“Yes… I booked my room when I was coming alone,” I said slowly. “I tried to call yesterday to amend it, but they didn’t have any with two beds. I can sleep on the sofa, if you’d prefer.”
She looked over at the sofa. “No. It looks dreadful. It’s fine. Besides, it’s not like anything will happen, right?”
“Exactly. Now, while we eat, I want to know about Tim. Start talking.”
“Ugh. I can’t believe this. Okay. Fine. Is there a mini fridge? I’ll pay for the wine. I need another drink for this.”
We were going to have to agree to disagree here, but at least she was safe in the room.
She opened the mini fridge and grabbed a drink for both of us. She handed me the little bottle of whiskey and a glass, then poured her own wine into the world’s smallest wine glass before bringing it back to the bed and having a big drink.
Then, she took a bite of a slice of pizza and paused to eat it. “He’s perfectly nice. Very sweet. And a complete gentleman.”
I waited.
She took another bite of pizza.
“But?” I prompted.
“He’s just so bloody boring!”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
Now, boring was subjective. Some people found chess boring, for example, where I found it to be a fantastic sport and the peak of logic. Others found books and reading boring, where Adelaide clearly disagreed. We both enjoyed our royal history, and I knew many people who thought it a drag.
But for this?
Yes. I had to agree with her.
Timothy Hargreaves was most definitely boring.
“He’s not that bad, surely.”
“I see you smiling, Alexander.” She waved a chip at me, then grabbed a slice of kebab meat and shoved both in her mouth at the same time. “Don’t act like you aren’t loving this,” she said when she was done eating. “I know you are. I saw you glaring at him. I saw you staring at my arse.”
“In my defense, you have a fantastic arse. Especially in that dress.”
“Thank you. I agree.”
Our eyes met, and we both burst into laughter.
“This is so ridiculous,” Addy said, stifling her giggles with her hands. “Oh, my God. What is happening right now?”
“Two friends finding a middle ground?” I suggested.
“More like you deflecting from being a miserable git whenever his name was mentioned!” She threw a chip at me. “Why don’t you like him?”
“He broke my arm in a rugby game when I was fifteen,” I replied. “And I like to hold a grudge.”
She paused. “That’s a very fair grudge to hold, to be honest. I’d do it myself.”
“I also know him to be a complete womaniser, and I wasn’t happy he was dragging you into that.”
Yes—that was a little nugget I hadn’t shared with everyone earlier. Timothy Hargreaves had never really committed to anyone, as far as I knew—and that was fine. If that was how he wanted to live his life, then really, fine.
I just didn’t want him involving Adelaide in that.
Was that partly because I had my own confusing feelings for her?
I didn’t really want to address that right now.
“Oh, I know,” Addy said, quite flippantly. “He was looking at every single woman who walked past our table. I’m not an idiot.”
“I know you aren’t. I wasn’t trying to say that. I was just warning you before you went any further.”
“Mhmm.” She turned her attention to the kebab and grabbed a plastic fork to stab into the meat. “Did Charlotte manage to carry out her nefarious matchmaking plans with you?”
“She did not,” I replied. “Although I suspect the media might have something to do with the fact she was trying to. Gabi was anticipating it, so every time Charlotte spoke to me and introduced me to someone, she came and rescued me after a few minutes.”
She paused and looked at me. “Did she really think you’d leave with one of her cousins you’d just met?”
“I don’t know. Her cousins were all really nice people and quite pretty, and I felt bad for judging them just because they’re related to her, but she should have known better.”
She made another little grunting noise and grabbed a handful of chips. “Do you think you’ll ever get married?”
I stilled, staring at the kebab box between us.
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “That was wrong of me to ask. It’s none of my business.”
“I’ve never given it much thought.” I leaned back against the headboard and looked at her. “I’ve certainly never woken up and decided I want to pursue a relationship. I suppose I always assumed it would happen when the time is right.”
Adelaide nodded slowly. “I know it’s hard. I really shouldn’t have asked. Sorry.”
“It’s fine, honestly. It’s a valid question, especially since you live in my house right now.” My lips tugged into a smile. “It’ll happen when it happens. I have time, and right now, Olympia and the estate are my priority.”