Page 20 of Royal Rebel

AMELIA

The next morning, things start to change. It’s not unexpected, both Tristan and I know things are going to change. We’ve lived in our own little bubble for the past week, but we both know we have to go back to the real world, and that starts now. It’s scary, knowing that our time together from now on, isn’t exactly going to be ours.

Tristan’s arm is wrapped around me, he’s breathing slowly into my ear, but I know he’s awake. The alarm went off a few minutes ago, waking us both up. The alarm to the first day of the rest of our lives. It’s what I’ve been calling it in my head since I woke up. There’s a feeling of doom in my body, things aren’t going to remain as easy and happy as they’ve been so far. “I don’t want to get out of this warm bed.” I stretch, turning over to face him.

Overnight his beard has grown darker, and his eyes are lazy in their sleepiness. This is the first time I’ve caught Tristan this relaxed, and all I know is I want him this relaxedall the time. I love this look on him. It’s everything I’ve imagined he can be.

“I don’t either.” He clears his throat, tightening his arms around me.

His voice is deep with the same sleepiness his eyes hold. This is the Tristan I’m getting to know, the one that no one else does. Feeling closer to him than I ever have, I wrap my arms around his waist and burrow my head into his chest.

“How different will it be? After today?” My voice is small, exhibiting how much I hate to ask the question, how much I’m dreading what’s being placed before us. Having known this Tristan and being here with him, I don’t want anything else.

“Very. Extremely. I can’t begin to describe to you what the next few months will be like.” He pushes his fingers through my hair. “But I promise you, we’ll make this work.” He drops a kiss on my forehead. “I need you to be patient with me, and I’ll do my best to be the man you need me to be.”

The honesty in his voice, along with the kiss to my forehead is my undoing. “I believe you,” I whisper, caressing his jawline. “I don’t expect perfect, Tristan, because the world isn’t perfect. All I expect is your honesty and respect. “

“You already have it,” he sighs. “We’ve got to get up.”

“I know, it’s time to get out of our bubble and join the real world.”

Quietly we get up, me on one side, him on the other. There’s not much talking as I think we’re both trying to process what’s about to happen. We’re about to be thrust into the responsibilities of our assigned roles. I can feel and see Tristan start to become the person he is in front of other people, and I feel myself adapting a persona as well. Maybethis is how the two of us will handle the life we’re about to be pushed into.

There’s another part of me that wonders if this will also be our undoing. The thought clenches in my chest, and I refuse to let it take hold. If it doesn’t grow roots, it can’t thrive.

“We need to find a dress for you to wear to the charity function in two days,” Shannon tells me as we sit in the living room, samples of fabrics and colors spread out on the floor in front of us. She’s left me alone up until today, when she showed up in here, arms laden down with decisions for me to make.

The view keeps me calm as I see the ocean out before us. The day is overcast, but the water is calmer than it was yesterday. There’s no snow falling, and it looks like the wind is barely blowing. It’s the perfect backdrop to what we’re doing. A mundane task that before now, I didn’t realize the significance of.

“I think I’d like a rich color this time. It’s at night, correct?”

“Yes.” She nods, flipping through a notebook at her side. “My notes say it begins at eight at night, so it’s going to be later than normal. We can go a bit more elegant if you want. Since it’s still cold out, I’d like to use dark colors, those go the best with your coloring.” She points to a few of the swatches spread out in front of us. I don’t necessarily love making decisions, but I’m grateful she makes it so easy.

Taking stock of what she’s pointed at, there’s a color that really catches my eye. “The royal blue is beautiful.”

“It is, and the top of the dress is all sparkles and cleavage.” Shannon gives me a smile. “It will look great on you.”

“Can we get that one to try on?” I point out a few of the others I’d like to try on, but the blue color keeps bringing me back. Almost the way my eyes find Tristan in a room. It’s got the same magnetic pull.

“Let me go get all the dresses and then we’ll try everything on in the sewing room.” She gets up from where we’ve been sitting. “We’ve got someone here to make alterations if they’re needed. Whatever you do, don’t eat lunch before we get these tried on, they’ll give us the wrong fit. This needs to be perfect.”

My stomach growls as she mentions lunch. Looking down at my watch, I see that it’s past lunch and at this point I may as well wait for dinner. Walking to the kitchen, I grab a cold bottle of water, drinking it to help fight off the hunger pains. I haven’t seen Tristan since this morning, and I’m missing him. He’s been behind closed doors with his team while I’ve been working with Shannon.

“Okay, we’re ready. Let’s get these dresses tried on, and then we can talk about hair and makeup for the event.”

“Sounds good.” I give her a smile to cover just how tired I am, knowing we still have several hours before we’ll be finished.

Three hours later, I have a dress, a hairstyle, shoes, and makeup planned for the event. As I’m leaving the sewing room, which I have a feeling will be aptly nicknamed the beauty room before all is said and done, I take a left and head up the stairs, wanting to change before I find somethingto eat. My stomach grumbles so loudly I’m surprised no one hears it.

I still haven’t seen Tristan since we woke up, and I’m wondering where he is, but I can’t hear any other movement in the house. After being with people for most of the day, I enjoy the quiet. Making so many decisions will have to become something I get used to. As I make it to the next landing, someone creeps up behind me, putting a hand over my mouth. “Don’t scream, Parker’s looking for me, but I’m making my getaway.”

Hearing Tristan’s playful, deep, voice in my ear, makes me smile widely as I turn to face him. “Your secret is safe with me, where should we go?”

“The bedroom?” He wears a salacious smile on his face.

“Tristan?” We hear Parker’s voice as he ascends the stairs.

“Quick!” Tristan throws me over his shoulder as he takes the steps at a fast pace. “We’re retiring for the night, Parker, catch up with you in the morning.” He closes the door with his foot and engages the lock.

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