A Player for A Princess

“I further heard you’re expecting his child. A baby girl.”

“Wow!” I tease “And I thought we caught that rat at Occitan.”

Ava’s eyes blink up, and she heard that last part. “It was a girl named Juliana. I caught her, you know?”

“You have always been so clever,” I say, not even caring if I sound like a doting mother. I’ve been looking out for Ava a long time.

“Is it true?” The queen’s voice has adopted that air of authority. Because she’s a queen.

My chin drops, and I wonder where my man has gone. “Y-yes ma’am. I’m pregnant with Cal’s baby.”

Sneaking a glance, I see her blue eyes studying me, sizing me up, and as much as I’ll defend Ava until the cows come home, I can’t bluff about myself. I’m no lady.

“You’re going to marry my son?” Her voice is sharp, and I’m sure it’s because she knows I’m a con artist and petty thief.

Everybody knows this, right? It’s essentially what led to me being in a prison camp for the last six weeks. Poor life choices. I want to tell her my picture is beside poor life choices in the encyclopedia. I’m the visual aide.

The queen is not a terrible person. She’s a mom who wants the best for her admittedly favorite son. I get that. If I thought I was good for Cal, I never would have run away in the first place. I believed he deserves someone better, with more class than me.

“I love Cal very much,” I say quietly. “I love him like I’ve never loved anyone in my life. Except for Ava.”

“Then you should be here with us in Monagasco. Taking him and moving to such a remote location sends a message.”

“That we like living in paradise?”

Her cool blue eyes narrow at me. “That there is disapproval at home.”

I’ve never been very good at keeping my mouth shut. “Isn’t that sort of the truth?”

She stands. “Of course not. I approve of anything Cal chooses.” Going to the door, she stops and looks down. “Except when he chose to snort coke off the naked bodies of two supermodels and was caught on camera. I did not approve of that.”

My mouth has fallen open, but I quickly shut it. I’m not surprised Cal would get busted doing something like that, but I’m floored his super-proper and ultimately controlled mother, The Queen, would acknowledge it out loud and in front of us.

“You should get your rest,” she says before closing the door.

When Ava turns to me it’s like looking in a mirror—both our eyes are round as saucers. Then we start laughing.

“Oh my god,” I wail softly. “Is she the worst or what?”

“I haven’t decided,” Ava’s voice is thoughtful, and her eyes return to the closed door. “She wants what’s best for them, and you’re always saying we gotta do better.”

“I can honestly say we’ve done better than I ever dreamed when I said those words.”

She looks down at the large prints in front of her then up at me again. “So what do you think? I think I’m going with the Nikki Rodriguez.”

I join her on the bed to look at the simple, full-length design. A delicate network of silk covers the bodice, and thin spaghetti straps are over the shoulders. The skirt is long, flowing silk, and in the hair is a jeweled tiara.

“I think it’s gorgeous,” I sigh. “It’s perfectly you, and it’s perfect for this beautiful place.”

She nods studying the print a moment longer. “I’ll let him know. Then I want to go to Occitan. The palace is too stuffy, and we can spend every day at the beach and go barefoot and live in bikinis…”

“No arguments here!” I say, giving her a squeeze. “Let’s go!”

26

Watching

Cal