15. Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Fifteen
Drew
Drew escorted Bri to one of the formal sitting rooms inside the palace, where he had a pitcher of peach tea and an assortment of snacks waiting.
He wished their engagement photoshoot hadn’t had to end. It had given him the perfect excuse to wrap his arms around Bri and act like the real couple he wanted them to be. It had also been a bummer that the photographer hadn’t asked them to kiss for any photos. He wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to stop kissing her if they started again.
Their first kiss had been like a teaser of what could be, like taking a bite of the most refreshing ice cream on a hot summer day but not being able to eat the whole thing. Drew wanted to kiss her like he meant it, with all the emotion he’d been storing up inside for years. But he didn’t just want a kiss. He wanted it all with her. He wanted a real engagement that led to a long, loving marriage and a whole palace full of babies.
For now, he would have to continue being patient and play the long game.
The instant they walked into the room, Bri hurried to the table and piled her plate high with watermelon Caprese skewers, deviled eggs, pesto pizza, and shaved asparagus with parmesan vinaigrette. “I might never leave—not with how much you’re spoiling me.”
You have a place with me forever.
He followed her, taking small servings of the vegetable and fruit dishes and large amounts of everything more filling. There was nothing wrong with fruits and veggies, but Drew would be hungry again in an hour if he didn’t eat something more substantial.
“Is that so?” he asked, trying to keep a smile off his face as they sat together at a small table.
She gestured to the plate in front of her. “Yeah. There’s always an abundance of watermelon for me at home, but you really go all out to make sure I always have access to my favorite foods.”
“Happy wife, happy life,” he said, taking a giant bite of pizza without really thinking about the implications.
“Oh, I’m your wife now, huh?” she teased.
His face blanched. “I didn’t mean my actual wife.”
“What kind of wife did you mean, then?” Her lips pressed together into an amused expression.
“The almost kind. The fake kind.” The words fell out of his mouth rapidly. He sighed. “It’s only a saying. I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful husband someday who will ensure you’re well fed. Otherwise, he would always be stuck dealing with your hangry, sassy side.”
Bri held a hand to her chest, her mouth agape. “I’m never hangry .”
“Not around me, because I always feed you.”
She shook her head. “You’re one to talk, Mr. I-Eat-Everything-In-Sight.”
“Precisely. I never get hangry because I never allow myself to reach that level of starvation.”
Bri rolled her eyes, but a smile still tugged at her lips. “You’re insufferable.”
“You’re just mad I’m right.” His eyes twinkled with mirth. He popped a deviled egg into his mouth. “I need to talk to you about some of our upcoming obligations.”
She ate one of her Caprese skewers, nodding for him to continue.
“Your family will be here in a few hours for our monthly family game night. Next month, game night will be back in Westridge at your family’s palace. Next week, we will represent the palace at a charity run. Originally, we were just going to make an appearance, but I persuaded them to let us run it.”
Her eyes widened in excitement. “That’s amazing! Thank you for doing that.”
“Of course.” Drew nodded. “My parents are insisting on a birthday celebration for me at the end of May, but I have a little surprise for you before then.” He looked at her with his eyebrows raised.
“Oh, spill it already.”
“I secured tickets for us to attend the French Open.”
She stared at him, her mouth hanging open in shock. Then she jumped out of her chair, clasping her hands together, and squealed. Bri ran over to his side of the table, and he scooted his chair back on instinct. She flung her arms around his neck and squeezed tightly.
“You’re the absolute best.” With her head tucked against him, her breath tickled his neck, making goosebumps cover his body. “I can’t believe you remembered how much I love watching tennis.”
I remember everything about you.
He could never tell her. If she knew he had everything about her memorized, from her different expressions and types of smiles and laughs to all her favorite things, then she would undoubtedly know the depth of his feelings for her. And he couldn’t have her know that yet. Drew still needed more time to show her they were perfect for each other before making any big declarations.
He rubbed the back of his head. “I thought you mentioned tennis a time or two.”
She stood up straight so she could look at him. “Those couldn’t have been easy tickets to get.”
They weren’t. Even with his royal status, he’d spent an entire week pulling all sorts of strings to get two tickets to the French Open, but Bri was more than worth it. Just seeing the smile on her face now made all the effort worthwhile.
“Ahh, it’s not that big of a deal.” He waved the idea away.
She raised an eyebrow at him that implied she knew it absolutely was a big deal, but she wouldn’t press the matter. “What do you want to do to celebrate your birthday?”
He felt like he was getting the best early birthday present right now—seeing Bri so excited for an upcoming date. It made this whole arrangement feel real. Like they were just two people dating and in love, talking about their upcoming plans.
Drew shrugged. “Maybe your family could visit. Phillip’s been hounding me about going four-wheeling. It would be fun to hit some trails.”
“You want to spend your birthday with my little brother?” Her nose wrinkled.
“He’s only three years younger than us. He’s not little anymore.”
“He sure acts like it,” she scoffed.
“It’s his job as your younger brother to annoy you. I’m pretty sure it’s a written law.” Drew grazed his knuckles along the back of her hand without thinking.
At his touch, her eyes shot to his, and she crossed her arms and took a small step back. “Well, then, he’s a model citizen.” Her voice was breathless, and she looked everywhere but at him as she spoke the words.
Drew’s hope deflated like a balloon. His shoulders slumped as he chided himself. I can’t get lost in the moment like this again. She’s not my real fiancée. He must’ve been mistaken about the signs of attraction and jealousy he thought he’d seen at the regatta. He needed to be more careful moving forward if he wanted to win her over. Baby steps , he reminded himself.
They sat down and quickly fell back into their conversation about her family. Drew couldn’t help but think this was exactly what life would look like if they were married. Bri challenged him. Their banter, whether in person or over text in response to his daily space facts, was something he lived for.
Bri pulled him outside of his comfortable bubble, and he was a better person because of her. Drew hoped, at the end of this charade, they would still be together and have many more days just like this one.
“Drew, it’s your turn to select the game.” Bri’s mother called him over to the game cupboard.
Without even looking at all the options, he said, “Tonight, we’ll be playing Trivial Pursuit.”
Bri looked over at him with a wide smile. “I love trivia.”
“Are you two only going to pick games the other person likes, now that you’re in love?” Phillip groaned. “It’s sickening to watch you together.”
“Phillip,” Bri’s mother, Caroline, scolded. Turning to Drew, she said, “I’m so sorry. It’s quite lovely watching you and Bri interact.” Her expression softened as she smiled at her daughter.
Drew felt a lump in his throat. He hated lying to their parents. It was necessary to keep up the ruse and avoid having to marry Clarissa, but it didn’t make him feel any better about lying to them.
He pushed his feelings down and smiled. “Sorry, Phillip, but I’ll always support Bri and her interests.”
“You’re whipped, dude,” Phillip muttered, shaking his head.
Caroline shot her son a stern look, and Phillip retreated to the couch, still whispering under his breath. She came over and wrapped Drew in a hug. “I promise, we’re all excited to have you join the family.”
“I know you are. Thank you,” Drew responded. Raising his voice so the whole group could hear, he said, “What do you say we get this game night started?” He took a seat on the couch opposite the one where Phillip was sitting, everyone else joining them to begin the game. His parents sat next to him, and Bri’s parents sat beside Phillip. Bri sat in an armchair positioned to the side of both couches.
Drew set up the board as everyone selected their pieces. His parents formed a team so their group wouldn’t surpass the six players the game was designed for.
Family rules dictated that, as the youngest, Phillip went first. His roll landed him on the Art & Literature category.
Drew’s father, Max, picked up a card and read the question aloud. “ The Last Supper was painted by what artist?”
“Leonardo DiCaprio?” Phillip guessed.
“The correct answer is Leonardo da Vinci.”
Bri’s parents looked at each other before sighing. “Is that what you learned from all the years you spent receiving an expensive private school education?” Caroline asked.
“I was close enough. They’re both Leo D. I think it should count.”
“It definitely does not count,” Bri scoffed.
Caroline rolled, trying to ease the tension of the sibling rivalry. She landed on a History space, and Bri read the question.
“Mom, what Civil War nurse founded the American Red Cross?”
“Oh, I know this one. She was mentioned in a historical romance I just read,” she exclaimed. “It’s Clara Barton.”
“That’s correct.” Bri smiled at her as Caroline put a wedge in her token.
She answered her next question from the Geography category incorrectly, so she handed the dice to her husband, Edward. He landed on the Entertainment category and grimaced. It was well-known among his family and friends that he rarely watched television or listened to music.
His wife read him the question. “Disney’s animated movie Frozen is based on what fairy tale?”
“Oh, I know this one.” Bri bounced on her seat, sitting on her hands and pressing her lips together.
“Well, I surely don’t,” Edward said. “Is it ‘Rapunzel’?”
Bri sighed. “It’s ‘The Snow Queen.’”
“I guess I should’ve joined you for one of your movie nights.” Edward chuckled as he passed the dice over to Drew’s father. He rolled for their duo and landed on the Science & Nature category.
“Max and Lily, what famous mathematician is credited with discovering gravity?” Edward read him the question on the card.
“Isaac Newton, of course,” Drew’s father answered without skipping a beat.
“You got it.”
Lily rolled for them next and moved their token to the Sports & Leisure category.
“Mom and Dad, what is the most widely played and watched sport in the world?” Drew asked.
“Oh, dear, that’s a difficult one.” She pressed her lips together in concentration and whispered a little bit with her husband before answering. “Our guess is field hockey.”
“I think that’s near the top of the list, but the correct answer is soccer…or football.”
“Which one is it? Soccer or football?” she asked like he’d given a trick answer.
Drew bit back his smile. “They’re the same sport, Mom. Most of the world calls it football, but America, Canada, and a few other countries call it soccer.”
“Well, that’s just downright confusing.”
They all laughed at her comment before she motioned for Drew to take his turn. He landed on the Geography category.
“All right, Drew,” Bri said, waggling her eyebrows. “By what name did the city Istanbul used to be known?”
He tapped his fingers on the arm of the couch. He was sure he’d learned it in geography lessons, but he couldn’t remember it now, being put on the spot. “I’ll guess Turkey.” He shrugged, knowing the answer was incorrect.
“Unfortunately, that’s the wrong answer. It was Constantinople.”
“Oh, I should’ve known that one.”
Bri went next, moving her token to an Art & Literature space.
Drew read the question for her. “Which fairy tale is found in almost every culture and language?”
Without skipping a beat, Bri answered, “‘Cinderella.’”
“You’re right, of course,” he said, pride written all over his face. Bri incorrectly answered her next question from the Sports & Leisure category, and it was Phillip’s turn again.
“All right, Entertainment .” Bri flipped up the first card. “What does VHS stand for?”
“Very Honestly Stupid.” Phillip pouted, leaning back farther into the couch.
Drew’s father covered his mouth with his hand, laughing silently behind it.
“Really, Phillip?” Caroline scolded.
“I hate this game. I always lose,” Phillip muttered.
They went around the room, each player answering their question incorrectly until it got back to Bri. She landed on an Entertainment space, just like her brother.
Drew took the top card and read the question. “Whitney Houston’s hit ‘I Will Always Love You’ was originally written and performed by which musician?”
Her lips pulled to the side as she thought. When she looked at him, there was a light of recognition in her eyes. “Dolly Parton.”
“Correct.”
So began Bri’s winning streak. She correctly answered that the Bahamas are the country in which tourists can swim in the sea with pigs, the Eiffel Tower was built before the Panama Canal, and it is true that competitive tickling exists.
“Ah, I landed on Science & Nature . That’s the last wedge I need.”
“Of course it is,” Phillip mumbled before nibbling on a chocolate chip cookie in defeat.
“True or false: platypuses have venom,” her father read the question aloud.
She bit her bottom lip as she thought, and Drew used all his willpower to not stare at her very kissable lips. “I’m going to go with true.”
“Way to go, kid. It is true. I can now say I never want to cross a platypus,” Edward chuckled.
When she rolled and got the exact number she needed to return to the hub spot to answer the game-winning question, Phillip groaned.
“What category do we want Bri to have to answer to win?” Drew asked.
“That’s easy— Science & Nature ,” Phillip responded.
Both sets of parents, not wanting to get involved in their sibling competition, nodded in assent.
Drew picked up a card and grinned as he read the question. “The North Star, Polaris, is located within which constellation?” He found it humorous that the potential game-winning question was space-related. It was time to see if she truly paid attention to his daily space facts.
She smiled at him, not taking her eyes off his. “Ursa Minor, also known as The Little Dipper.”
“Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner, folks!” He ran around the table and pulled her out of her seat. Drew wrapped his arms around Bri’s waist, picking her up and spinning her in a circle.
“My girl is so smart.”
My girl . He could get used to calling her that.