Text from me to Tessa: How’s my best girl and why isn’t she in bed with me right now?

Tessa: She’s not worthy of the title so she went home where she can’t do any more damage.

Me: I heard the shower didn’t go exactly as planned. Come back so I can make you feel better.

Tessa: Thank you, but I really need to be alone right now. I’ll call you tomorrow.

Hmph. I look at Dexter. “That’ll never do, will it, Dex?”

* * *

Twenty minutes later, I knock at the door to her parents’ house. Xavier is chatting away at my driver, Ben, through the open window of the limo, having hopped out of the Tesla and informed me that the ‘perimeter is secure’ the moment that we arrived.

I wait a bit, then knock again.

When no one answers, I text Tessa.

Mind letting me in? It’s chilly out here and I may or may not have gourmet hot chocolate for you.

I stomp my feet, trying to keep them warm while I listen for the sound of her footsteps in the hall on the other side of the door. When she finally answers, she’s dressed in her Sponge Bob pajama bottoms and bunny slippers, reminding me of the first night she was at my house. “Hello, sexy. You’re looking adorable this evening.”

“No, I’m not. I’m a total mess.” She shakes her head and dissolves into tears, turning and walking back into the house.

I follow her, wishing that I didn’t have a hot chocolate in each hand so I could pull her into my arms. Shutting the door with my foot, I toe off my shoes and follow her to the television room where she’s clearly been on an Outlanders and celery binge. Celery? That’s an odd choice.

She collapses onto the couch, pulling a big fuzzy blanket onto her lap. “Don’t marry me. I’m a horrible, horrible person.”

I set the drinks down on the coffee table and seat myself next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and pulling her close. Giving her a kiss on the forehead, I say, “No, you’re not. You’re the furthest thing from horrible. You just had a bad day is all. And, given the circumstances, I think anyone would’ve cracked.”

She lifts her head from off my shoulder and looks at me, her big blue eyes filled with tears. “I was just awful. I humiliated myself and my mum when all she wanted to do was show everyone a good time.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. It’s my fault, too. I never should’ve arranged the stupid bridal shower in the first place. It was a terrible idea putting you in a room with all those nasty women.”

Tessa nods and sniffles. “That’s true, actually. It was a terrible idea.”

“I know. I don’t know what I was thinking.” I give her a little smile, hoping to cheer her up, but it doesn’t work. “Where’s your mum? I should really apologize to her.”

“She left. Both my parents left while I was in the bath. They probably couldn’t stand to be in the same house as their hateful daughter.”

I gently tilt her head so it’s resting on my shoulder, then rub her arm. “Don’t say that. I’m sure they just had plans that they forgot to tell you about. Besides, I don’t think anyone can really blame you for losing it today, not with everything your mum was doing and saying about you.”

“Even still, all I did today was prove that I have no class at all.”

“That’s ridiculous. So, you had a few sharp words for your mother. For God’s sake, she had you dressed in something used to wipe your arse and was giving out gift cards for donuts.”

“Oh, God, the Princess Dowager must be so disappointed with how I conducted myself.”

“I doubt it. I’m sure she understood. She knows what kind of pressure you were under.”

Tessa lifts her head off my shoulder. “What did she tell you?”

“Nothing. I haven’t spoken to her this afternoon.”

“Then who…” She tilts her head, a sudden look of understanding crossing her face.

I’m about to be in a lot of trouble, aren’t I? “Brooke called me as soon as the shower ended.”

Letting out a big puff of air Tessa looks up at the ceiling, blinking quickly, clearly trying to stop herself from crying again. “Why would she do that?”

“Because we’re friends. And, just so you know, she would very much like to be your friend as well. In fact, when she phoned to tell me what happened, she told me to rush to your side with some hot chocolate and comfort.”

“So, this was all her idea?”

“Yes, which should prove that she cares about your well-being.”

“She and I are not friends, Arthur, no matter what she wants you to think.”

“If you just give her a chance, I think you’ll find she can be a very loyal ally to you. She may even be able to help you navigate this new life, since Arabella doesn’t seem willing.”

Tessa stares a me for a moment and I know she’s got something on the tip of her tongue that she’s not sure she wants to say. “Arthur, be careful with Brooke. She has less-than-innocent motives when it comes to you.”

“No, she doesn’t. She has a boyfriend. An accountant from London. It sounds like things are quite serious between them.” Okay, so I may have stretched the truth on that one just a wee bit, but it really will do no one any good if Tessa feels threatened by Brooke, especially when I have absolutely no interest in the good doctor in the first place.

“I think I need to be alone right now,” Tessa says, rubbing her eyebrow in the way she does when she’s really angry.

“I know you had a pisser of a day, but is it really a reason to ruin what is the rarest of occasions—us having an evening free together?”

Sighing, Tessa says, “I’m trying really hard not to start an argument right now, Arthur but honestly, I’m at my wits’ end and your unflinching trust in Brooke isn’t helping matters.”

“Whatever Brooke’s motives may be, I’m glad she called me so that I could be here for you in spite of your disappearing act.”

“Well, of course she would call you.” Tessa stands and crosses the room, presumably to get away from me. “Today was a victory for her. She got to prove how much better she is than me. She even beat me at being a stupid toilet paper bride. She won the donut card, Arthur.”

Women are a wee bit complicated, no? “I’ll take you for donuts right now if that’s what you want.”

“It’s not about the donuts!” she barks

“There’s no need to raise your voice at me. I came over to help, but if you’re not interested in feeling better I’ll leave so you can get back to sulking for the evening.” I stand and stare at her for a long moment, waiting for her to stop me. She just stares at me until it’s clear that she has no intention of changing her mind.

I give her little nod. “Goodnight, then.” I stride to the door then turn and call back to her, “Oh, and I’ve been overfeeding Chester so he’s almost out of food.”

I walk out the front door and jog down the steps. Xavier, who is still standing on the sidewalk yakking at Ben, apparently impervious to the cold, stops talking when he sees me and his face falls. This is one of those moments in which I have to admit it truly sucks to be surrounded by staff twenty-four hours a day. He hurries to open the back door but I beat him to it. I’m just about to climb in when Tessa’s voice stops me.

“Arthur. I’m sorry. Can you just come back inside so we can talk?”

I turn and stare at her a moment and the look on her face starts to dissolve my pride.

“Please?” she asks.

I nod and close the door to the car, then follow her into the house. As soon as the door closes she looks up at me, tears filling her eyes as it all come spilling out. “I’m fucking everything up just like I knew I would. Everyone is mad at me, Nikki can barely stand to look at me, I’ve driven my parents away with my nastiness, your sister absolutely hates my guts. And you should have seen the look on Grace next door’s face. Even Cousin Rose scoffed at me when she was leaving today. And I’m so fucking hungry, I can hardly stand it. I haven’t eaten a proper meal in weeks and, to be completely honest, I basically hate everyone who’s eating anything other than vegetables. And no matter how much I starve myself, I’m pretty sure I’m not going to be spectacular in the way that the entire kingdom needs me to be when I walk down the aisle.”

“What in the fuck are you talking about? Why are you starving yourself?”

“Because if I’m not an absolute stunner, the entire fabric of our society is going to fall apart and relationships everywhere will break down and the birthrate of Avonia will be reduced to nothing.”

“Who in the hell told you that?”

“Baz.” She sniffs. “And he’s not wrong because, if I’m anything short of perfection, I’ll never win over the people and they’ll forever believe that I’m the biggest mistake you’ve ever made.”

My blood fills with rage. “Baz! He’s a tiny little dickhead with a Napoleon complex. Don’t listen to a word he says. Let him sort out the catering for us and mail out the invitations, and let’s be done with him.”

Tessa shakes her head. “But what if he’s right?”

“He’s not. There’s no ‘what if’ about it, so just forget him.” Inside, I’m seething with a desire to find and kill Baz, but if I’m honest, I’m also a teeny bit pissed at Tessa for believing this shit. It takes every ounce of patience to manage my reaction. “You listen to me. Who are you marrying on May seventh?”

“You.”

“That’s right. Me. Not Baz or anyone else in the country. And I, for one, love you exactly the way you are. You’re perfect.”

“No, I’m not.”

“To me, you are. Do you know what will happen to these gorgeous breasts of yours if you lose weight?”

“They’ll shrink a little.” She shrugs.

“Or even a lot possibly. Do you know how rare perfect tits are?”

She rolls her eyes in lieu of an answer.

“Unicorn-rare, so when you’re gifted with a set like this you don’t mess with it.”

She cracks a tiny smile then shakes her head. “Idiot.”

“Yes, I’m your idiot.” Suddenly, I’m beginning to understand all the pressure that Tessa has been operating under for these past few weeks. I pull her in tight for a long hug, inhaling the scent of her shampoo. “I can’t believe all of this has been rolling around in your head and you haven’t told me. What does that say about me?”

“Nothing. It just says that I wanted to handle it on my own so I wouldn’t burden you with all of this crap.”

I pull back a bit and reach one hand up to touch her cheek. “Well, stop it already, because if we’re going to have a life together were going to face a thousand Bazes. The only thing that’s going to hold us together is if we talk, and make damn well sure that the other one knows what’s going on inside.”

Tessa’s face relaxes finally, and the look of panic leaves her eyes. She nods, tears spilling from her eyes that I wipe away with my thumbs. “We have to stick together, Tess. You and me, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Good girl.” I give her a gentle kiss on the lips. “Now, let’s get some pasta into you.”

“Yes, please.”

Half an hour later, we’re seated at the island in her parents’ kitchen, swirling spaghetti onto our forks, knees touching. Tessa is on her second bowl of pasta, and I’m more than a little impressed at how much she’s managing to put away. “Christ, you really must have been starving. The pot’s almost empty.”

She just nods and shovels another forkful into her mouth, then has a sip of red wine.

“Feel better?” I ask when she’s done.

“Much.” She closes her eyes and smiles.

“Excellent, because I’m here to make you feel better, you know.” I lean over and kiss her behind her ear.

“And you’re so good at it.”

“Yes, I bloody well am.” I spin her stool to face me, then plant lingering kisses up her neck to that little spot that makes her lose her mind. She makes that moaning sound that I know is coming, then I pull her onto my lap. The look on her face tells me that I’m about to get very, very lucky. It doesn’t take long before our clothes are on the floor and she’s on the counter with me in front of her, ready to go. The moment is cut short by the sound of the front door opening and the voices of her parents spilling down the hall.

“No, Evi, it was not 1984, it was 1982,” Reuben says.

I panic and yank Tessa off the counter and onto the floor, then scramble to find my clothes. I’ve managed to get as far as one sock when her dad enters the kitchen. Oh, fuck. Why the fuck did I start with a fucking sock?

Tessa ducks down behind the counter while I stand like an idiot, covering my scepter with my shirt as her dad glares and balls up his fists. Evi is next, not noticing us at first, but clearly sounding irritated by her husband who’s blocking the doorway.

“Out of the way, you old poop. I want to make a tea.”

She pushes past him, lets out a little yelp, then gives me a quick once-over. Oh, shoot me now.

Tessa, who has managed to get her bra on, tugs her shirt over her head and stands, saying, “Did you go out for dinner?”

Evi’s face goes completely cold and she says to me, “Tell your fiancée that we were at Lars and Nina’s.”

She turns and leaves the room, followed by Reuben, who’s muttering something about, “in my own bloody kitchen. Where I eat my food, no less.”