Page 10 of A Royal Menace

Me:Nicknames are good. You can call me Elle.

760-555-9090:Elle? Did you just pull that out of thin air?

Me:What? Like it’s hard?

760-555-9090:Okay. Okay. In that case, you can call me Emmett.

I blink a few times when that text comes through just seconds after I sent mine. He––I guess I can assume he’s a “he” at this point––caught theLegally Blondereference immediately and has obviously seen it recently enough that he recalled Luke Wilson’s character’s name without looking it up.

Me:Impressive.

760-555-9090:Thank you. I am a very talented man.

Me:The offer still stands, by the way, if you want to talk about…anything.

A couple of minutes go by with no response, and I start to tense up. Maybe I pushed too hard. We were having a lighthearted conversation, and I made things all serious again. I’m trying to figure out how to take it back and get this conversation back on solid ground when a reply finally comes through.

760-555-9090:A few years ago this week, my fiancée was in a fatal car accident. This is always a hard month for me, and I’ve found texting her to talk about memories of us seems to help me remember the happiness we shared and not just the pain of losing her.

My eyes sting with emotion as I read the message. I chastise myself for it as I blink back the tears. It’s not like I know “Emmett” or the woman he was going to marry.

And now I have to think of something appropriate to say that doesn’t sound completely…trite.

Me:Tell me one thing you loved about her.

As soon as I send the message, I regret it. Should I have offered the cliché condolences that popped into my head first? He’s obviously still sad over the loss of this woman, but it’s anold wound, and I thought talking about something good and happy would be better than all the things he’s probably heard from people since the accident.

760-555-9090:It’s hard, but if I can only pick one, I’d have to say it was her stubborn streak. That woman would stick to her guns until the end of time even if she knew she was wrong. She loved a good debate, and she rarely lost because whoever she disagreed with––most frequently me––would eventually get exhausted and concede.

I’m grinning by the time I finish reading. Most men would talk about a woman’s beauty or grace. Their kindheartedness. Generosity. Strength.

But not Emmett. What he loved most was her obstinacy.

Me:She sounds amazing.

760-555-9090:She was. Thank you for listening, Elle.

Me:Anytime.

I take a moment to save his number under the name “Emmett,” and as I finish the process, another text comes through.

Emmett:Okay, I need to go get some work done, but can I text you again sometime?

Me:Of course.

Emmett:Great. Talk to you later, then.

Me:Talk to you later.

I blow out a long breath and drop my phone to the bed beside me. I feel good about that conversation, and I really,reallyhope he was being honest and isn’t a romance scammer.

If he is, I’m going to be extremely disappointed.

CHAPTER SIX

Royal

I can’t helpbut smile as I read the words on the screen, saying them aloud to make sure there are no typos or missing words. This field trip to the zoo is going to be amazing for the fourth grade class, and the info sheet, permission form, and parent volunteer form all need to be perfect.

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