Reluctantly Royal(30)
I shrugged. It had been fun to watch the gallery owner, Eddie, gape through the entire conversation. Whether or not Eddie had told the man later, I didn’t know.
“Why aren’t you still in England? I figured you’d be there for a while.”
“Alex asked me to do him a favor.”
“Ah, that’s right. You had to tell Meredith about her grandfather.” She sat up straight. “Alex shouldn’t have asked you to do that.”
“Why? I was the closest one to her.” I looked away from Cathy. “Better than her finding out another way.”
“Yeah, but—”
“Cathy, I’m a big boy.” I threw my arm around her. “I don’t need you to stick up for me.”
“Gah. What you need is a shower.” She scrunched up her face.
“Do I?” I squeezed her tighter. “You don’t smell so great either.”
“God, you’re gross.” She wiggled out from under my arm and stood up. “Are you going with us today?”
“Going with you where?” I undid my tennis shoes and kicked them off.
“Meredith is addressing the township today.”
“Of course not.” I rolled my shoulders. Suddenly anxious to get back to my room.
“Why not?” Cathy narrowed her eyes. “Sam wants to show solidarity. Apparently Meredith’s father isn’t going.”
“He’s not?” The wheels turned in my head. That meant that Meredith would have to do the speaking by herself and deal with the talk about her father. “I don’t do those types of things, Cathy. You know that. But you guys should definitely go.”
“Come with us.” Cathy put her hands on her hips.
“I want to paint.”
“Paint later.”
“No.” I stood up and picked up my shoes.
“You have a hole in your sock.” Cathy looked down at my feet.
“Yep.” I wiggled my big toe.
“You’re probably the only prince in the world that doesn’t throw away his holey socks.” She laughed.
“So?” I felt my eyebrows furrow. “They still work.”
“Come with us and I’ll buy you new socks while we’re out.”
“I can’t.” Shit on toast. I hadn’t meant to say that.
“What? Why not? You can paint later.”
“I need to catch the light right now.” I turned to walk back in the house but she kept pace with me.
“She’s not speaking until later.” She practically bounced. “That’s perfect. It’s been forever since we’ve all been together.”
Oh, low blow. She might look all sweet and innocent, but she was working the guilt angle now.
“It hasn’t been that long.” I ducked my head in the kitchen to make sure the cook wasn’t in there. She wasn’t, which meant I could drink straight out of the milk carton.
“Come with us.” She sat on the counter and frowned at me.
“No.”
“Come with us. Please.” She gave me her best smile.
“No.”
“Why are you being even more stubborn than normal?” She pouted.
“I’m not.” I lifted the carton to my mouth to forestall any more talking.
“Yes you are. What’s going on?” She crossed her arms. “Do you not like Meredith?”
“No.” I shook my head.
“No you don’t like her or no you do like her?” She watched my face carefully.
“She’s okay.” I shrugged again. I was shrugging a lot today.
“Okay? She’s gorgeous, funny, and can sing like an angel.”
“Didn’t notice.” I turned away from her and opened a cabinet looking for cereal.
“You didn’t notice that she’s a hottie?” She followed me around the kitchen. “You?”
“Did you just call a girl a hottie?” I raised an eyebrow.
“I’m straight, not blind.” She grabbed a handful of my cereal before I poured the milk in the bowl.
“Okay, she’s attractive.” I looked at her with a frown. “You’re really annoying, you know that?”
“I’ve been told before.” She leaned back against the kitchen island. “I thought you told Sam you would help her out.”
“Is that what this is about?” I shoved a spoonful of colored squares into my mouth.
“Well, you said you’d help, and she obviously needs help.”
“Look, I know what I’m doing.” I turned away from her and poured the rest of my cereal in the trash. “I don’t do public appearances. You know that. God, when does David get back so you can annoy him?”
“Come with us.” She stepped in my path to the door. “If Sam thinks you aren’t helping Meredith right now, she’s going to send over a ton of people to take over.”