Chapter 14 – Ellie
This hotel really needed to do a better job with security. This is the second time in over a week that I’ve been able to get up to the top floor and make my way toward the royal suites without anyone stopping me.
At one point I thought I had been made. A man in an all-black suit had murmured something with suspicion into his sleeve, and I had prepared myself to be swarmed, but nothing happened. I got on the elevator without any incident.
Now, here I was, standing outside the room where Henry and I had first met. I knew he was in there. I could feel him. Or maybe it was indigestion from eating too much junk and this was a bad idea.
Yeah, this was a bad idea.
I turn to leave but instead just turn in a full circle, coming back to face the door.
No, I had to do this. I needed to do this and let Henry know how I felt. Then I could scamper back to my junk food cave and eating my emotions for the millionth time this week.
You got this. You got this. You got this.
I repeated the mantra, shaking out my limbs to hype myself up. Then, with one last deep breath for courage, I tore through the doors.
I see a dark figure across the room and come to sudden standstill. He looks so sad. I couldn’t see his face, but Henry’s posture was unusual for him. Almost like he was defeated.
“Henry,” I begin, my voice coming out louder than I wanted in the large room. “I’m so sorry.”
My words hang in the air, unwelcome. Henry doesn’t say anything, he doesn’t even move from his spot. That alone crushes me.
Not because he doesn’t acknowledge me, but because I’ve reduced him to this state. I’ve broken his trust to the point where he can’t look at me.
I needed to fix that ASAP.
“I shouldn’t have left,” I continue, not really sure what I’m saying but trusting my heart to help me. “I was afraid. Terrified, really, of what you had come to mean to me.” I wring my hands, growing more anxious the longer he doesn’t turn to me.
“From the moment we met you’ve thrown me. At first it was because of your kindness toward a fake, nervous princess. And then I found out who you really were.” I laugh a little at that, our first meeting playing out in my mind’s eye. “That was a real shock. But then you threw me again and again as we kept meeting and you kept wanting to know more about me. Which is crazy, because…well, look at me. I’m a mess.”
I laugh again but still Henry doesn’t move. I’m becoming desperate.
“I get why you’re angry at me. Hell, I’m angry at myself too. I ran from you and didn’t answer your calls because I was afraid.” I ready myself, trying to stay calm as I pour my heart out. “And because it’s the first time I’ve ever loved someone. When I realized that, how much I’d come to love you, I didn’t know how to deal with those emotions. It’s a big feeling, really overwhelming.”
Finally Henry moves. His head lifts, but still he doesn’t turn to me. Here I am, being vulnerable and laying my heart at his feet and he stands there unmoved. Son of a bitch.
“The least you could do, Henry, is look at me while I’m telling you I love you.”
“Sorry, sunshine. Didn’t want to interrupt.”
I scream when a head pops out from around one of the highbacked chairs. I take a few steps backward, almost tripping. The man who I had assumed was Henry is now looking at me too. In fact, there are three pairs of eyes staring at me.
“Holy Hell. There are three of you.”
Standing, Henry rounds the chair and comes to me. Placing his hands on my shoulders, he smiles down at me. The two men behind him have similar coloring and height, but neither of them have my Henry’s stunning eyes.
His hands glide up from their hold on my shoulders to my neck and on to frame my face. It’s only been a week but I’ve missed him so much. Seeing him now, having him touch me lets me know just how much. The ache in my heart melts away under his sky-blue gaze.
“You were saying?” Henry grins down at me.
I shake my head at him a little, laughing with him. I’m not afraid now. Not with Henry here.
“I love you, Henry. I love you so much. And I know that our path to a happily ever after won’t be smooth. There’ll be a lot of rocky moments and challenges and people in our way. But I want you. I love you so much that from this moment forward, I’ll fight for you, for us, always.”
“You were never one to shy away from a hard trail.”
“As long as you’re by my side, I’m prepared for anything.”
Taking a step closer to me so that are bodies are pressed together, Henry bends down, his lips hovering over mine.
“I love you too, sunshine. Thank you for saving me.”
“Saving you?” I whisper back, confused and a bit distracted.
“You weren’t the only one who was thrown when we met. You’ve helped me find joy again and given me a love I’d never dared to chase.”
“Well then, you’re very welcome. But, Henry—”
“Yes, my love?”
“If you don’t kiss me in the next two seconds, I’m going to lose my ever-loving mind.”
“We can’t have that, can we?”
His lips capture mine in the sweetest kiss. Relief, love and immense happiness burst from my chest and travel through my whole body. I’m home again in Henry’s arms.
Our kiss turns heated, and I can’t wait to get more of Henry, but a sound has us both freezing.
It’s a slow clap, growing faster after every beat.
Shit. I forgot we’re not alone.
Turning toward the sound, I feel my cheeks heat when I see both men giving us a standing ovation.
“Okay, assholes, get out of my room.”
“I guess the grumpy man club is officially over,” one of the men says, standing from the highbacked chair. He goes to the man by the fireplace and swings an arm around his shoulder, giving him a hard pat. “Don’t worry, brother. We’ll get you sorted.” With that, they leave.
“Those two are royal pains.”
I laugh at his words before it hits me.
“Oh shit. Are those your prince cousins? Did I just declare my love to you in front of a future king?” I have no idea if I’m horrified or impressed with myself.
“Don’t pay them any mind,” Henry says, placing a finger under my chin and directing my attention back to him. “Now, where were we?”
“I think we were at the part where I ravish you,” I tease.
The biggest grin spreads across his face. I let out a squeal of shock and delight as Henry scoops me up and begins to carry me into the adjoining room.
“Then we’ll live happily after.”
Brushing a stray piece of hair back off his forehead, I cup his cheek and nod, so full of happiness and love I could burst. Our future may be unknown at this point, our path unmarked, but I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that Henry is my North Star. He’ll always point me home.
Together we could conquer anything.
THE END
Ellie and Henry’s story is over, but this isn’t the last time you’ll see them. Look out for ROYALLY PLUCKED, Simon’s love story, coming this fall.
What happens when a chicken crosses the path of a royal on the road? Find out in ROYALLY PLUCKED, a fake-dating royal romance, coming soon.