“Talk to me,” I said softly. “Whatever it is, it’s okay. Take a deep breath. We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. I’m sorry if I did something wrong. I just… I was so happy to see you. I wasn’t expecting you. I didn’t stop and think; I shouldn’t have assumed it was okay to kiss you like that.”
Felix’s sudden laugh shocked me.
“Are you kidding? It is more than okay for you to kiss me like that. Lio, if it was up to me, you’d kiss me like that every day, all day. It’s not me I’m worried about. It’s you.”
I was the reason he was so upset. Well, fuck.
“Why don’t you let me worry about me?”
“You didn’t ask for me to come here. I was foisted upon you by a wicked witch,” he muttered, pulling his hands out of my grasp to wipe his face with his palms. Felix sighed before continuing. “Believe it or not, I didn’t come here to attach myself to your face, Lio. I came to be your friend. That’s all. Just friends, okay? We’ve already agreed that’s all it is. Let me be your friend.”
I realized I was in the midst of a bad dream. A nightmare of my own making.
Chapter 32
Felix
I actually felt sorry for Lio then. In addition to the responsibilities being handed to him each day, he had to deal with this shit. Why the hell had I agreed to come here?
Lio sat down next to me and reached for my hand.
“Okay. Let’s just take a breath. Why don’t you tell me how you ended up here?”
So I told him. I explained about giving the presentation in Paris and deciding to stay after that. About my family showing up because they were worried about me. I told him about Hen’s call asking for me to come as a friend.
“She really shouldn’t have done that,” Lio said.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to impose. I know you’re busy.”
He pulled my face into the crook of his neck and wrapped his arms around my back.
“Dammit, Fee. I’m the one who’s sorry. I’m so sorry about all of this. My life is just… fucked-up. Hen shouldn’t have brought you into this mess.”
As hard as it was to pull away from his touch, I forced myself to do it. I was keenly aware of the fact that just down the hall were all sorts of governmental officials and most likely even the king himself.
“It’s been a long day, and I know my grandfathers are probably wondering what the hell happened to me. So I’m going to go back to my room.” I stood up, intending to make my way back to the guest suite Hen had so graciously arranged for my family.
Lio let out a choking sound. “No, wait. Wait. Just… just wait, okay? Will you please stay for the coronation and the ball?”
“Well, I told Hen I would but... I don’t think it’s a good—”
“Please. I need you there, Felix. Please.”
There was silence in the room while his panicked plea echoed around us.
How could I say no to him when he asked me with so much emotion in his voice and looked into my fucking soul with those cobalt eyes?
“If Hen can still hook me up with a tux, I will come as a friend,” I said reluctantly.
Lio cleared his throat and seemed to gather his composure.
“Friends. Yes,” he murmured, and then his eyes brightened with an idea. “Doc and Grandpa are here? I’d love to meet them. Can we go grab them for a beer or something? I have some in my apartment. Arthur can help us if not.”
I was tempted to introduce him to my beloved grandfathers. I wanted them to know what a good man Lio was, and I wanted Lio to see what wonderful parents I had. But I knew I’d make an idiot out of myself and accidentally touch him or gush over him or look at him like a lovesick fool in front of my grandfathers. That was not the action of a friend.
“Ah, no. No, thank you. I don’t think that’s a good idea, Lio. They don’t know who you are to me, and if they see us together, they’ll figure out the truth. Plus, you have a big day coming up, and apparently your sister has signed me up for some kind of comportment lessons tomorrow. If I want to be at the coronation events, I must know how to properly address royalty, dance a waltz, and…anyway. Goodnight.” I clenched my teeth to stop myself from babbling even more and stood up, carefully avoiding touching Lio before making my way toward the exit of his office suite.
I could sense him shifting as if to call me back or grab me or follow me, but I kept walking.