Page 96 of Royal Reluctance

“Yes,” Abigail says, always her response to my negativity. “It’ll be fun. Silas told us about the new bar thatFenella Carringtonopened!”

“So?’ Fenella was one of Gunnar’s ex-girlfriends, the line of them after Kate and before Stella merging together in a blur of names and faces.

If I had a list of ex-girlfriends like Gunnar did, would I have gotten over Hettie by now?

Because I’m not over her. Not in the slightest.

I watch her and Abigail talking about Fenella’s new place—I checked it out when I was home last time and it’s pretty cool. Definitely more of a girlie place than one I would frequent, but it’s become popular in town. I look at Hettie’s excited expression and wish we’d had time for her to say what she was about to say.

Because now she seems to have forgotten all about it as the three of them chatter excitedly about who might be there tonight.

I guess we’re going.

I guess she’s not going to tell me.

Maybe I don’t want to know because if she doesn’t tell me she wants to move on without me in her life, then I can go through hours without the pain of losing her.

I can pretend there’s hope. That I have a chance.

“Okay,” I agree and jaws drop.

“Really?” Hettie asks.

“Are you serious?” Abigail demands. “That has to be the quickest you’ve ever agreed to do anything.”

“It’ll be fun,” Spencer promises.

“But what about Tema? Because I can stay here with her and you three can check it out,” I offer. I don’t think before I say it, but I have to realize it’s a great idea to get out of being social.

Spencer lifts a finger. “I’ve got a plan for that.”

“I like it,” Dad says in a hearty voice, one that shows no fear of the unknown of looking after Tema for an evening.

I have fear of looking after Tema by myself. I offered, but I still have a healthy fear.

That’s called bravery. Courage. Of offering to do something you’re afraid of.

Or maybe it should be called idiotic because I don’t have a clue what to do with a kid on my own. Still, I pushed for me to stay behind as Spencer explained how he talked to Dad and Duncan about babysitting tonight.

“Are yousure?” Hettie asks for the eleventh time. After Tema woke up from her nap, we headed down to the dining room for a quick meal.

It’s only the five of us and Odin, along with Dad and Duncan.

“Because Tema is—”

“I’m a great babysittee,” Tema cuts in. “I’ll tell them what to do.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Hettie mutters. I can tell she’s unsure about this, not because she doesn’t want to leave Tema, but becauseThe king of Laandia is going to watch my kid?

Those are her words, and she said them quite a few times while we discussed it in her room.

“Mrs. Theissen will be here,” Spencer says to reassure her. “And it’s a castle—if Tema acts up, they can throw her in the dungeon for the night.” He ruffles Tema’s hair as she cheers.

“No dungeon,” I say quickly.

“No Mrs. Theissen,” Dad says just as quickly. “We don’t need her.”

“We might need her,” Duncan argues, looking intrigued at the thought. “I’ll go see where she’ll be hiding tonight.”

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