“Happy Birthday, Fin,” Dad shouted into the phone. “You’re going to have a fun night in London with the girls.”

“Thanks, Dad.” It didn’t feel like my birthday or that it would be a fun night. I couldn't get excited, not even staring from the window of the massive penthouse overlooking the Thames and Whitehall Gardens in London.

“Nineteen! Where does the time go?” He was doing the fake happy thing and I wasn’t in the mood. He was alone in Spokane, his heart broken and his marriage over, and I was not faring much better in London.

“Yeah.” I didn’t know what else to say.

“All right, kid, level with me. Have you spoken to Aiden?” He became real again.

“No, Dad. It’s over. Like over over.” The words tasted like ash and lies. “Sheila won.”

“I don't think it’s just Sheila. There’s something I have to tell you about.” He sounded funny, disturbed or dreading this maybe. “Sheila has money, Fin. Someone paid her to leak all that. I kicked her out. She’s staying with Suzzy, and I had a friend check her accounts, the ones she thinks I don’t know about. There’s four million dollars in there. Two weeks ago she had six thousand dollars in the account. A four-million-dollar transfer happened on Boxing Day.”

His words burned.

“Damn. Those bitches.” I had underestimated her and the value of the dirt on me. The conspiracy started to add up. And it meant Mary was right. I leveled with him. “We took a drug test, me and Mary. We’re just waiting on the results. Is it possible Sheila and the queen did this together?” That was a thought I’d never had. The queen seemed so uppity and above Sheila.

“Absolutely. This makes me sick. Makes me sick because you’re right, they won.”

“Yeah, they did.” I paced in front of the window and wondered what to do with this information. “At least it’s over now.” I walked to the bed and sat on it, continuing to stare out the window.

“Fin, I’m so sorry.” He sounded as though he was about to cry.

“I know.” I didn’t want his sadness. I was overwhelmed with my own. “I’m sorry for you too, Dad. I never understood it, but I know you loved her.”

“Yeah well, you were right about her. But I’m still rooting for you and Aiden. That boy loves you. You might be too young for it, but this love was the real kind.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter now.” I didn’t tell him I was too much like him, second-guessing and doubting it, ruining it before Sheila and the queen really had a chance. I’d been so certain that our age was more important than our feelings. And now here I was, alone and missing Aiden more than I did anything in my life. It was funny I had my answer about how much I loved him and how far I would go to be with him, now that he was off the table. I hated being that fickle girl who was so predictable.

“No, I guess it doesn’t. But I hope you manage to have fun in London for your birthday.”

“It’s New Year’s in London, we’re going to have fun even if I don’t want to,” I joked.

“Yes, the combination of Mary and Linna must be exciting.” He laughed.

“You know it.” I forced a smile and tried not to sound as heartbroken as I was.

“I love you and I know I’ve made a mess of things by marrying Sheila. I’m so sorry, Fin. I just hope you can forgive me for this. For her.”

“Dad.” I paused and peered through the doorway and across the huge suite to the girl on the sofa, the sister I always wanted. “I’m not mad you married Sheila. I’m mad we fell for her shit and let her divide us. But that’s done. There’s nothing left. Sheila might have won this battle, but she’s out of cards. That means we’re all free. She’s lost Jess as her daughter. And you’re going to do whatever with the divorce. But at the end of the day, we all deserve better, and from now on, it will get better. That means we won the war. You deserve someone who loves you, not your money. Jess deserves to be in our family as one of us, loved and cared for and respected. And I deserve to start over, fresh. Not the headline of the stupid newspapers.” I paused and contemplated all the things that had transpired, maybe because it was sort of the end and that was the time you always looked back at the beginning. “Dad, I owe you an apology too.”

“No, Fin—”

“I do. I’m not a saint. I was a dick, constantly. I did selfish, shitty things and made bad choices and as much as I want to blame Sheila for everything, Jess and I grew up in the same house and she never did bad things. I’ve been part of the chaos and the drama and I’m sorry.”

He sighed, not answering or telling me I was wrong. “We can all try harder, kid. Try to be more like Jess.”

“Yup.”

“Now that it’s sorted and we’re all sorry, can you please go and have fun? Promise me you will have fun, and you will close the file on this and stop letting Sheila win?”

“I will.” It was a small lie but there was some hope attached to it.

“Call me when you get in to let me know you’re safe. I love you.”

“Love you too, Dad.” I hung up and watched where Bea, Dee, Jess, Mary, and Linna sat on the sofas, chatting and laughing.

Needing to find some excitement for my birthday and the party I was about to endure, begrudgingly, I got up and strolled out of the bedroom.

“There she is! How’s your dad?” Linna asked, sounding a little too jolly.

“He’s good.” I considered not telling them the weird news but decided we all needed to be aboveboard on this. “He says Sheila got four million dollars in her account on Boxing Day.”

Mary’s cheeks flushed, highlighting her wild glare. “I knew it.” She grabbed her phone, texting the moment she touched it.

“Wait.” I lifted a hand. “Wait. Let’s see what the toxicology report comes back with first. I don't think we should say anything to anyone until we know for sure what all happened.”

Mary seethed but lowered the phone, “My mother was so desperate to ensure you and Aiden wouldn't work that she humiliated you. Drugged us both. I don't care what you say—that happened. And she paid Sheila to publicly shame you for shit you did as a kid?”

“It wasn't even two years ago, let’s not sugarcoat it,” I muttered.

“What a fucking bitch!” Linna was fuming.

“Sheila took money to humiliate you?” Jess didn't call her ‘Mom.’ The heartbreak in Jess’ eyes made me sad for us both. “I wish I could say I didn't believe it.”

“Dad’s kicked her out. She’s at Suzzy’s.”

“Of course she is. The golden child.” Jess put her drink down.

“I don't know about this. It seems extreme, even for your mom.” Dee shook her head, offering a contemplative stare at Mary. “I don't know if it was her. She wouldn't have risked Mary by drugging you. What if Sheila did this on her own?”

“Where else would the money come from?” Linna asked.

“Right. Who else would pay that kind of money?” Bea lifted her eyebrows at her cousin.

“Shit,” Dee relented. “I can’t believe she would stoop so low. Aiden must be livid.”

“None of us would know. He’s not answering texts or calls. Johan said he’s being a tyrant.”

“A tyrant?” I lifted an eyebrow at Mary. “I can’t imagine him being that unreasonable. He’s like the most level-headed person in the history of people.”

“Well, apparently, everyone has a breaking point. And you are his kryptonite. Sucking all the reasoning from him,” Mary mocked me.

“Anyway, this boring-ass conversation is not doing it for me. We came to London to party and I wanna party.” Linna got up and pointed to the door. “Move it.”

Everyone grumbled as they stood and made their way, checking makeup and hair and clothes in one final inspection at the door. I followed and tried to get excited about the night, but I doubted that was possible.

Of course, I was wrong.

By the time we were in the club, dancing to some song called “Freaks,” I was alive. The friends I was with helped, of course. But the music was the best part. The base was inside me, lifting me up and forcing me to move. It was so loud and crowded, I couldn't think if I wanted to.

Our group owned the middle of the dance floor, arms in the air and bodies moving in perfect sync to the beats, with poses created by the flashing lights.

The night had become increasingly better until I reached a point where my cheeks hurt from smiling, and I forgot all about my problems.

“Linna!” a man’s voice shouted over the music.

We both turned, me wrinkling my nose and her leaping with joy at seeing a grinning Seamus holding a pint that was being sloshed about in his hand as people bumped into him.

“Seamus! What the hell are you doing here?” Linna hugged him, kissing his cheek and spilling his drink more.

His answer was lost in the music and her mouth as her lips moved from his cheek to his lips and his hand went back, handing the drink to someone behind him.

“Oh shit,” I whispered to myself seeing the hand taking the drink. Lucas. His eyes landed on mine, and for a moment I wasn't sure if I would need the bathroom or another drink. He was the last person I wanted to see.

He made his way to me, towering over me and creating space around us as no one wanted to bump into the tall guy. “Hi, Fin.”

“Lucas,” I said coolly.

“Want a drink?” He nodded his head at the bar.

“No, thanks.”

“Happy New Year.” His eyes twinkled but there was something else, concern maybe. “Are you okay?”

“What?”

“I saw the headlines, you and the king broke up. Do you want to talk about it?”

“Headlines?” My stomachache got worse. I pushed through crowd to the bathroom, pulling my phone out and leaning against the door to one of the stalls. Googling my name brought up a host of different articles.

One had the video of the fight with me and Linna, though it was impossible to tell it was me. The reporter agreed, “We’ve heard that allegedly this is Finley Roze, but there is no solid proof. So take this one with a grain of salt.” The man smiled wide.

“I don't know why everyone hates her.” A lady next to him at the news desk scoffed. “She’s lovely. Works in retirement homes. So she did some typical teenaged shenanigans. Who hasn't?”

“Oh I agree, Rachel. And I thank God every day that the internet and mobile phones were not a problem for us nineties kids.” The man laughed, followed by the woman giggling.

I clicked another link, groaning when I saw the shoplifting video. A lone man at a news desk spoke with a British accent as the video played behind him. “Andorra is in the early stages of its monarchy. It has no resources except tourism and its being a tax haven of course. The advisors to this young king will not stand by and watch some reckless young American girl ruin what they have built in the last few years.”

I tapped the “back” button and found the next article. A video played of Mary and I stumbling around the deck, shot from inside the house, possibly the parlor where all the women had been. There was no other noise, only Mary and me laughing and tripping.

The video cut out and a woman in a business suit sitting on a sofa winced. “Well, there you have it. Apparently, that incident occurred the day the young king was crowned. His coronation day was, according to insiders, ruined by his sister, Princess Mary, and his girlfriend or fiancée, depending on who you ask. That’s all the Finley time we have this week. But stick close because we all know that girl will blow up our screens in no time. She’s a star in the making, that one.” She waved and the video cut out.

“Stop watching,” Lucas spoke from the other side of the door, making me jump.

“This is the ladies’,” I hissed.

“I wanted to make sure you’re okay. They’re cruel and it’s not who you are. They don't know you.”

“You don't know me.” I pushed my phone back into my pocket and flung the door open and repeated, “You don't know me.”

“I’d like to. As friends, I swear. No more plays or games, just a friend because you clearly need one.” He stepped closer and did the thing I expected the least. He wrapped himself around me and hugged me tightly. “Come on, let’s go get you a cure-all to the blues.”

“I don't need a drink. I’m still not feeling booze after the whole coronation thing.” My night was ruined. There was no way I could go back to dancing, but I didn’t want to ruin anyone else’s.

“Oh, I don't mean another round. Just trust me.” He linked his arm over my shoulders and spun me for the door. He led me to the coat check and grabbed both our jackets. I kept my head down, nervous anyone would see me and recognize me.

He handed me my jacket and we stepped out into the brisk night, I followed, turning right with him. He walked past a couple of doors to a pub. “I know you don't want anything but to be sad, but you have to trust me on this. I’ve ruined your night with the stupid video comments. I plan on making it up to ya.” He put his hand on the small of my back and opened the door, steering me into the pub. It wasn't packed; likely most people were at the club three doors down. That had been wall-to-wall humans.

He pulled out a chair for me. “Milady.”

“Thanks.” I sat, removing my coat and staying my skepticism. I was moderately grateful to not be alone and to not be ruining my friends’ night. At least they knew nothing, we’d managed to sneak past them unnoticed. “How’s your dad and mom?” I asked, recalling his sick father.

“He’s not well. I suspect we’re in the last few months. My brother just found out and he’s pretty upset.”

“I’m really sorry, Lucas.”

“Me too.” He turned to the bartender, shouting, “Barney, we’ll take two Swede’s and a pint of Guinness each, please.” He glanced back at me, muttering, “You don't have to drink the whole pint, though not to would be abuse of alcohol, but you have to have beer with Cumberland sausage.”

“What?” I was so lost. What was a Cumberland sausage?

“Now, I need to apologize on two counts. One, I never should have said any of those things to you in the garden that night at St Andrews. I’m a shit. A sorry shit. I forced Seamus to hunt down Linna tonight on Snap and Insta so I could apologize in person.” He sounded sincere, but I imagined he was good at that. “I never meant to add to the troubles in your world, I swear.”

“Thanks.” I was being cautious, something new for me.

“Don't forgive me, I don't deserve it. I had no idea what you were going through, and I made that all worse by hitting on you while you were in a relationship.” He sat back and sighed heavily. “And the second apology is for telling you about the videos. I assumed you knew, that's no excuse. I shouldn't have said a word. I’m sorry, genuinely, for all the shite you’ve been through this last month.”

“Thanks.” This time I meant it. I also meant this, “But if you’re here to try to hit on me again, this is not the night. Or the month. Or the year.”

“Lucky both those are ending tonight.” He winked.

“I’m being serious.” I didn't laugh.

“And I’m not. I meant what I said.” He lifted his hands defensively. “I’m honestly here to be your friend. And to make up for my insidious actions.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.” He smiled. “Do you need to talk about any of it or do you want to ignore it altogether?”

“I want to forget it all.” I furrowed my brow. “I mean, obviously I can’t forget him. I love him. But I wish we’d never met. No”—I paused—“that's not true. Because my life would be shit had I not met him. I wish we’d met and this sort of happened but not to the extreme it did. Like I wish his brother hadn’t died and his dad hadn’t gotten sick, and he and I hadn’t been forced to take our relationship to such an extreme place. Because apparently royals don’t really date.”

“Right, of course.”

“I wish it had just been two normal kids dating and falling in love and maybe it wouldn't have worked, but I wouldn't be ruined worldwide—”

“I don’t think it’s worldwide. I mean, surely the majority of the African continent doesn't care. Maybe parts of South America. I’d say Japan and China but I guarantee they know.”

“Shut up.” I laughed as the bartender put the pints down. “I mean, if we could have just dated normally, no pressure or rules, we’d still be together. And he’d be here. Ya know? We’d be spending New Year’s together, having fun. It’s my birthday and he’s not here. Mostly because he hates me, but partly because he can’t just leave Andorra now. Like it’s a whole thing for the king to leave. Plans have to be made. There’s no spontaneity in it. His life is going to be organized and planned until the day he steps down and gives the throne to one of his poor kids.” I gasped for air, realizing I was ranting.

“That sounds awful.” Lucas didn't act scared or shocked by my craziness.

“I don't think he’s excited about it all. If Aiden could choose, this wouldn't be his choice.” I sipped the pint of beer then sighed. “I know I’m being selfish, which is something I struggle with. And I don't want to be a dick, but I don't want to regret my whole life.”

“You can’t choose your whole life when you’re nineteen.” He leaned in like he might say something else, but the bartender came back with two steaming plates of food. “Happy birthday, Fin.”

“Thanks?” I sat back, confused on what was in front of me.

“It’s rutabaga mashed and browned sausage links on top, with a splash of gravy. Trust me.”

“Okay.” I wrinkled my nose and watched him take the first mouthful. He closed his eyes and moaned, nodding. It was the inspiration I needed to take my first taste. I sliced through the crisp sausage skin and scooped some of the rutabaga the way he had and took a bite. It was heaven. Angels sang and I wondered if I’d ever eaten real food before because nothing ever tasted this amazing. The salty gravy and buttery rutabaga were smooth and creamy and added exactly what the herbed meat needed. I moaned too.

He laughed and took another forkful.

We didn't speak much again, we ate and drank our beer. It was the weirdest New Year’s birthday I’d ever had. We didn't wish each other happy New Year.

We sat in silence and listened to London explode with joy.