Chapter 25
LIZ
Getting a new place in a better neighborhood and applying at a new diner seemed like the best option, and I was glad I found both with the money I had left from paying our debts with the gemstone. Now Kyle and I were debt-free, and he was on his second week in school and obviously enjoying every bit of it.
Every day, I kept telling myself it was the best I could do.
Every night, a certain someone bombarded my dreams and contradicted that.
I ended up crying when Kyle was fast asleep, putting on my happy mask first thing in the morning. I’d always been strong for him, shielding him from whatever worry or problem I could and always giving him the best. But I didn’t realize falling in love would test that strength, especially when my feelings were for a man who was absolutely wrong for me.
The only choice to return to a normal life was to move on, and I tried getting into that by keeping myself busy at work—actually, throwing myself into it. It was like riding a bicycle considering how fast I got back on track, and soon I was taking orders from customers all over again and trying to hustle it out with some side jobs.
The diner I was working in was relatively classier than the last one, which meant there were more businessmen for customers and better tips. A celebrity even visited once, trying out the pancakes and conversing with me about how beautiful this part of the city was and how she wanted to explore it further. I gave her some tips on the best places to go, then sent her off with a light smile as I got excited for her new adventures.
When the diner doorbell clanged a few minutes later, I was still in that good mood high and had the biggest smile on when I turned to face the customer.
The smile slowly slid down when I saw who was standing there.
The sight of Lucas in a black suit sent my heart flipping somersaults, then beating so fast that it almost deafened me. I almost dropped my pen and paper but managed to hold on to it as he started approaching me.
He looked so good, it should have been illegal. His dark hair was swept back, and those blue eyes looked like they contained the biggest secret in the galaxy. Perhaps they did.
He finally stopped inches away but didn’t speak. My throat dry, I cleared it and tried to talk first.
“Hey.”
There was no response, which got me nervous, especially when his eyes stayed locked on mine. I tried again.
“How are things in the palace?”
“They’ve been better.” His tone was light. Was that a good sign?
My fingers itched to trace his jaw, but I fisted it behind me. “Ben and Ana?”
“Touring the world. Honeymoon stage. I’m pretty sure there’s a baby on the way.”
I nodded my head, the news making hope shine. I refused to look at newspapers or watch television, but I did manage to get a glimpse once and saw a picture of the couple somewhere on the beach, locking lips. They looked absolutely happy, and it was more than I could hope for.
“Is there anything I can get you?” I finally asked. “Did you want our special pancakes?”
“What I want is an explanation.”
“The letter…”
“Was bullshit and we both know it.” He stepped forward again, leaving practically no space between us. His eyes snapped, and I realized that there was a certain energy I was feeling from his vibrating body. It was anger. “You asked me once if I wanted you—in fact, you pushed me to answer. So I’m going to push now.” There was a pause. “Did you leave because of my monster? Did you not want to deal with it anymore now that you’ve done your deal with the queen and got your money?”
My eyes widened as I realized he must have found out about the deal, but not the full detail of it. I could have just said yes, and he’d have taken it at face value. Then he would walk away, and I could pretend none of this visit had ever happened and continue to my path of moving on.
But that wasn’t fair to either of us, especially to him. Even me, because lying was just going to be hell on my conscience.
So I lifted my chin. “I returned the money but got her offer for Kyle’s full education. And a gemstone, to pay all my debts. That’s it. If it’s that much of a problem, then I will return it when the time comes and when I earn enough money, but that’s between me and the queen.”
“And what about us?”
“No, I’ll answer your question first. I didn’t leave because of the deal. I left because it was the right thing to do, rather than staying there and continue waiting for handouts…and watching you get married to someone else.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your stepmother wanted a good life for you—for you and Ben. Do you think I’m selfish enough to get in the way of that? I want that life for you, too, now that Ana might possibly be pregnant. You can now marry anyone you want. You can now live your dreams without the curse weighing you down, Lucas.”
Or me weighing you down.
“Was that all you wanted to know?” I asked. “Did you come here just for that?”
He didn’t reply, and I couldn’t look at him any longer. It was so painful, knowing we were just going to have to say goodbye again.
I nodded my head firmly. “Well, I guess I’ve made myself clear.” I made a move to turn around, but I didn’t even get a step in because his hand was on my arm and pulling me back. I gasped and faced him again, ready to argue. Panic was seeping into me, and I didn’t want him to see.
But his next words replaced the panic with shock almost instantly.
“What if I wanted to marry you?”
“I’m sorry?” I blurted out. Wrong thing to say, but I wasn’t even sure if I was hearing things right.
“Your letter said to find someone I love. And that’s exactly what I’m doing right now.”
I gasped, unable to believe my ears.
“I’m sorry I was so cold to you, but I didn’t want to risk it. And I’m being selfish now,” he growled out, frustration brimming in his voice and in his expression. “I shouldn’t have looked for you, but you have to understand—even in beast form, I see you in my dreams.”
“What…what do you mean?” I whispered.
“I don’t know what I mean. I didn’t want to risk getting you with child, knowing how that was going to turn out, but I had sex with you, anyway. You deserve better, Liz, but here I am, anyway. I might not get better for all I know, but I’m asking you, anyway. Was there ever any chance for you to love me?”
The question was asked with that same hunger inside him, along with a vulnerability that had his voice going stone cold. It should have turned me off, should have made me drive him away.
Instead, like a hot knife to butter, I melted on the spot and knew I was doomed from the very start.
“I love you.”
My words, said in a small voice, had him blinking—then, staring, like he couldn’t believe it. Like it was impossible. My heart ached again at the thought that no one probably ever said the words out loud to him. So I repeated it.
“I love you. I didn’t know how to tell you, and I wasn’t sure if you felt the same way. I didn’t want to watch you falling in love with some suitable royal woman, and I needed to think about Kyle. So I had to leave.” My voice was shaking, and for the life of me, I couldn’t keep it steady. My feelings were pouring out of me in waves, threatening to take over. “And when I did leave, I still couldn’t stop thinking about you.”
Silence filled my confession, but I was too fascinated by the way his face transformed. The anger cleared bit by bit, replaced by shock and disbelief. Then there was a surge of that frustration again, as his hands took my shoulders to face me squarely.
“I could seriously bang you for that.”
I choked. “Bang, as in…?”
His eyes widened. “I meant in the head. For being so stupid.”
My mouth dropped. “I was being reasonable!”
“No. You ran away from what we had.”
He was right. He was too right.
“I was scared,” I whispered, looking down. It was hard to admit it. Then I looked up. “You ran away, too.”
“Fair enough. Let’s say we’re both idiots then.” His face sobered, and he met my eyes again. This time, I didn’t miss the emotion there, one that had my heart feeling so full. “Will you marry me, anyway?”
It was the oddest proposal in the world.
It was also the most romantic for me as my whole body burst with joy.
This was going to cause so many problems. It would eliminate his chance for a royal alliance, and the scandal that would follow would be abysmal. But now that he admitted how he felt for me, the thought of him getting married to someone else just didn’t seem right anymore. It hurt.
And I was tired of hurting.
So I stepped even closer until our bodies were just a whisper away, feeling like the calmest person in the world.
“I will, only because of one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“It would prevent you from drinking alcohol, and you get to have sex with me. A lot. Isn’t that a good bargain?”
My words had him choking—then, bursting into laughter right in the middle of that empty diner. I grinned. Then I opened myself up to him as he bent down for a kiss, feeling like the luckiest woman in the world. He pulled me in, wrapping his arms tight around me, and the kiss turned hungry and intense before we reluctantly broke it.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Willis just outside, standing beside a limousine and obviously trying to look inconspicuous. I stifled a laugh and just hugged Lucas tighter.
“I love you, Liz.”
“Love you, Lucas,” I said in return.
The queen was definitely not going to be pleased.
But it didn’t matter because Lucas and I would get through this together.
* * *