Page 34 of Royal Reluctance

“Spencer filled me in,” she explain. “I need to know since I’ll probably be the one making the announcement.”

Announcement. I never thought—

It’s everything Bo never wanted. “So you know about—”

Kate smiles. “I’d love to meet your daughter.”

12

Bo

Iknow I shouldn’tleave them at the castle, but as soon as I led them through the door, I felt the walls closing in on me, just like I always do.

Kate texted me that Spencer had asked her to show Hettie around, so I know Spencer has filled her in.

Between her, Spencer and Duncan, as well as Mrs. Theissen, they make sure all our stupids are covered up.

Maybe leaving Hettie at the castle moments after I finally bring her to stay is another stupid, but I do it anyway.

I jump in the truck and head straight back into town to The King’s Hat. I know I’m supposed to take a security detail with me, but I don’t hang around long enough to organize that.

I need to talk to my brothers.

And when I walk into Kalle’s pub, there they are, standing at the bar, waiting for me.

“Dude.” Gunnar, our youngest brother, greets me with a grin and a one-armed hug. “Didn’t know you were coming in. Both you and Odin in town at once—it’s like something is wrong.”

I meet Odin’s questioning gaze before he hugs me. “Is something wrong?” Kalle demands as he slaps my shoulder.

Obviously, Spencer didn’t fill them in.

“I’m here to talk to Dad about… something,” Odin offers.

“He’s in London, he’ll be back tomorrow morning,” Kalle says.

I look at my big brother with surprise, remembering his hesitation about becoming king after Dad’s health issues. Before then, he never knew what Dad was doing, where he was. He’d been a complete apathetic about how the country was ruled. And now, from this single sentence, I can tell how things have changed.

I’m glad because it means I’m off the hook, at least once Kalle and Edie get married and start having babies.

“What’s going on with you?” Odin asks, pushing a foaming pint of beer in front of me. I pick it up, already tasting the first mouthful of frothy bitterness.

“Wait,” Gunnar orders, holding out his glass for a refill. I stand still until my brothers each have a full glass, and then in unison, we drink.

Gunnar bows out first—his glass only half empty—and then Odin with a laugh. Spencer doesn’t even try any more, but Kalle gives a good effort, giving up at three-quarters to take a breath.

I finish the pint and push it away for more. “I got married,” I blurt out, swiping at my face.

Kalle’s glass stops halfway to his mouth. Gunnar isn’t as lucky, and a spew of beer flies out, most of it landing on Odin.

“That’s one way to tell them,” Spencer mutters.

“What?”

“When?”

“Who?”

“I got married,” I repeat. “Eightyears ago.”

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