know the effect she had on him.
“I’ll tell you when you’re older.” He tried to play off his words as casual and cool, despite the fiery, intense feelings swirling inside.
“You’re only two months and five days older than me. Plus, we’re the same age right now.” She pinched his side, right where he was the most ticklish, and he bit back a laugh. That was not a sound he wanted to make around someone he was continually trying to impress, let alone in a crowded ballroom.
Thankfully, he was kept from responding when Rosalie and Colin approached. Rosalie pulled them into a group hug the second she reached them.
“It’s good to see you both again.”
When she let go, Drew reached out and shook Colin’s hand. “I trust you’ve been well since your vow renewal ceremony?” he asked.
“We have.”
“Now we know why people call it the honeymoon phase.” Rosalie gazed up at her husband with lovestruck eyes, and Colin’s serious expression morphed into something softer as he looked at his bride. When he smiled at her, Rosalie’s cheeks turned the color of her auburn hair.
“As much as I’d love to leave you two lovebirds to your bubble, we’d love to talk to you away from the crowd, Rosalie. That is, if you don’t mind, Colin?” Bri asked.
Colin nodded. “There are some people here I should speak with. Have fun with your friends, sunshine.” He kissed his wife’s cheek and headed to the other side of the ballroom.
Drew escorted Bri and Rosalie out the doors and down the hall into a side room.
“The anticipation is killing me. What do you want to talk—”
Rosalie’s words cut off as Bri held up her left hand, showing off the dazzling ring Drew had given her.
“We wanted to tell you before we announced it tonight, even though I know Drew already told you about the whole situation.”
“I’m so happy for you.” Rosalie pulled Bri into another hug. “I always knew you two would end up together. I’m glad you figured it out too.” Rosalie smirked at Drew. “See? You had nothing to worry about.”
He paled as Bri turned to him with raised brows.
“Worry about what?”
When Bri faced Rosalie again, he gestured across his neck with a cutting motion, his lips pulled into a thin line. He couldn’t very well have her tell Bri he’d been worried about proposing to her—not when she still thought the whole situation was fake. Drew needed time for her to see him in a different light before he professed his love.
Rosalie’s eyes widened a little when she caught on. “He doesn’t have to worry about the situation with Clarissa now that he has you.”
“Right,” Bri said, looking between them. “That’s another reason we wanted to talk to you…it’s fake.”
“What’s fake?” Rosalie’s brows furrowed.
Bri gestured to the ring on her finger and then to him. “All this between us. We’re faking an engagement so his parents won’t make him marry Clarissa,” Bri explained.
“You’re the only person who knows the truth, aside from us,” he said. “After today’s announcement, the rest of the world—including our families—will think we’re engaged for real.”
Bri ran her fingers through her hair. “We need someone to confide in, someone we can talk to.”
Rosalie mimed locking her lips and throwing away the key. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“We appreciate it.” Bri motioned to the door. “We should probably get back to the ball, but we will catch up soon.”
“That would be lovely.” Rosalie wrapped her arm around Bri’s waist, and together they walked back with Drew trailing behind. The instant they stepped into the ballroom, Rosalie pointed at Colin in a corner, surrounded by guests. “It looks like my husband might need my assistance. He’s not one for crowds. Good luck with the announcement.”
Bri wrapped her arm through Drew’s and leaned her head on his shoulder. “It feels like a weight is lifted off now that someone else knows the truth.”
He nodded so she knew he was listening, even though his chest felt heavy at the reminder that none of this was real to Bri.
“Should we talk to our parents before we make our big announcement?”
“I think we should.” Drew put on his practiced royal smile when they reached both of their parents.
“Caroline. Edward. It’s nice to see you again.” He gave them each a hug. “Mom. Dad.” Drew kissed his mother on the cheek and shook his father’s hand.
“You look wonderful together,” his mother said as she pulled Bri into a hug.
“Thank you.” Bri sent him a soft smile over his mother’s shoulder.
“Do you have any questions before we take the stage and make the special announcement?” his mother asked.
He turned and looked at his best friend, who gave a small shake of her head, though he could see the hint of fear in her eyes. Drew faced his father. “We’re ready whenever you are.”
“Then let’s not waste any more time.”
They followed their parents onto the stage. As the four parents gathered around the microphone, Drew and Bri stood a little off to the side, within sight of everyone in the room. Bri’s grip on his arm tightened, and he reached up and placed his free hand over hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
She sent him an appreciative glance as his father cleared his throat into the microphone.
“Thank you all for joining us this evening. We are delighted to announce the betrothal of our son, Prince Andrew, to Princess Brielle, daughter of King Edward and Queen Caroline of Westridge.”
Murmurs filled the room as the guests took in the news. Facial reactions revealed everything from awe and excitement to shock and displeasure. The most dissatisfied expressions were worn by none other than Clarissa and her mother. Drew carefully looked over their heads, avoiding eye contact. He didn’t want anything to dampen his mood.
Drew wanted to soak in one of the happiest moments of his life. A public announcement like this brought a new sense of reality to the situation. It had him longing for a future that wasn’t yet his. Maybe one day, his wildest dreams would come true. But for now, Drew was happy to have Bri’s arm wrapped through his, her sparkling diamond on full display under the chandelier light.
“A formal announcement with the royal press will take place tomorrow morning, followed by the couple’s first public appearance in the palace courtyard and an official interview. Let us celebrate.” King Maxwell lifted a flute of champagne in the air, and everyone followed suit.
“Do you think everyone believes us?” Bri pressed her lips to his ear, whispering the words.
Goosebumps covered his skin, and Drew did his best to breathe deeply before responding, not wanting to reveal how much she affected him. “There’s only one way to find out.” His voice was husky as he responded. He took a step back and offered her his hand. “Will you dance with me, fiancée?”