Chapter 27
CHAPTER 27
Ben
It was day two of no communication with Pilar, and I didn’t like it. I still had practice and Asher with me while Tamara helped Jack move into her apartment. I thought about showing up at her place, but I would have to take Asher with me, and I wasn’t sure how we’d be received. The last thing I wanted was for either of them to be put in an awkward position. Well, it couldn’t be more awkward than what Tamara had explained to me. She’d said that Pilar had tears in her eyes. It made me feel awful, only made worse by the fact that she wouldn’t answer my calls or texts now. I glanced at my phone again just in case. Still nothing. My living room looked catastrophic—toys were everywhere. Asher and I had gone from racing mini cars, to playing cards, to drawing, and now putting together a puzzle. Typically, David’s OCD-driven self was here, picking up as we went, but since I’d given him the day off, it was just Asher and I and the pizza we would order in later.
“Is it true she’s a princess?” Asher asked.
I blinked up from the puzzle piece in my hand. “What?”
“The lady we saw the other day leaving your flat. Mommy said she’s a princess.”
“She is a princess.”
“Wow.” His eyes widened before narrowing. “She didn’t have a princess dress on though.”
“She didn’t, but she’s definitely a princess.”
“Does she live in a castle?”
“No,” I answered slowly. This was surely not going to help me prove my point. “But her brother, the king, does.”
I didn’t bother to explain that Elias didn’t actually live in the castle. He was supposed to. He should, but he only took his appointments there. He slept in a private residence that was as big as a castle, so I guess it didn’t matter that it wasn’t the castle everyone wanted to believe he slept in.
“Her brother is the king?” Asher shouted. “Like a real king?”
“Yes.” I bit my lip to contain my laughter. An excited Asher was always adorable.
“Do you know him?”
“Yes.”
“Can I meet him?”
“Sure.”
“You don’t sound sure.” He walked up to where I was on the floor in front of the puzzle we’d been building for the better part of an hour and sat on my lap. He put his arms around my neck and squeezed. “You look sad.”
“Not anymore. Your hugs make me instantly happy.” I kissed his head. He squeezed me harder.
“Does the princess make you happy?”
“She does.” I felt myself smile.
“Am I going to see her again?”
“Maybe. I hope so, buddy.” I exhaled, ruffling his curls as I leaned against the sofa behind me. “She’s a little bit sad right now too.”
“Does she have kids?”
“No.”
“Maybe I should give her a hug too then.”
“Maybe.” I smiled wider and pulled him against my chest. “I’m so lucky to have you.”
“I know.” He yawned.
I closed my eyes, and we both fell asleep right there on the floor in the midst of the chaos.