In the back of the car, Alex reached for Paisley’s hand. She squeezed it and searched for his gaze. He looked into her eyes, but only for a second. A moment later and his face was turned away.

Paisley struggled for breath, feeling like she was being torn apart from the inside out. Seeing someone she loved in so much pain was… well, there just weren’t words.

If she could have absorbed some of that pain and made it her own, she would have. She could tell from looking at Alex’s face that the burden was too much to carry.

He’d called her on his way home to pack, and she’d met him there. She would have gone to Belmonte with him if he wanted, but he hadn’t asked.

She got it. This was a family thing.

At least he had wanted her to ride with him to the airport. This way, she could try and give him what little comfort she could.

“It’ll be okay,” Paisley murmured. “Strokes happen all the time.”

He nodded once, and she knew her words hadn’t done any good. Pressing her lips together, she looked out the window. At least she was next to him for the next ten or fifteen minutes.

“If my father does not make it—”

Paisley’s breath clung to her throat, and she stared at Alex, who stayed turned away.

“You don’t need to start talking like that,” she said. “Your mom said he’s stable. He’s talking.”

Alex rubbed his jaw and looked at his lap with a frown. “There could be another stroke. Either way, this is a bad sign for his future health.”

“Or good,” she said in a small voice. “It could be this is the jumpstart he needs to relax more and start focusing on his health.”

Alex smiled at her, and though it was a sad grin there was warmth in his eyes. “You cannot help but be positive, can you?”

“I can stop, if you want.”

He cupped her face. “No. Do not ever.”

Paisley took his hand and kissed his fingertips. “How long do you think you’ll be gone?” she asked. She hadn’t addressed that thing he’d said about ‘if’ his father didn’t make it, and she didn’t plan on doing so.

“There is no telling. I will try to not make it long.”

She shook her head. “You should stay as long as you can. Your family will need you.”

Alex looked uncertain, but he nodded. Hands laced, they fell into silence again. The car stopped at an intersection Paisley recognized. They were almost at the airport. Unlike when she traveled, there would be no waiting in lines and checking bags for Alex. The driver would take him right to his private jet on the tarmac.

“Can I tell you something?” Alex asked.

“Of course.”

“I was planning a trip for us when I received my mother’s call,” Alex said.

“Okay.” Paisley absorbed the statement, but she didn’t get its importance. Why mention this?

“I had hoped we could go soon, but now everything is rather… uncertain.”

Tears filled Paisley’s eyes, and she hurried to blink them back. Alex couldn’t see her crying. Today was about him and his family, not about her fragile emotions.

She wanted to ask him what he was talking about, but she couldn’t. The elephant in the room had been gaining weight ever since their trip to Belmonte, and at this point it almost felt too late to bring it up. Or rather, too pointless.

One day, Alex would be king. It could happen in ten years, or it could happen in a few weeks. Either way, it would mean the end of their relationship.

Paisley hadn’t even bothered to give much thought to whether she could step up and be Alex’s queen or not. Because it didn’t really matter. As much as she hated that Katherine girl from the party, the snobbish blonde had been right. Alex and Paisley were from different worlds. There were probably a hundred reasons why she could never make it in Belmonte. If she tried, she’d end up embarrassing herself, Alex, and the whole country.

Best to cut her losses and move on.

Except… she didn’t want to. She couldn’t.

“We will go when this has all settled down,” Alex said.

Paisley forced a smile. “That sounds great.”

Was he just talking? Did he know as much as she did that they might never get to make that trip?

“Would you like to know where to?” Alex asked, his voice hushed.

“Sure,” she croaked.

“Hawaii.”

Paisley smiled at her lap, now using nearly all her energy to fight back tears. “Hawaii,” she repeated.

“Is that too… basic?”

Despite her pain, she laughed. “No. It’s amazing.”

“Good. It will be nice.” Alex still held her hand, and she tried not to clutch onto him too hard. Things would be different when he came back. Paisley just knew in that way you sometimes do. Even if his father was fine and went back to ruling Belmonte in a few weeks… things would be different.

They were entering the airport, being waved through by a guard. Paisley’s heart sped up. She wanted the ride to never end. This had been the best summer of her life, and soon…

She bit her bottom lip to stop it from shaking. Alex would do what he needed to for his family and country, and her job was to support him in that. No matter how it made her feel.

Her knees weak, Paisley got out of the car. Alex met her alongside of it, his bag in hand. The steps for the jet were already down. She remembered how excited she’d been when they went to Belmonte and they’d driven up to the jet.

Alex pulled her close. “I will call you as soon as I can.”

She laid her hand against his chest. “Take your time.”

He searched her face, and in his eyes she saw the same sadness and fear she felt. But he wouldn’t address it, just like she wouldn’t.

Pushing onto her tiptoes, she whispered into his lips, “Bye, baby.”

His jaw clenched, and Paisley’s breath caught. Maybe he would say something, after all. Tell her that he wouldn’t let the crown come between them. Tell her that he would be there for her no matter what.

Instead, he curled his hand through her hair, and planted his mouth over hers with sudden and desperate urgency.

Wrapping her arms around his waist, Paisley molded her body to his and closed her eyes. Lost in his kiss, she felt her heart beat wildly and her skin tingle. His strong fingers pressed into her back as his lips feverishly explored hers.

When they finally pulled apart, they stared at each other for a long while. Breathless. Speechless.

Then, Alex turned and walked into the jet, pausing only briefly to wave goodbye.

“Ma’am?”

Paisley startled at driver’s voice. “Yeah?””

“Prince Alessandro asked me to make sure you get back in time for work.”

“Thank you. I’m ready.” Paisley folded her arms and headed for the car.

As the car drove away, she glanced one last time at the jet, but the shades were all drawn. There was no sign of Alex anywhere.

Paisley leaned her head against the window. The images of the coronation ceremony flashed before her eyes. King Alessandro of Belmonte…

And what if this was our last kiss? Tears welling in her eyes, she started humming the song “I’ll never love again”… Only prayer could help her now.