Page 7 of King of My Heart

Caz.

Interesting.

Wait, so he is here, and she does know him.

I smiled tightly and crossed my arms loosely over my chest. “I’m his son’s girlfriend.”

That was another lie, but it was probably helpful to use my relationship to Caspian’s son to earn Theresa’s trust.

She watched me closely, her opinion of me not changing. She didn’t like that I was here. Nor did she likeme. But, hey, she couldn’t kick me out now. Besides, I already paid for this place for the next fourteen days.

“Does he know you’re here?”

“Uh, no. And I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t run to him and tell him.”

“Why not? I’m his friend. I should tell him.”

Damn you, Theresa, you old witch.

“Because he doesn’t know that I exist.”

“Are you fucking with me, child?”

I would never, I gasped in my mind.

“No, Ma’am.”

“Why would you come here then? He’s a busy man.”

Busy?

Here?

In the middle of nowhere?”

“How busy? I thought he retired.”

“He did, but that doesn’t mean he—” She stopped and held up a hand. “Why isn’t his son here? Why did you come alone?”

Fair question.

“Julian is a busy man,” I said, repeating the words she outed about Caspian. “He asked me to come check on Caspian, on his behalf. You know, after everything that happened, we wanted to ensure he’s okay.”

“Hm.” She didn’t look too convinced. “How old are you?”

Does it matter?“Twenty-one.”

She studied me again, her eyes wandering all over my face. She was trying to put the pieces together, and to evaluate if what I was saying was enough to let me stay.

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she leaned against the small kitchen counter, still inspecting me like I was some kind of alien.

“You said you have never met him, and Caspian never talked about his son. Or any of his family members, to be exact. Why now? Why bother looking for him after all this time?”

I suddenly felt uncomfortable. It was a good question, one I hadn’t fully reflected on myself. All I wanted was to get Julian and his father to talk. Whatever came out of it wasn’t for me to decide.

But at least I tried to do something kind. “Julian and Caspian have a difficult past. He’s been struggling without his father, and I’m pretty sure Caspian didn’t have it easy either. Their relationship is complicated, you know?”

Theresa’s expression softened ever so slightly, but her skepticism remained intact. “Complicated, huh?”

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