Page 98 of Royal Reluctance

I don’t bother trying to hide my admiration for the bar though.

The furniture and the glasses and most of the drinks have a pink hue but the ceiling is dark blue and the colour travels down the walls to end in a pinkish-lavender near the floor.

The ceiling and the upper walls are also covered with glittering silver stars.

“The night sky,” Bo says staring up.

“Sophie did this.” I love the pride in Spencer’s voice. There were so many years where he didn’t have a relationship with his sisters, and I’m so glad that has changed. “Isn’t it amazing?”

“Tema would love it,” Abigail agrees, her eyes wide with delight and turning in circles to drink it in.

“Does she like pink?” Bo asks awkwardly.

I nod. “And stars,” I tell him. I think it’s sweet how he’s trying to find out everything he can about her, as quickly as he can. Even during the drive down the hill into town, he kept asking if Tema got into trouble a lot, some of the things she’s done and how we respond if she’s bad.

I’m glad he used the wordwebecause the only thing that would make Abigail more of a mother to Tema is if she’d actually given birth to her.

I need to talk to her about what I should do. Her choices aren’t dependent on mine, but she loves Tema and won’t want to be very far away from her.

Tomorrow, I decide. I’ll figure it all out tomorrow. Tonight, I’m just going to have fun.

With my best friends.

I don’t get to go out with Abigail very often since one of us is usually watching Tema. Once in a while, we’ll leave her with Granddad, but he gets so caught up with his painting that it’s not always a good idea.

Especially when Tema is so interested in what he’s working on that she wants to copy it. Once, she set up her own easel, got out her own paints.

She was five at the time, and paint was everywhere when she finally decided she was finished, and all the while, Granddad kept happily painting.

Spencer gets drinks for us while Bo secures a table. Abigail and I head to the dance floor.

It takes two songs for us to be noticed and another to gather a crowd.

“Well, Hettie Crow.” Crystal Hansen still manages to look down at me while being at least two inches shorter. “Never thought I’d see you back here.”

“Well, Crystal,” Abigail says with fake brightness in her voice. “That almost seems like you missed us.”

“Of course I have. Things haven’t been the same since you left.” She touches my arm. “I did my best to comfort Bo.”

“I’m sure you did.” I try to keep the snarl from my voice. Crystal was the epitome of a mean girl when we were in high school,and it seems like nothing has changed. She’s still surrounded by her group of sycophants—fewer now than eight years ago, but still a considerable number.

“What brings you back?” Amy McKibbon asks. The question sounds sincere but I’m sure Amy’s digging for gossip.

I know these girls. They made my life miserable for years, with their snide comments and gift of making trouble. Abigail had more problems than me, probably because she stuck by my side and refused to let them bully me.

“Bo,” I say. “And Spencer. I wanted to visit my friends.” And then I turn my back on them, doing my best to throw myself into the music.

“Not your family?” Crystal asks loudly. “I see that your sister has wiggled her way into a job for Kalle. I wonder what benefits she gets.” She smiles slyly. “Or gives.”

Abigail stops dancing. “You didn’t just say that.”

I hold up my hand to stop Abigail, because I’ve finally learned to fight my own family’s battles. “You might want to rethink making comments about my sister and the future king of Laandia. I do have an in with the family, don’t forget.”

“You’re going to tell on me?” Crystal sneers. “Really? Go cry to Kalle?”

“That’s Prince Kalle to you,” I correct. “But no, I wouldn’t tell Kalle.” I lean closer. “I’d tell Edie.”

Crystal clamps her lips closed.

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