Page 87 of How to Date a Prince

When the door opens, I don’t hear it. I’m startled out of my Troye Sivan reverie when Anne appears beside me. She gives me a wry look. I sit up, blinking at her.

“This came for you.” She offers me a courier package. The envelope has been neatly cut open along the fold, naturally. I sigh.

“Have you read this?”

She shrugs, noncommittal. “I didn’t open it.”

I take the envelope, fishing out the smaller envelope to reveal a handwritten note from Colin. My heart sinks with a thud when I realize it’s not from Thomas. Of course it’s not from Thomas. He’d be a fool to chase me after the way I acted yesterday. Not after what I said last night in front of everyone. My face burns at the memory.

Frowning, I read.

Your Royal Highness,

I am writing to wish you well in your ongoing recovery. I understand that Your Royal Highness hasn’t responded to emails from the RENAISSANCE MAN production team. I ask that, if well enough, Your Royal Highness please reconsider coming to film the recap, if not join us for the finale. The studio is located in London, which I hope is most amenable to your busy schedule.

It would be very helpful to have Your Royal Highness’s perspective on the show, the filming, and the regrettable accident in light of how our footage is presented when the show airs soon. Your Royal Highness’s appearance after your terrible accident would reassure our viewers and the public that everything is well after that dreadful calamity. The team appreciates Your Royal Highness’ gracious consideration of our request. Please let us know if you require any accommodations.

It would be wonderful to see Your Royal Highness again. I’m sorry for any distress I may have caused. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your Royal Highness’s most humble and obedient servant.

Yours very truly,

Colin R. White

On the reverse is a yellow sticky note written in my father’s hand.

A-,

I strongly encourage you to do as requested, considering our position and perceptions of the public, now that your accident is widely known. Your presence would provide assurances.

He hasn’t signed it, but he doesn’t need to. And we all know his strong encouragement translates into a requirement. Also, Colin needs an intervention because that many HRHs in a letter is ripe for a drinking game that will last all of one minute and lead to alcohol poisoning. Incredible. I flip the reverse in case there’s more, but it’s blank. I turn over the letter again.

“Where’s Father?” I ask Anne finally, raising my head. “I thought he was here.”

“He has engagements today. This came first thing in the morning, and he said it was urgent that you see this and respond.”

I grit my teeth. At last, I reach for my phone and reluctantly turn down Troye.

I continue to stare down at the letter in my hand, written in sweeping indigo with exquisite penmanship. And I realize I don’t know what Thomas’ writing looks like. Somehow, that feels like another loss.

Reluctantly, I nod. “I’ll respond in writing tonight after my rehab session. If I don’t get ready now, I’ll be late for my afternoon appointment.”

Anne nods. She gives me a wry smile. “For the record, you know we all wanted to help you last night. We thought that you might be happy to see Thomas Golden again, after what Katie has told us. And it looked like for a moment you were. Then…”

I swallow hard. God knows what Katie said to Thom and to Anne and Gav. More than enough, I’m sure. My gaze drops down to the letter again in my lap.

“I know you meant well.”

But I can’t risk being open again to Thomas. I can’t afford a chance at anything going further. And not when the world is upside down.

Not ever.

“We all know you’ve been through so much. Please let me know if you want to talk about anything?” Anne asks carefully, her expression soft.

“I will. I need to get ready now.”

She nods at the dismissal, which leaves me alone in my room with too many thoughts swirling around inside my head, relentless.

ChapterThirty-Two

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